Rush . . .

I have had these file folders for years and decided it was finally time to do something with them. And since it's November (yikes!) and time for a new challenge on Mini Album Makers Challenge blog . . . well, why not use them to create a mini-book.

All the file folders will be cut down so that the finished book will measure 7.5" wide X 9" tall and will have 4 large pockets.

You will need:

• 5 File Folders - 2 with left tabs and 3 with right tabs. The file folders I used are from Cavallini. There are countless designs available at your local office supply store.
• Cardstock for the binding - 7-3/8" X 5-1/4"
• Score Board
• Score-Tape

Steps:

1. To make the cover: Take one file folder with a right tab and cut it down to 7.5" wide.
2. Lay it down, long side to the top of your score board with the tab at the top left corner. Score at 9" and 10". This will become the spine of the book.  Note the score line at 9.5". That's the original fold of the file folder. We'll ignore that until later.

 3.  Cut the other four file folders.  Keeping the tabs, cut 2 folders from the left side and 2 from the right as follows: Close the file folders before trimming. Cut each one 7.5" wide, again keeping the tabs intact. Save the trimmings for later.

4.  Using the same 4 file folders from step 3 above, keep the file folders closed and cut them from the bottom to measure 9" tall. You will now have 2 pieces for each file folder - a front and a back with a tab.

 

Binding: We'll be using the standard hidden hinge binding system.

1. Take a piece of cardstock that measures 7-3/8" X 5-1/4".  Place the 5-1/4" side up against the top of your scoreboard and score as follows:  1/4" - 3/4" - 1-1/4" - 1-1/2" - 2" - 2-1/2" - 2-3/4"-3-1/4" - 3-3/4" - 4" - 4-1/2" - 5".
2. As you can see from the photo below, you will start and end with a 1/4" seam allowance. You will also have 4 pairs of 1/2" seams. On each of those pairs, cover one side only with score tape. So you will have 1/4" no tape - 1/2" tape - 1/2" no tape . . . 1/4" no tape - 1/2" tape - 1/2" no tape and so on.
   
   

3.  Remove the scor-tape from the first 1/2" seam and secure that seam to the next 1/2" seam, folding on the score line between the 2 half inches. Remove the scor-tape from the next 1/2" seam and fold that seam to the next 1/2" seam.  Continue to do this until all 1/2" seams are secured to their partner.

Once this is complete, you have something that looks a bit like an accordion until you turn it over. Fold on the score  lines and you will see fins popping up. Those fins are what you'll use to attach the pages.

4.Place scor-tape on both sides of each fin and miter the corners of each fin.

    

 You'll need the original file folder that was trimmed down and scored. 

 5.  Next place scor-tape on the bottom of this binding system and place on the inside center of the file folder, making sure to get it as even as possible between the two score lines you created earlier for the spine.

 So now you have the original folder with the binding system taped to the spine.

You're ready to work on the 4 pages:

1.  You should have pieces of file folder left from trimming them down. You will need 8 pieces that measure 2" wide X 7.5" tall.
2. With the 2" side up against the top of your score board, score at 1".  Do this with all 8 pieces. These will become the side closures for each folder.
3. Place scor-tape on one side of each of the 8 pieces, making sure to not let the scor-tape cover the scored line.
4. Add one piece to the  inside of one of the folders, making sure the folded scored line is to the outside of the folder and about 3/4" from the bottom of the folder:

         5.  Remove the piece of scor-tape from the top hinge and add the top of the file to the scor-tape:

 Repeat with the remaining folders. You've created large pockets that are open on the top and bottom.

6.  Carefully remove the tape from one of the binding fins and insert the bottom of one of the pockets over the binding fin. Page 1 complete! Repeat with the other 3 pages.

Add the Pages to the Binding:

1. Remove the score tape from one of the fins. Choose the file folder you want to use first and carefully place the bottom of the file folder bottom opening over the first fin.
2. Repeat with the other 3 pages until all the pages are inserted over the fins.

Your file folder book is complete.

