Hello Everyone! Today, I would like to share with you how I constructed these mini albums where you can easily insert your polaroids into attached pockets. For a period of time, I used to pin my photos to a cork board. While on display, the photos often endured the hardship of sun exposure which promoted color fading. Away from the board, my polaroid collection was growing by leaps and bounds. Storing them became a serious issue. Eventually, I chose to chuck them into a box and left it at that.
To solve my polaroid epidemic, I came up with this easy-to-make mini album/pocket book solution. For a closer look, follow along below...
To make the album pockets, grab multiple sheets of vellum and cut them down to 4" x 8". You'll need a total of eleven sheets.
For each sheet, score at the 4" mark - the length of the vellum should stretch across the score board as shown.
Rotate the vellum and score at 1" on both sides.
Once done, fold the sheet in half. Cut a small slit on both sides of the sheet where it meets the 1" score line. Fold the sides inward and glue to assemble the pocket. Each pocket should be spacious enough to fit a polaroid.
**The pockets may be replicated using regular patterned paper. I chose vellum because of it's semi-transparent quality and to enable the visibility of my polaroid images. I also left them plain because most my polaroids are colorful in nature.
For the spine, cut a 3" x 12" sheet of patterned paper. Score at every 1" mark. Insert a vellum pocket between each fold and use glue to secure them in place. This next step is optional; use a circular punch to create a simple opening for each pocket.
As for the cover of the album, trim "two" 3.5" x 4.25" sections from patterned paper and cardboard. Attach and connect the cardboard sections to the spine's outer edges.
Next, cut a 3.5" x 4.25" sheet from Flea Market's gold doilies vellum and wrap it around the spine. I chose to use vellum in this way because it's sturdy and flexible. Also, it's tear resistant and voids damage associated with the opening and closing of the album itself. Lastly, it serves to hide the spine - making for a more pleasing presentation of the album as a whole.
Finally, attach a ribbon to hold the album closed and cover the thin cardboard sheets with patterned papers with the ribbon just beneath it.
Decorate the cover with embellishments. I chose chipboard elements as the added weight helped to flatten the album in place. Embellishments were also kept to a minimum due to the cover's small surface area. I focused first on just one large element such as the globe and the camera. From there, I built up more layers.
No more boxed polaroids! Instead, two mini albums containing simple, elegant vellum crafted folders and precious polaroids safe from the wear and tear of everyday life.
Thank you for spending time with Crate Paper today. I hope you liked the tutorial! If you happen to have created one like it — share it! We'd love to see it!
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It's been far too long since we've had a Flea Market giveaway, so today we're honoring Jeanette's stunning mini album by bundling a box of Flea Market happiness and giving it away to one very lucky winner! To participate in the giveaway, tell us your must-have item from the Flea Market collection in a comment below. We'll announce the winner this Friday, November 1st! Good Luck and have fun!
Wow, what a beautiful mini album!! I absolutely love this idea and I think I'll have to try it somewhen soon!
It's really hard to choose only one favourite item of the Flea Market collection because it is so pretty, but if I had to decide on one..I'd say the decorative pins! They are dreamy and add some dimension to every project!
Posted by: Kathleen | October 29, 2013 at 04:12 AM
awwwww the gold doilies vellum paper is scrumptious, I love it all and can't wait to get me some of everything!!!
Posted by: yvette | October 29, 2013 at 04:13 AM
Oooooh - all of the chipboard elements I think !
Posted by: Tanya W | October 29, 2013 at 04:17 AM
Love the mini album! Thanks for the step by step!
Would love to win Flea Market stuff. So many possibilities! Full LOs, mini albums, Project Life, cards! Ideas are endess! My favourite item has to be the 12x12 die cut sheet! Like I said, I love versatility and possibilities!
Posted by: Teresa Tay | October 29, 2013 at 04:28 AM
Love this! Thanks for the inspiration! My fave of the flea market line are the - oh - so hard to choose - is the ephemera pack.
Posted by: Donna Bryant | October 29, 2013 at 04:37 AM
Your album is amazing, Jeanette! I love the gold accents in this collection best - like the vellum and the resin flowers!
Posted by: Vanessa Menhorn | October 29, 2013 at 05:22 AM
what a great idea! like the step by step pictures and would love to create with the gold heirloom thickers.
Posted by: Anne Taylor | October 29, 2013 at 05:48 AM
Fabulous album and tutorial! I just love this collection, especially the chipboard elements, the gold accents are fabulous! Thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome collection!
Posted by: Mel Blackburn | October 29, 2013 at 05:57 AM
Great album idea! I love the whole collection, but my favorite part is the beautful pattern paper!
Posted by: S. Molinari | October 29, 2013 at 06:06 AM
This is truly a beautiful project. Thanks so much for the step by step instructions! I missed getting some of the resin flowers that go with the Flea Market collection. I also love the gold doily paper.
Posted by: Gina M | October 29, 2013 at 07:13 AM
The stitched fabric frames are fantabulous but then so are the beautiful papers. Love all the bright colors.
Posted by: marianne-g | October 29, 2013 at 07:16 AM
I love the gold doily paper! I would love to win the whole collection!!
Posted by: Chelsea | October 29, 2013 at 07:16 AM
I just love the fabric frames and the fabric bows! THANKS for the chance to win!
Posted by: Jena Baker | October 29, 2013 at 07:52 AM
love it all
if i had to pick one thing
it would be the
chipboard
Posted by: {vicki} | October 29, 2013 at 08:41 AM
I love the gold doilies vellum, haven't managed to get any yet (sold out!)!
Posted by: Sabrina | October 29, 2013 at 08:53 AM
Super cute mini! And Flea Market...love the photo overlays! Thanks for a chance to win them!!
Posted by: Cynthia | October 29, 2013 at 09:04 AM
Love love love all the flea market collection but if i had to choose it would be the fabric frames.They are so fun!...Also thanks for the inspiration the pocket idea is genius!
Posted by: christina henderson | October 29, 2013 at 09:08 AM
Beautiful album!! My favorite of the Flea Market collection is the chipboard elements!
Posted by: Christine | October 29, 2013 at 09:12 AM
What a fab album. The Flea Market collections is my fav! Love the Clipboard Album.
Posted by: Kate | October 29, 2013 at 09:15 AM
That's really simple without being too complicated to make our own mini album.
I love the dreamy bokeh hearts paper and the ephemera pack from the Flea market collection. Love love love it!
Posted by: Gossip Girl | October 29, 2013 at 09:20 AM