Mother’s Day Envelope Album with the Bind-it-All

by Gwynn Asbury (Mar 6, 2012)

I love my Bind-it-All. I really do. Not too long ago I upgraded from the Version 1 to the Version 2. Before I did this, I thought very long and hard about upgraded versus trading in for the We R Memory Keepers Cinch. Both are fabulous and both have their advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately I chose to upgrade to the Zutter Bind-it-All Version 2. Many people say that the Bind-it-All is hard to use, but truthfully there are three main differences between the Cinch and the Bind-it-All. These differences are:

the shape of the punched holes
the ability to choose the number of holes and how they are spaced (the Cinch allows you to do so; the Bind-it-All does not)
the size of the machine (the Bind-it-All is significantly smaller and takes up much less room)

Being able to choose the spacing and number of holes in my project, although a nice feature, did not offset the funny-looking round holes of the Cinch, in my opinion. In the end, what determines the choice in machine is personal preference.

You can use a Bind-it-All to make a Mother's Day envelope mini-album. It has been designed to include letters and notes along with some photos.

What You Need:

paper cutter
ruler with 1/8" and 1/16" markings
Bind- it-All
½" or larger binding coil
scoring tool
(2) pieces of chipboard measuring 4 1/16" x 9 1/16"
(2) pieces of matching patterned paper cut to 6" x 12" (to cover your chipboard cover)
(2) pieces of paper matching your cover patterned paper, cut to 3 13/16" x 8 13/16" (for the other side of your chipboard cover)
(9) #10 policy envelopes - I used the ones I get from all the junk mail, and bills
(6) 12x12 designer papers (to cover your envelopes)
(3) pieces of cardstock in a coordinating color to the paper for the envelopes, cut to 3 ½" x 8 7/8")
adhesive - redline tape, Scor-Tape or another similar type of adhesive

Optional Supplies:

Distress Ink

How to Assemble Your Project:

Take six envelopes and glue their flaps closed.
Take three of those envelopes and trim off about 1/16" from both ends. You should have a sleeve measuring approximately 8 ¾" in length.

Score and fold at 5".

Glue down the sides of the folded flap; this will create two pockets. If you want some give in your pockets for more bulky tags, make sure to glue about 1/8" in from the edge.
Take the other three envelopes and trim 1/16" off ONE END ONLY.
Take the three folded envelopes and adhere one to each of the not-folded envelopes.
Now take the last three envelopes, and the three pieces of cardstock.

Adhere the cardstock to the flaps of the envelopes, to make a flap page.
Now alternate these with the pages that you made in step 5.

You should have the following order:

Smooth side [turn] flap page and pocket (left side) and pocket page (right side) [turn] smooth page (left side) and smooth page (right side)

This pattern should repeat all the way through.
Now you will want to cover your envelopes with the pieces of patterned paper before we bind them and put it together.

I added an additional pocket from the original envelope pocket. If you look at the picture above, the envelope that we created a flap page on has the pocket still accessible. You can glue the whole thing down and cover with patterned paper, or place glue where the envelope part is and then add the patterned paper so that the pocket is still useable.
For your cover:

Apply adhesive to one side of the chipboard pieces.

Adhere to your patterned paper with the desired pattern you want facing down.

Trim the edges of the patterned paper at an angle about 1/16" from the corner of your chipboard.

Run the edges of the chipboard with redline tape and then fold over the flaps of the patterned paper.

Run the edges of your inner cover pages with adhesive and then adhere.

Now you can punch your cover.

General Pointers to Keep in Mind When Using Your Bind-it-All:

Remember that to get a nice cover border for your pages (where the pages are slightly smaller than the cover), your pages need to be 3/16" smaller than your cover dimensions.
Cover your project with your desired patterned papers BEFORE punching, and embellish AFTER punching.
The same goes for your cover: adhere paper, then punch, then embellish.
There are two ways to punch holes in your cover and pages:

Centerline Method - Used for projects that do not measure in increments of ½ inch

Paper Stop Guide Method - Used for projects with increment measures of ½ inch.
Zutter, the maker of the Bind-it-All, includes an inclusive how-to booklet with the Version 2 Bind-it-All. If you have lost it, or have a Version 1, this same manual can be downloaded from the internet on the Zutter Website. Bind-it-All Version 2.0 Instruction Manual

How to Use the Bind-it-All :

If you have measured your envelopes, you will notice that they are a very odd size. If you just stick them into your Bind-it-All, your holes will come out off center. The following instructions will show you how to do the centerline method. This method does require basic math.

For this project, your envelopes will not be necessarily all the same size. Check the size and center point of each before you start punching several pages at the same time.

Practice the following instructions on a spare piece of cardstock cut to the envelope dimensions. That way you do not mess up your nice pages.
First, figure out the center point on your envelopes using a ruler and a calculator. My envelopes measured 8 7/8" long so my center point is 4 7/16" (or 4.4375).

When calculating, ¼ = .25, 1/8 = .125, 1/16 = .125 divided by 2, OR .0625
Using a pencil, make a small mark on each side of your envelopes at the center point, and then connect these two marks.
Place the envelope with the side with the flap up into your Bind-it-All. When looking at your Bind-it-All, you will notice that in the very center are two arrows - this is the guide you use when punching holes for a project that is not in ½" increments, like for this project).

Line up the line you just made with these center arrows and punch.
Now if you turn your Bind-it-All to the left, you will notice it has a funny-looking contraption with some letters that correspond to words. You want to set that contraption so the arrow on top is pointing to "B" or the "Continuous" setting. This setting is used after you have made your initial punches in order to help you line up the holes.
You will also notice that at the end of the contraption is a little nub. This little nub is very important. It will hold your pages steady and in line to punch. You simply slip one of the punched holes onto the nub.

For this project, slip the third hole in from the left side and place on the nub. Punch.

Flip it over so that the front page pattern is facing you. Again select the third hole in from the end, and punch.
Now erase your lines.
Repeat this same process with your chipboard cover. Make sure to cover it with your paper before punching your holes.
To add your coiling, make the following sandwich:

back cover, front cover, inner pages (in your desired order)

Make sure that the outer side of the back cover is facing the outer side of the front cover.
Cut your coil down to the desired number of loops. (For my mini it was 16.)
Run the coil through the holes with the back cover on top of your stack.
Set the appropriate coil size on your binding channel by turning the knob. Then set your book vertically with the coils into the binding channel.
Press down the lever. Repeat this going down the line of coils until they are all closed.
Flip your back cover to the back and your book is done and ready to be embellished.

Here are some photos of my finished project. I did not take pictures with the photos and writing in them as that is very personal, but hopefully these will inspire you to create your own Mother's Day Mini Album.