Mini accordion album

This is an accordion album which could also double up as an elaborate card – it’s ideal for sending to family with pictures of the children inside, or for sending from a group of people, as there are lots of places to add messages.

To make it you start with a single sheet of 12x12 cardstock. 

Score it and cut it as shown. That’s scored horizontally at the halfway point, then three vertical scores at 3”, 6” and 9”. Slice off the corners – I didn’t measure these, just cut one corner off on one side, then a longer cut, angling two sections on the other side.

Next, tape it as shown. You really do need Sticky Strip for this because it’s narrow and very, very strong. But you don’t want to go overboard on the tape or you won’t be able to get your tabs in!

Now fold up the lower half – this gives you the basic shape of the album. But don’t stick anything down just yet, especially if you’re going to stamp on the inside. It’s a good idea to stamp the outside before sticking, too, as you can open out the album again to get it nice and flat. Something else which I forgot to do before taking this picture is punch out a semi-circle from the third front panel, so that you can get your fingers in to pull out the tab. You can use any circle punch for this.

Finally, decorate your album. I made four pull-out tabs to insert in each panel, each with a ribbon at the top to pull out. These are blank in my photo – you could use these blank spaces to add photos. Alternatively, if you’re sending this as a card, you can use these spaces for messages – or a combination or photos and messages.

Avid readers (I flatter myself!) may recognise the front of this album. I used the same design on a small Christmas card, which you can see here.

And that’s it. If you’re really keen, you could decorate the back, too! If you want the album to stay closed, to keep in a handbag, you could add ribbon to tie it together – but don’t forget to wrap one piece all the way round the album, or the back will pop open like a hospital gown!

Stamps: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red
Accessories: 1 ¼” circle punch, Round Tab Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin’ Write markers, red gingham ribbon, 5/8” grosgrain ribbon – Very Vanilla, ¼” grosgrain ribbon – Real Red; jumbo eyelets – pewter, rhinestone brads, Crop-A-Dile™, staple, sticky strip

All products by Stampin' Up! Please email me to order a catalogue, or click the picture of the catalogue on the right to view it online.