Decorate as desired and add inserts to the pockets for more photo opportunities.

 
Hope you enjoyed my File Folder Mini-Book.

Join the

Mini Album Makers Challenge

Design Team to see what everyone has been up to this month.

 

and enter your own mini-book for this month's challenge.

You'll have a chance to win a prize package from our sponsor:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Online Store

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Facebook Craft Page 

My first Button Farm Club kit . . .

 

So excited and honored to be offering my kits thru

Button Farm Club

See my kit here:

Hummingbird Folio

You may purchase this kit without signing up for the kit club.

 

 

Halloween tags display booklet . . . .

Today is the 1st of the month and that means a new set of Mini Album Makers Challenge blog posts from the Design Team.

I'm featuring a set of Super-X tags from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

But this is a mini-album blog so I'm turning them into a mini-book of sorts.

I wanted them staggered so I cut a 2" piece off the bottom of the first tag and 1.5" off the bottom of the second tag.

Then created a binding as follows:

1.  Cut a piece of cardstock 5" wide (the width of the tags) X 11".
2. Score as follows: 1" -  1-1/8" -  2-1/8" -  3-1/8"  -  3-5/8" -  4-5/8" -  5-5/8"  -  5-3/4" -  6-3/4" -  7-3/4" -  8-1/4" -   8-3/4"  -  9-3/4" -  9-7/8"

Each tag is 1/8" thick.

Here's the goal:

Begin with the shortest tag:

• Glue the very bottom (the 1/8" width) of the tag to the 1/8" margin
• 

 

• Glue the 1" first margin to the bottom front of the tag.

• Glue the next 1" margin to the back of the tag.

• Fold the next 1" margin down on top of the last 1" and glue down.

• The next gusset is the 1/2" margin between the two tags. Do not glue this!
• Continue glueing the second 1/8" wide tag to the 1/8" wide margin and then the front 1" and the back 1" to the 2nd tag until all 3 tags are glued in.

Cut a piece of chipboard (I used the chip from the cut tags):  5" X 1.5". Glue to the bottom of the assembly, stabilizing the tags.

Ready to decorate!

 I wrapped a piece of cardstock around the bottom of the tag booklet and created a pocket for tag #1.  Details of the 1st tag:

Tag #2:

Tag #3:

And when all finished and tied with black & cream striped ribbon, this tag booklet stands up by itself:

Take a look at what my fellow Design Team Members have created

for the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog.

And while there, why not play along for a chance to win

this fabulous prize

from this month's sponsor:

Seth Apter

Website - http://www.sethapter.com/

Blog - https://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sethapter/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thealteredpage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sethapter

Bringing back one of my favorites . . .

If you used to take my classes at For Keeps Sake (yes, they are closed. insert sad face.) you might remember my Innies & Outties workshops. Because they were one of my favorites I'm bringing the concept back for Halloween.

 

We'll begin with a We R Memory Keepers linen 8x8 binder and add page protectors with photo mats on the inside of each page protector. Then we'll decorate the outside of each page protector with embellishments = INNIES & OUTTIES.  Each student will get a full Simple Stories Vintage Halloween collection kit + lots of other embellishments I will be adding to each class kit.

The cover will be layered similar to the photo above.

I'll be teaching this class at

Checkered Cottage, Kirkwood MO

October 13 (all day class)

and at

The Doodlebug Inc, Jasper IN

October 19 (all day class)

Hope to see you there!

Prima Workshops at Checkered Cottage . . .

My Prima Workshops are officially on the schedule

at Checkered Cottage in Kirkwood MO.

Monday, July 9:  Tag & Card Workshop

Saturday, August 11:  Mini Book Workshop

More information can be found here:  

Checkered Cottage Prima Workshops

Sign up today or stop in and see the samples in person.

Hometown girl makes good . . .

. . . STENCILS. Mary Beth Shaw is the owner of Stencil Girl Stencils and I am happy to say lives near me. I've been a fan of her stencils for years.  This month, we're thrilled to be sharing some of her stencils on our Mini Album Makers Challenge blog.

