Idea of the Month

Accordian Scrapbook

This miniature scrapbook measures 5 x 5" and contains 4 pages, but you can easily adapt the paper dimensions to make it any size and with any number of pages.  Embellish it to your heart's delight with stamps, papers, buttons, or whatever for any look from cute to classy!  Take a look at the finished product in the 2 photos below before you get started.  It will help you visualize the steps that follow.

The Finished Scrapbook, Closed                            The Finished Scrapbook, Open

Step 1:  Cut Your Paper

For a 5 x 5" scrapbook, begin with the following:

Step 2:  Create the Front and Back Covers

Center the cardstock squares onto the back of the BGTP and glue down.  Miter the corners (just use scissors to cut into each corner diagonally as shown).  Fold the excess "triangles" inward and glue down.  Fold down the top and bottom flaps and glue.  Repeat with the side flaps.  Decorate the cover(s) as desired and set aside.

Step 3:  Begin to Create the Inner Pages

Overlap the two 4- 3/4" x 12" strips of cardstock about 1/2" along the short ends and glue.  You should have one long strip that measures about 4- 3/4" x 23- 1/2".   Fold the strip approximately in half along one of the seams (it doesn't matter which one, and it doesn't matter which way you fold it at this point...).  It will NOT fold exactly in half!  You will have about 1/2" excess on one edge, as shown in the above photo.  That's ok: just trim off this extra piece to make both sides equal length.  Don't throw away the strip you are cutting off!  It makes a great ruler for the next step.

Step 4:  Finish the Inner Pages

Ok, this part is a bit tricky to explain, but I'm sure we can do it!   Lay your folded page strip long-ways in front of you with the fold on the left (as shown in the upper left photo above, though it's hard to see the fold).  Basically, we are going to use the excess cardstock you cut off in Step 3 to measure the width of each page to make sure the pages end up square... ok?  Lay the excess cardstock from Step 3 across your page strip as shown, starting at the fold line.   Where the excess cardstock ends marks the width of the page: score at this point and fold the page strip to create a page (again, don't worry about which way you fold things at this point).  Repeat this process, starting at the fold you just made and measure again (as shown in the above right photo), but this time trim off the excess cardstock.  Repeat these steps on the other side of your page strip, and you should end up with the strip divided into 4 equal pages.

Step 5:  Glue on Front and Back Covers

Using the photo above as a guide, you can now refold your page strip as needed.  Position the page strip so that the overlapping seam is in back.  Now all you have to do is to glue on the front and back covers!  If you are using ribbon, glue it onto the inside of each cover piece before adhering the pages.  Now go ahead and create your mini-layouts and enjoy!

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