Celebrating Three Generations and Some Very Special News!


Hello and welcome to the first day of a new month and some special news.

I am delighted to share that I have been invited to join the design team of Mini Album Makers Challenge and today I will be sharing my first mini book and tutorial with you all here as part of the Team.

As many of you will know making mini books is a great passion of mine and it was where I started nearly ten years ago with my paper crafting. So it really is a great honour to be part of the fabulous team over at Mini Album Makers.

I hope over the coming months you will enjoy the tutorials I will be sharing with you and that it will inspire you to get those scrapbook papers, paints, inks and stamps out to create these wonderful little marvels. In addition I hope it will act as a resource for you to come back to from time to time.

The mini book I am sharing with you today is made from a single sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock and despite it's size at 6" x 3" has plenty of room for photographs and pockets and tags for the stories I want to record in it.  My fellow Design Team members have made a stunning array of mini books and you can't fail to be inspired. Do hop on over to see what they have created by clicking the link HERE.

First of all I will share the photographs and details of the mini book and then I will share a tutorial for making it. It will be a long post! Sorry !!!


The cover ...



Inside front: This is my grandmother aged 18 and I have plenty of room to share her amazing story (widowed with three young children under 5) on the pocket tags and the large tag behind the photograph.



  Despite being only 3" wide I still love creating little collages wherever possible.


The next two pages focus on my great grandmother and I have created a side pocket to hold tags as well as the larger tag behind the photograph. I have used an Envelope Board to create the fancy cutting, details are below in the tutorial.



And finally on the back of the book is a photograph of my great great grandmother. I don't know much about her other than she used to love writing, so I have created a little collage to celebrate this.


Tutorial for the Mini Book



Score a 12 x 12 piece of scrapbook paper at 3", 6" and 9" to create four panels.


Fold the paper in half with your preferred pattern on the outside.


Open out and adhere double sided tape to the outside panels on the top of the sheet.


And fold the bottom up to meet to the top to create a concertina folded four panels: the outside panels are stuck down and will create the front and back covers and the two inside panels are open and can take the large tags.


I like to punch a couple of half circles in the inner pockets to make it easier to get the tags in and out.


You can either make a pocket for the right hand side by cutting a strip of cardstock 6" x 1 3/4" and then an inner mat measuring 5 7/8" x 15/8", or .... if you have an Envelope Board with the V cut notch you can make this a little fancier!


The strip of cardstock measures 6" x 1 3/4" and I have cut the notch on the left hand side at 1 1/2".


Flip the cardstock over and cut another notch on the other side at 1 1/2".


Cut the strip out of the middle and you have a lovely shaped pocket.


It is easy to cut an inner matt to fit by using a strip of patterned cardstock measuring 5 7/8" x 1 5/8" and cutting the notch at 1 3/8". I hope that makes sense! Basically the inner matt is 1/8" smaller all around.


 I have used the same notch to cut this little pocket too.


Cut a piece of base cardstock 2 3/4" x 2".


This time place the edge of the cardstock at the score guide and punch.


 Flip the cardstock over and do the same again for the other side.


To make an inner mat to fit this your patterned paper needs to be 2 5/8" x 1 7/8" and punch as before.


I have added a little "belly band" from the scraps to create another layer for tags.


Finally you need to cut the covers for the front and back to give the book some substance. The cream cardstock base measures 2 3/4" x 5 3/4" and the inside layer 2 5/8" x 5 5/8". These can be stuck down onto the back but when sticking them onto the front make sure you capture your ribbon underneath.

If you are still with me well done  and thank you!

And so I have four weeks to think and design another mini book to share with you - I can't wait!

As always thank you for joining me today and I hope you find time to join in our challenge and share your mini book with us at the Mini Album Makers Challenge.

Have a great weekend!

Jennie x





Comments

Brenda Brown said…
A super delightful mini album with gorgeous pages and photos already included. I love the little pockets and tuck~aways holding the tags and what a great post showing how to put it all together. Congratulations on your new DT position, you are the perfect addition to the team xxx
Margaret said…
A beautiful mini book Jennie - I will have to get the papers out again!
Welcome, Jennie! It's a joy to have you on the team. This exquisite album shows why you're the perfect fit - and wonderfully clear step-out photos too.
Alison x
Jennie, this mini is lovely. Your choice of papers and the instructions are perfect. I'm going to have to try this.
Redanne said…
I am so thrilled that you have joined the team Jennie and I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations. This little album is gorgeous and I loved seeing your step by steps too! Hugs, Anne xx
Astrid Maclean said…
It's so great to have you joining our team Jennie and I just love your mini book!!! And the way you used the envelope punch board for the pockets is super clever, I will definitely give that a try. The whole book is just wonderful, love it!!
Annie said…
Huge congratulations on being a new member of the amazing team at MAMC Jennie x I absolutely love this fabulous project x You have blown me away with this make x I just love the heirloom quality and the layout is simply stunning x So inspiring x

TFS and best wishes
Annie x
HMax said…
Congrats Jennie! This is such a sweet project I'll have to give it a try. You did a beautiful and concise job of explaining the steps and I love the paper you chose (and of course all the extra details). Looking forward to seeing more of your projects! ~Heather
Lys said…
Congratulations, Jennie! This mini album is so delightful and elegant. What a treasure for your family photos! Thanks for the tutorial.
Well done Jennie! I love this little album, I might also use the idea to create a journal insert x
Dr Sonia S V said…
Congratulations and your album is so pretty
Cheers
Dr Sonia
Congratulations on your DT position and this is a delightful mini for your debut. take care xxx Helen
eileen hull said…
I would never have believed it could all fit on one sheet of paper! Beautiful!
SewPaperPaint said…
I agree with Eileen! I never thought this was such a tiny book when I've seen the photos on social media. But wow! What a power packed album this is indeed! I love how you constructed it and left room for pockets. And the personal nature of sharing your family ancestry is truly touching. The photos work beautifully with your paper choice. This is really amazing Jennie! I can't tell you how happy I am to have you on the team. Welcome and big hugs, Autumn
Paper Wishes said…
Such a lovely delicate tribute to those women who came before us, love this project, thanks for sharing it. x Amanda
A Pink said…
Big Congratulations Jennie. You are more than deserved of your place on the team and I am so delighted for you .
As for your debut mini album well its without a doubt an absolute beauty and a wonderful place to keep those treasured family photos.
It really is hard to believe that from one sheet of 12x12 such a beautiful project can be made .

Thanks for sharing a great tutorial too .

Hugs x