Since I'm waiting for paint to dry, I'll share one of the first projects I ever did with Stencil Girl Stencils.

Love the detail she gets in her stencils.

And the list of artists who design for Stencil Girl is a who's who list!

(Stencil used on the above book: Bird in Window)

This month on Mini Album Makers Challenge blog, I've re-created a book I did a loooonnnnnggggg time ago. It's a super-easy binding with a flexible spine. Let's get started:

For the binding you will need:

• 2 pieces of chipboard for the covers, each measuring 5" wide X 7" tall
• 6 pieces of cardstock for the page binding, each cut 6-3/4" tall X 2-1/8" wide

• You will also need decorative paper for the covers, binding and inside pages.  I used an A-4 pack from Prima Marketing.
• Scor-Tape or your favorite wet glue. I used scor-tape.

For the binding:

Score each of the 2-1/8" pieces of cardstock at 1" and 1-1/8".

I call that middle section a gusset and the left & right side a margin.  There is a *right* way to fold on score lines. One side of your score line is a valley (indented) and the other side of the paper shows score lines as a mountain (bursting up). Always fold towards the mountain. It will give you a crisper edge.

So you'll end with 6 pieces that look like this:

Working with just one side of each binding piece, place scor-tape on the left and right margins. DO NOT OVERLAP tape on the gusset. 

Tape one margin of one binding piece to the next binding's margin, until you get a look like this:

 

Notice that there will be left & right wing margins that will not be attached to anything. That's how we'll attach this binding to the book (later).

 Time to decorate:

1.  Cut 2 pieces of decorative paper for the outside covers. I'm wrapping the cover so I will be cutting my paper 1" larger (all around) than the chipboard.  My chipboard is 5" X 7" so my decorative paper will measure 7" x 9".

2.  Place scor-tape on one side of the chipboard.

3.  Remove the scor-tape and center the chipboard, tape down, onto the center back of the decorative paper.  Repeat for the back cover.

 4.  Next, I fold all the edges in towards the raw chip. This makes it easy to tape the paper.  Miter the corners being careful not to cut too far into the paper. The idea is to cover the corners without chipboard showing.

5.  Place tape on the edges and fold over onto the chipboard.  Repeat with the back cover.

NOTE: If you fold the top and bottom over first on the front cover, do the same on the back cover. Looks a bit more professional ; )

Adding the spine to the covers.

Cut a piece of decorative paper 3" wide X 7" tall. This paper will show on the outside of your book.

With the front & back cover facing up and the decorative spine paper in the center (also facing up) . . . 

attach score tape to each side of the spine paper - 1" on each side - leaving a 1" center spine paper showing:

Remove one piece of tape and attach one of the covers to the tape, up to the 1" tape. Repeat with the 2nd cover. 

You will see both covers + the spine paper showing in between the covers.

 

TA DA!

Open the book to insert the binding system. This binding system is not attached to the spine. Rather, we will be using the two wings (left & right margins) and attach those to the front and back cover, avoiding taping anything to the spine.

Place scor-tape on the underside of both the left and right margin of the binding.  Attach the left margin to the front cover and the right margin to the back cover. The margins will not touch the spine at all, but will sit securely onto the covers.

 Add pages to the binding:

• There are 5 pages in this book and 5 fins sticking up from the binding.
• Cut 10 pieces of cardstock measuring 4-1/4" wide X 6-3/4" tall.  
• With scor-tape, attach one piece of cardstock to each side of a fin.  If you wish, you can add scor-tape to the top and bottom of the cardstock to create a side pocket.
• Cover each page with decorative paper.

Cut 2 pieces of decorative paper 4-3/4" wide X 6-3/4" tall for the inside front & back cover. 

• Attach decorative paper to the inside covers.

Next up, the cover and Stencil Girl combined with Prima Marketing:

Select the Stencil Girl product you want to use. I chose this Pressed Leaf pattern.  

