Hi, crafty friend! If you love those decorative edge dies but you aren't sure how to make the most of this die cutting staple besides a card with a fancy edge, how about cutting a bunch of those and turning it into a mini album or junk journal? 

While this handmade mini album looks complicated, it's easier than you might think. The hardest part for me was deciding what orders to put all my papers in! Then after that, you just have to worry about binding it all together. But after that, you can focus on decorating and filling up your mini album or junk journal. 

I've got all the supplies I used to create this mini album below, including the Variety Edges decorative die from Scrapbook.com, so let's not waste any more time and get right into this tutorial. 

To create the cover of the mini album, take a piece of 6x8 patterned paper and trim it to 5 1/2 by 8 inches. Score your paper at 1 1/2, 2, 7 1/4, and 8 inches. (My last score line was at 7 3/4 inches, but learn from my mistakes.) Fold on your score marks. 

Choose one of the Scrapbook.com Variety Edges and hold it in place with a little Mint Tape on the end with the larger section before the first score mark (opposite from the 1 1/2 inch section). Place the edge of the die as close to the edge of the paper as possible to make this section as long as possible (my section ended up being about 5 inches wide at the longest point of the decorative edge). Run it through your die cut machine. 

Refold on your score marks. To elongate the flap that folds under for the cover, cut another of the same patterned paper around 3 to 5 inches--you can use another decorative edge die if you want. And attach this to the 1 1/2 inch flap. 

To create the pages of your mini album, select patterned paper and cardstock you want to use. I created 3 sections with 3 sheets each. Score to create the center fold and cut one edge with a Variety Edges die, making sure to create different lengths for each page. If you want to add a background rub-on transfer to some smooth white cardstock, add that before scoring and cutting. I did this for one page.  

For example, on the straight edge part of the page, one is 5 inches wide, the next is 4 1/2 inches wide, and the other is 4 inches wide. Then I cut the decorative edge at different lengths so those could also peek out. If you want to emboss any of your cardstock, do that now. 

To attach the pages, lay the pages of segments together, lining up the center folds. Close the last segment and lay in the album cover, lining it up with the right-most side of the binding segment. Open the segment and the album up to the center page of the segment and punch 11 holes every half inch with an awl. 

A book binder tool might be helpful as this will keep everything lined up as you work. I use one from We R Makers. But you can also weight everything down with something heavy on top of a foam mat and do the same thing.

Then using 3 strands of embroidery floss and a size 22 or 24 tapestry needle, sew your pages into the binding with a running stitch. I like to start on the inside, leaving a long tail of thread, then go down through the next hole and up through the next. Once you get to the last hole, turn around and go back. You should end up back inside the album where your tail is and you tie it off and trim off the excess floss. 

Then place your next segment of pages in the mini album and punch holes for it, then sew it into the binding. Finally, add the first segment of pages, punch holes and sew it into the binding. 

For me, my binding wasn't quite wide enough, and I ended up sewing my pages onto the front of the album. It is what it is, so I rolled with it! Which is why I say to make your binding a 1/4 inch wider. I hid the stitching by layering on an embossed cardstock piece. 

You can't really tell unless you look at the side of the album where you can see all the pages and until you open it up. Even if your's isn't perfect either, don't worry--that's what makes it handmade with love!

Now you can add pockets and flips to your pages. I created pockets by die cutting or trimming out papers. I cut some at an angle and created 1/4 inch flaps on the bottom and side. I also die cut some with decorative edges after scoring some 1/4 flaps for the bottoms and side. 

Then I used liquid glue to adhere these pockets to a page. Or you can also use pocket die cuts, that create all the crease lines and everything you need to make your pocket!

For flaps, cut your flap to the size you want and score in a 1/4 flap for the "binding" side of the flap and glue in place. I also die cut a tag and trimmed a piece of cardstock to match the length and to be 1/2 inch wide and scoring it in half. I used the strip to glue to the tag and then glue the tag to the page for a flip. 

Decorate your mini album with decorative dies. I used a variety of dies for this mini album, as well as rub on transfers and some gems. I also die cut some white cardstock rectangles to matte photos onto later. 

Once you have your mini album filled up, take some sticky back velcro dots and stick them together. Attach them to the top decorative flap on the cover of the mini album, line up and close your mini album and press the other velcro dot into place. Now you have a closing mechanism for your mini album! 

I decorated the front of my mini album and then added a couple of charms from my stash on a large lobster clasp and hooked it to one of the visible embroidery floss segments. And this album is ready for gifting or displaying. Until next time, happy crafting!

Adrienne

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Below are products that I used for this project.