Spectrum Sherbet Envelope Mini Album Tutorial

The new 49 and Market Spectrum/Sherbet Card Kit isn't just for making cards!! I'll show you step by step, how I created this Mini album using the kit and its contents. With just a few extra items, you can create this awesome keepsake, that can be used for photos, journaling or just for fun. 

Here is your step by step tutorial on how I created this mini album. To complete it as I did, you will need the following. 

3 one inch book rings

2 pieces of 5 x 6 3/4 heavy chip board

6 wide eye eyelets (I used We R Memory Keepers)

Flowers and Embellishments of your choice. There are so many collections in the Spectrum/Sherbet collection. I used chipboard pieces, tags, washi tape and Frames from the collection. 

A few sheets of  12x12 Spectrum/Sherbet paper

A border punch (I used Fiskars border punch Apron Lace)

Score Tape (or any brand 2 sided tape)

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To prepare for the album, I put all 8 envelopes in the Card Kit together. You could also fold the cards, and set the cards aside.

Cut 8 pieces of paper 2 1/2  x 4 1/2 inches. These are going to be used as hinges on the envelopes, so decide if you want a coordinating color, plain paper, or matching to your envelopes. 

Place them on a score board short side up, and score longways down at 1 1/4 inch. 

 

This is optional, but you can use a decorative border punch to punch the edges on both of the long sides.

 

 This is what they will look like when they are all done. I will refer to them as hinges. 

Adhere 1/4 inch of the end of the hinge, to the short edge of the envelope making sure there is close to 1 inch of overhang from the fold line. May be a little less if you used a decorative punch. Then put a little adhesive on the inside of the fold and  fold over adhering the opposite of the hinge to the front of the envelope. This hinge will allow you to punch holes for the book rings, without obstructing the inside of the envelope.  It looks pretty too!! Make sure you adhere the hinges to the same side of the envelopes if you want them all going in the same direction. It is up to you. 

 

Now prepare your front and back covers. place double sided tape to the insides of the 2 pieces of chipboard as shown. 

 

We are going to wrap the chipboard with card stock. Cut 2 pieces of 7 x 8 3/4  inch paper you want for the front and the back covers. Place your chipboard adhesive side down onto your paper leaving 1 inch paper all around. Miter the corners by cutting off paper at a 45 degree angle leaving a small space on the corners. Do not cut up against the corners. Place double sided tape on the flaps of the paper. 

Starting on the short ends wrap your paper around the chipboard, then do the long ends. Now your chip board is neatly wrapped. 

Here is what your cover and back should look like. Make note of the direction of your designs. This pattern, it didn't matter to much. Either way would look fine. 

Now we will finish the insides of the front and back covers. Choose the papers you want for the insides. Cut 2 pieces  to 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 inch. This will leave a 1/8 inch gap all around the insides of your front and back covers. Adhere the papers to your chipboard. Figure out where you want your 3 holes to be, and punch the holes. This would be a good time to set your eyelets if you want to use them. I find it gives the front and back a clean look, and the colors are fun as they match the papers. It may be easy to create a little template for your holes. This way they are all in the same place. 

This is what the front and back cover looks like. The book rings fit through the wide eyelets. Standard eyelets may be to small. If you have a Cropadile, it is so handy for punching holes through chipboard as well as setting the eyelets. 

Now punch holes through the flaps on the envelope so that they match the front and back cover. Be careful not to punch on the envelope itself. You wont be able to slip the card inside. 

Now you are ready to put the album together. Open your book rings and place the back cover on, then the envelopes, and end with your cover. Close your book rings. Your envelopes should open easily without any obstruction on the inside of the envelope. The hinges are essential to this. 

Now it is time to decorate your card covers. Or the inside if you want to. 

I chose to use the rub-ons included  in the card kit. They are absolutely beautiful!!

Tuck the cards into the envelopes, Decorate the cover as you want, and call your envelope mini album finished!! 

You can visit my post for the finished mini and more details HERE.