Accordion Mini-Albums
How to Make Your Own Accordion Mini-Album
It's true that sometimes, the best gifts come in little packages.
And nothing can beat a mini-album as a gift to remember a holiday,
trip, or person - such as Dad. Follow the steps below to create
your own.
Ideas for decorating the cover are endless. Here are two simple approaches:
Idea One: As shown above, cut out a square image from the Sticker
Studio Timeless paper. Lightly sand the top and edges to age. use glue tabs to adhere
to the front cover. Using an eyelet setter, set snaps into turn buttons. use glue dots to
adhere around on the square image. Use Pinecone ink to stamp "timeless" underneath at an
angle.
Idea Two: As shown on page 5, cover backing board in Timeless paper. If
you wish, just cover 75% since you’re adding a layer of paper to the left-hand side. Cut
a 2” x 6” strip from the handmade paper. Glue and overlap on top of the patterned paper.
If your handmade paper doesn’t have a rough edge, lightly sand or roll it to create one.
Use walnut ink to colour Postage Stamp letters. Glue onto album cover.
Step One - Create Your Album Covers
 Since paper is made of inter-weaving fiber, it can warp over time causing covers to bend or
curl. To avoid this, you need to ensure that your cut board bends "vertical" and not
"horizontal". To do this, hold your uncut backing board horizontal (landscape) at both ends
and gently bend. Then hold vertical (portrait) and gently bend. Notice the difference? Your
backing board should bend more when held horizontal. BUT, when cut into covers, you need to
ensure that these pieces, when bent, are bending vertically. Mark your cut board with an
"arrow" pointing up so you remember the bend. This is your album's "up and down."
Use a craft knife and metal ruler to cut two 4.25" x 5.5" rectangles from the white backing
board. Remember to mark each with your up arrow as detailed above. Cut two 5.25" x 6/5"
sheets from your handmade paper and lay flat. Spread Mod Podge Paper glue onto one side of
each cut backing board piece and press onto the centre of the handmade paper. If you don't
have Mod Podge clue, use any other liquid, acid-free adhesive. This works better than photo
taps, tape runner, or glue dots.
- Trim the corners to leave about 1/8” of an inch from the top. (Fig. A)
- Again, using the Mod Podge glue, glue the sides and press onto the backing board. (Fig. B)
- Fold the corners last. To get a clean fold pinch or tuck the paper at the corners before you
fold over. To get a straight and flat finished corner, tap the edge of each side on a table
or other hard surface. (Fig. C)
Tip: To remove air bubbles, always run a bone folder over your just-glued paper.
Step Two - Create Your Accordion Fold
 Cut a 5.25” x 12” strip from Vanilla cardstock. Score fold lines at every 4“
to create three panels that measure 4” x 5.25”. To make score lines, try using the
black scoring blade on the Fiskars Personal Cutter. Or, lightly mark with a pencil to draw fold
lines.
Fold on the fold lines to create a zigzag. Starting from the left, fold the first section over
like a regular card fold, then fold the third panel behind the second section to create a
“z” shape. Run a bone folder over the folds to make the edges crisp.
 Cut a 5.5” x 5.25“ strip from the Vanilla cardstock. Score one line at 1.5”.
This will create one small panel that is 1.5” x 5.25” for gluing and another that
measures 4“ x 5.25”.
Spread a light and even layer of Mod Podge glue to the exposed backing boards on each cover.
For the front cover, press the left panel of the Vanilla cardstock (ensure texture of the paper
is facing up) onto the glued board. Run your bone folder over it to remove any air pockets.
Repeat for the back cover.
 Now attach the two separate sections to create your full accordion. Use photo tabs or Mod Podge
glue along the front of the 1.5” x 5” panel. Press this against the back of the third
panel (where there is no texture). Bring the edge of the third panel as close to the fold line as
possible to make an invisible seam.
Step 3 - Decorate Your Accordion Album
In the example right, Vanilla cardstock is coloured with a light coating of walnut ink.
Scraptivity™ clock stamps are randomly used in Pinecone ink. Patterned paper
is painted with ivory acrylic paint, and then lightly sanded. Edges of Postage Stamp
letters are stained with Pinecone ink.
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