Lowri - Simple Album with Tutorial

Hi everyone - Lowri here with the first "All About Love" post to give you inspiration!

Now - I am not really a pink or a Valentines Day kinda person, but I do LOVE making mini-books, especially for family and I am going to show you one of the simplest techniques.

Not only is it made from only paper it is a great way to use up strips you have previously cut from 12x12 sheets.  You can adapt the size of this once you have mastered the basic technique - which is really simple. 

Check out my tutorial below to get all the know-how!

Sassafrass Lass "Indie Girl" Love Book 

I am new to the Sassafrass Lass products and I have to say some of these papers and embellishments in the Sassafrass Indie Girl line are really lovely. Each piece of paper comes with an extra 12 inch border, die cut strip that you can use as a decorative strip which is a really neat idea! (I see Kaisercraft are doing this too now which is great)

I have used the Indie Girl Stickers and a chipboard button I made to decorate the front.

The Indie Girl Journal Tags and Stickers are the perfect size for the book too and I have used them for a mat on the pages

Here are a couple of close-ups of the detailing. I have also used a few Basic Grey brads which matched perfectly!

 

The phrases I used were from an old packet of Heidi Swapp stickers I found rolling around in the bottom of my rub-ons drawer! I never thought I would have a use for them which just goes to show it's worth going through your supplies every time you start a new project!

As requested via our facebook page - here are a couple of pics of the inside pages

Tutorial

Now I am not going to deny this technique IS a little heavy on the paper use - but if you haven't had to buy a blank album - then I guess overall it's no more expensive than any other technique!

I use it as a way to use up paper and odds and ends of collections so I don’t feel guilty! This size book with 8 pages uses the equivalent of 2 whole sheets of paper – which is still probably cheaper than buying an album and covering it in paper!

You could of course make the book from plain cardstock and cut patterned paper to cover each page, which would effectively use half the amount of patterned paper.

1. Cut 8 pieces of paper  4” x  8”
2. Fold all the pieces into half , with the side of paper you want showing on the INSIDE
3. Glue pieces together back to back to create pages
4. Ensure that the folds are always aligned
5. When all piece are glued – round corners if desired
6. Cut piece of paper 8.5” x 4” for cover – round corners on one side
7. Score cover at 4” and 4¼ ” to create "spine" for book
8. Glue cover to front of book – do not glue spine
9. Glue cover to back of book
10. Trim excess paper and round corners for back of book

All that is left to do is decorate your book as desired! 

Kaisercraft "Lush" Love Book (4x4 inches)

Here I have made the book using the Kaisercraft Lush collection - one of my faves from last year. Goes to show that Valentines and Love themes don't always have to be pink!
 

Hope these ideas have given you some inspiration! Why not dig out an old collection and make a book like this for a loved one this Valentines Day.

I have a few more examples of albums using the technique on my blog here http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/2011/01/simple-gift-album-idea.html

Don't forget to send it to us at artfullcraftsdt@gmail.com to enter it into our challenge and win a great prize.

Lowri :-