Envelope Mini Album Tutorial

Hello Everyone, I wanted to share this tutorial with you. If you want to know more about the designer and other services, page kits or classes they may offer please visit their blog, store or web site. Enjoy!

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/2010/06/envelope-minialbum-by-becky-olsen.html

by Becky Olsen

We are going to be making a mini-album from some super cute Hero Arts envelopes, paper and stamps. The Hero Arts envelopes are in Grass, Mandarin, and Grenadine. The "Spring Blossom" patterned paper is what we will be using to add some beautiful color to our mini-album and it will provide a common thread that will tie the whole album together.

For the page inserts we will be using some "Manila" Basics from Basic Grey.

Start by trimming off the top flap shape and set aside for the inset piece that we will be making with it.

Trim the next part of the envelope down to where the top of the envelope is.

Adhere the piece that we trimmed off of the envelope onto a 4" x 5 1/2" piece of the Manila paper that has the dots.

Run a little adhesive along the bottom, and the adhesive that was already on the top shaped part (yup, I licked it!), leaving a little room at the top for the shape.

Now trim along the envelope edge to keep that fun bracket shape of the original envelope.

Now use a circle punch to add a little dimension and an easy place to open the envelope to put the insert in.

Stamp the large flower from the "Big Flower Pattern" with Distress embossing ink and then sprinkle and heat White Embossing powder. Repeat this whole process to make as many pages as you would like in your album, this one has nine, three of each color.

The next step is to punch the holes for binding it all together. I used the Zutter Bind-it-All for this task. Place the setting on "B" or the continuous setting and put a few of the envelopes closed edge down into the machine.

Apply pressure on the lever to punch the holes.

Next line the holes up using the guide on the top of the machine and the little black knob on the back of the guide to hold the envelopes in place and then punch again.

I wanted the holes to be even so I flipped my envelopes around and punched an extra hole in the top of the album by lining everything up and punching one last time.

This is what it looked like when I was done punching it.

Lay your wire coil down next to the holes and makes sure that each hole has a wire to go into it and then snip the remainder off. I used a White 5/8" wire for this project.

Put your back page on top of the front page and then clamp the wires together using the sizing set in the machine.

The wires will be all closed, and very neat looking!

To hide the binding seam, flip the back page around to the back.

Now the mini-album is ready to decorate and make your own with pictures, journaling in the inserts and plenty of room for the little extras that make it special!

The final project is one that is fun to make as a brag book for yourself, or as a special gift for teachers, family or change it up and use some masculine products and make one for that fantastic dad in your life!