Gatefold mini album tutorial.....

Welcome back! Ok to start with you will need (10) 9"x6" envelopes. That will be 5 for each side. First off take and cut the glue flap completely off and then cut just a sliver off of the bottom so that it will be open. Then measuring from the bottom, make a score mark at 2 1/2" and fold.

You can see in this picture what it looks like once the pattern paper is on the envelope. But if you want to add a decorative border on all the left hand pages like I did please continue to read so I can show you how I did that.

Once you have cut the flap off of the sticky glue end. Cut a (5) 1" x 6" strips of white cardstock (can use whatever color you want too, I just used white) and then use a decorative edge punch the entire length of the strip. Then glue that to the flat front of your page on the end where the glue flap once was. Just like you see in the picture. I'll give you the dimensions of your pattern paper at the end of this tutorial to save you some time.

As you can see in this picture I have the patterned paper glued on top of where I placed the decorative punched strip. I also attached my binding before I added my pattern paper to give it a more clean crisp and finished look.

Here is how the binding goes on....... cut (10) 2" x 6" pieces of white cardstock (or whatever color you choose), then score all of those in half. I used my Bind-it-all to punch the holes but you could use a small hole punch and book binding rings if you like...either one would work. Then measuring from the end of the envelope where it has been folded over, measure 1/2" at the top and bottom and draw a pencil line. This will show you how far over to glue each binder strip on and all of them will be evenly placed for you once your album is complete.

Now it's time to cover all your envelopes here is what you will need.

(20) 6 1/4" x 5 3/4" pattern paper for the larger areas of the envelopes

(20) 2 1/4" x 5 3/4" pattern paper for the smaller pockets that were folded up from the bottom.

Ok that will cover all the envelopes now lets move on to the larger inside pockets where the factory opening (or glue flap used to be). First off I used a large hole punch and only went half way in at the center of each of those openings so that the tags that I put in there will be easier to pull out. I also added another little extra detail that you probably couldn't see in any of the pictures but you can see it when those larger tags are removed. I used a strip of pattern paper measuring 1 1/2" x 5 3/4" and glued that to the inside of the INSIDE upper edge of the factory open end so that when the tag is removed you wouldn't see just a plain white envelope. You would need 10 of those.

Then since I didn't put a decorative punched border on all the right hand side pages I decided to add just a strip of my scrap pattern paper and used that along the edge of each of those pages on the front and back......that strip will be added at the factory edge opening as well and those strips measure 1/2" x 5 3/4" and you will need (10) of those for the front and back. In the second picture from the top you can see where I added that strip of pattern paper.

For the tags that go inside the larger pocket, you will need (10) 6" x 5 3/4" pieces of either pattern paper or colored cardstock. I haven't made my tags yet for the smaller flap but you could use the office supply shipping tags or just make your own. Or you could make another larger tag and slip that in the 2 1/2" pocket. That's just all personal preference.

Now your ready to make your front and back covers. Here is the supply list that you will need:

(1) 10 1/2" x 7" medium weight chipboard

(2) 5 1/4" x 7" medium weight chipboard

(1) 11 1/2" x 8" pattern paper for back

(2) 6" x 8" pieces of pattern paper for front covers

Once all those are covered be sure before you punch your holes or use your Bind-it-all that all your pages are turned correctly. Now your ready to put your album together and decorate the front covers. You will notice that there will be a slight lap over of the 2 front covers. I did that on purpose so that once I put all my embellishments and photos in the album I would have some room to grow. To latch my covers together I used Tim Holtz hitch post and a plain hair band.

I do hope that this tutorial is descriptive enough but in case I've forgotten a step or overlooked something please feel free to leave a comment and I'll be glad to help. For all of my readers from overseas I do apologize for not having these measurements in metric form. But I'm hoping that you can use a converter to get the correct measurements. I was going to try it but I'm terrible at those kind of things and just knew that I would mess it allllll up.

I will continue to try to get the video up and on here for you all. It basically tells you everything that I just went over with you except I went into greater detail on this post than I did in the video.

I hope that if nothing else this inspires you to try making a mini album yourself and if you do please please send me a comment as to where I can view your creation. For many many years all that I would do were 12" x 12" scrapbooks that were store bought but now I'm just absolutely hooked on making these little mini albums. Although I love doing many other crafts as well. I bet my sewing machine thinks I've died cause it hasn't been used in almost a year now. YIKES! But with fall coming on I'm starting to feel the urge to get it back out and sew something up. But for now....I'm just having fun with paper.

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful wonderful day and God Bless.