Journaling Card Mini Book

June 17, 2014 Dana

Hi there, how's it going in your neck of the woods? I should be sleeping (not least since I'm yawning like nobodies business) but first, a quick tutorial for you guys! Sounds good? Here's what it's about:

I made a simple, little 3x4 book from covered chipboard and Project Life ® journaling cards, decorated with a watercolored letterpress image for Studio Calico. If you like it, I have documented and explained all steps of covering the chipboard with patterned paper so you can make your own mini books, too. I was even able to make mine using just two sheets from a 6x6 card kit paper pad!

Step 01: First up, cut two pieces of chipboard to the size of 3x4 in. then, you need two pieces of patterned paper cut to approx. 4.5 x 5.5 in and two pieces of patterned paper cut to approx. 2 7/8 x 3 7/8 inch. these will be used to cover the chipboard.
Step 02: Take the first of your 3x4 chipboard plates and cover one side entirely with glue.
Step 03: Turn the chipboard around and place it in the middle of a 4.5 x 5.5” size paper. if you have two patterned sides, think about what you like for the cover before gluing the chipboard down.
Step 04: Fold the sides in to create a nice crease around the chipboard piece.
Step 05: Cut off the four corners but leave some room to cover up the sides of the chipboard (if your chipboard thickness is 2mm, leave 2mm extra from the edges.)
Step 06: Now, the still exposed parts of the chipboard need to be covered in glue.

Step 07: Fold in the long sides of the patterned paper. Make sure you don’t get glue on your fingers as it will stain your project.
Step 08: Next, fold in the shorter sides of patterned paper.
Step 09: Find one of the 2 7/8 x 3 7/8” size papers and cover the edges of it with an adhesive roller (you can use liquid glue for this step, too, but I find the rollers hold less potential to mess up this step).
Step 10: Glue this smaller piece of paper to the chipboard so that the entire surface of the chipboard is cover with paper. Repeat the process for the second chipboard piece and you’re left with two album covers.
Step 11: Punch holes on both album covers and add a bookbinding ring or other binding of choice. Reach into your stash for 3x4 cards. Of course, you can also add 3x4” paper cut from your scrapbook or card kit.
Step 12: Decorate your cover! I used a letterpressed camera image colored with Neocolor II crayons.

And that's it! Easy as pie, isn't it?! You'll find the supply list and the downloadable tutorial (pdf) on the here . Enjoy and let me know what you think!