Step-by-Step: Recipe Mini Album

I love the feeling of satisfaction I get when a project is completed. That's why I love mini albums! Unlike my regular family albums (which are always "in progress"), mini albums come together quickly and fulfill my need to finish something. I recently completed this fun, little book using chipboard and some leftover 8" x 8" page protectors. I created a recipe album, but you could use the same format for any type of album.

Here are the supplies you'll need to complete this project:

• 2 pieces of chipboard (7"x 4 1/2")
• 2 sheets of patterned paper (Jitterbug by Cosmo Cricket and Halfway Cafe Journaling Cards by Cosmo Cricket)
• Bazzill cardstock
• letter stickers (Making Memories Boho Chic alphas)
• ribbon
• assorted embellishments (buttons, photo turns, brads, etc.)
• bookbinding tape (like this one by 7gypsies)
• Cosmo Cricket Wanted Chipboard
• Fiber Scraps Tintz (black and walnut ink)
• staples
• 8" x 8" page protectors (trimmed to 7" x 4 1/2")

Instructions:

1. Trim your chipboard to size and cover three sides of it with patterned paper using a strong adhesive. I used my Scotch ATG tape gun. Don't cover the back of the front side yet. You will want to wait so you can cover staples and brads that are poking through.
2. Embellish the front cover. Attach "recipes" patterned paper first, then add your sticker letters and other embellishments. Then cover the back of it using the solid side of your patterned paper.
3. Line up your chipboard covers and attach them together using bookbinding tape along one side.
4. Place your trimmed page protectors inside your book and punch holes through the stack using a Crop-A-Dile. Alternatively, punch through individual protectors using a regular hole punch; just make sure you line up the holes.
5. Tie ribbon through the holes securing the inner pages. Leave it loose enough for the pages to turn.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Print your recipes using your computer and insert them into the page protectors. Because they have been trimmed , they will be open on two sides. Use your stapler to seal the outer edge and then use a paper clip to secure the top. This will keep your pages from slipping out. (To avoid this step altogether, you can create a chipboard album cover that will fit a standard size page protector.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Finally, embellish right on top of the page protectors using the chipboard tags and other embellishments. I used a DYMO Labelmaker and some punched corners on mine as well as a few other embellishments.
   
   
   

Note: I used the Fiber Scraps TintZ to ink all the edges of my papers prior to adhering them.