1. Place the stencil on top of the paper (or the substrate chosen). You might want to tape the pattern down with painters' tape so that it doesn't move. 
2. I'm using Platinum Crackle Texture Paste for my medium and spreading it on top of the stencil.

I don't worry about getting it smooth. Let dry thoroughly.

 Once dry, there's a shimmering crackle that looks beautiful with a simple pattern.

I chose to use the crackle in it's own color. You can add color to the crackle with Prima Marketing Artisan Powders.  Mix the powders in thoroughly with the crackle before applying to the stencil.

Instead, I chose to color the background with Artisan Powders and a small round paintbrush, giving it a bit more depth:

And the finished product:

Thanks for taking the time to view this Mini Album Makers tutorial.

It was so much fun working with Stencil Girl Products.

Join the Challenge fun on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog this month

for a chance to win a prize package 

from our generous sponsor

Stencil Girl Products

Stencil Girl Blog

Stencil Girl Tutorials

Also entering this in the

Vintage Journay June Challenge

Attache for Father's Day . . .

My latest Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts is up on the gslcuts blog today. Just in time for Father's Day, this attache is easily put together.

Need a Mother's Day or graduation gift? Change up the paper and you're ready to go.

See more including the inside pages and a quick video on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog today:

http://gslcuts.blogspot.com/2018/05/an-attache-for-dad.html

Thanks for visiting!

Something brand new . . .

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts has some fabulous new pieces. These are perfect for mini-books or ATC's.

Check out the

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog

to see how I've used them or join our Facebook page for more inspiration.

Playing with a Piano Hinge for Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog . . .

It's the 1st of the month and that means new mini-books are up on the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog.  I'm creating a piano hinge mini with help from this month's sponsor, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  You can make these books with any cardstock. Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts carries these in both black and kraft. I chose a mix of both for my book.

 

 

Here's how easy it is to create a piano hinge:

• 6 pre-cut, pre-scored piano hinge pages from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts
• 6 thin skewers (or similar)

Here's how the pages look from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. Of course you can cut and score these yourself, but it's so easy to build this with the help of GSL Cuts pre-prepped pages:

You can see that there is a score line on the left and on the right with one score line down the middle. The centers are pre-cut which makes it easy to thread skewers through to create the hinge.

Step 1:  Fold each page on the outside score lines (the far right and far left score lines).

Step 2:  

Above photo shows an actual piano hinge.  And here's our piano hinge page.  The idea is to marry one side of the hinge with the other.

To do that, I used a skewer and threaded every other hinge - first one on the kraft and then alternated with one on the black.

 

Continue that until every other hinge on each page is skewered.

You can see from the photo above that you are using every other hinge on the kraft cardstock and the opposite hinge on the black cardstock.

For the 3rd page, use the opposite hinges.  (see video above)

And the finished product with simple inside pages:

 

Now that you've seen how easy it is to put this book together,

please enter your own mini-book

(all styles highly encouraged)

on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog

for a chance to win a fabulous prize from this month's sponsor

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog . . .

Today is the day the Designers show you more ideas on the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog. This month I decided to do a very simple binding using a Zutter Bind-It-All.

To see the mechanics of putting this together, please visit Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog. I've written a tutorial with photos.  

In the meantime, here's how I decorated my mini:

I've used a Zutter chipboard book. I love these books! They have a rounded spine that looks like an old binding. I've darkened the book cover (it's a kraft color to begin with) using three shades of brown ink.

Building up the cover, I used chipboard with some of my cross stitch, Prima flowers and beautiful papers from Stamperia.

Left side with pockets including tissue paper prepared with resin.

Right side opens and holds pockets with tags.

Tiny feathers on the left page are from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Left page opens and holds 2 library pockets with tag inserts.

Right page reveals pages that hold 4" X 6" photos and a journaling card in a library pocket.

The button tag is used as a closure.

Left page with flaps open and a belly band to hold more photos:

A fun accordion paper bag page

with lots of storage:

A gate-fold page:

Thanks for visiting today.

Hope you enjoyed my mini-book.

Please visit

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog

and enter your own mini

with a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsor

Seth Apter!