Accordion scrapbooks are a quick and custom gift to make for any occasion. Who doesn’t love a little brag book full of pictures? These accordion scrapbooks are the perfect little way to showcase a new baby or an event. Since they are smaller and all you add is pictures it isn’t overwhelming.
I got about 15 requests on how to make the little accordion scrapbooks I made for the Elmers Craft & Tell Party last weekend. I thought everyone in the free world knew how to make these. But since a few of you don’t I figured I would repost this tutorial from 2007 with some updated pictures.
Supplies:
2 sheets of decorative paper
Foamcore
Ribbon
3 pieces of cardstock
Glue stick or double-sides adhesive
Paper Cutter
Scissors
Utility Knife
Straight Edge
Ruler
1. Cut the decorative paper into a 6 ¾” x 6 ¾” square. I use a guillotine style paper cutter.
Using the same paper cutter cut the cardstock to 8 1/2” x 8 1/2” squares.
2. Using an Exacto knife and a straight edge (I use a quilter’s ruler) cut your foamcore down to 4 ¾” x 4 ¾”.
You should have all the supplies cut to size now looking like this…
3. Now you will begin folding your cardstock. You will double fold everything – meaning that you will fold once and then fold on the same fold in the opposite direction (back) making the paper very flexible.
Fold the paper in half and the double fold it.
Now fold the paper in half the other direction and double fold that.
Lastly fold the paper diagonally and double fold that.
You will do this to all three sheets of cardstock.
Note: You only fold one diagonal not two.
4. Apply glue stick (or double sided scrapbook adhesive) to the top and bottom square. This will be the middle piece of cardstock.
5. After glue is applied lay the other pieces of cardstock (the top piece and bottom piece) on top of the piece you just applied the glue to. It should look like this.
7. Place the cardstock aside and grab a sheet of the decorative paper and one of the foamcore. Lay the decorative paper face down and put the foamcore on top. Apply double sided adhesive to the left and right of the foam core and glue the paper on. It should look like this.
8. Now fold the corners. You don’t want to fold them down completely but have enough room to fold it over. There should be enough of a space to put the scissors between the fold and the foamcore.
Fold those over and glue them.
What a great tutorial! Very easy to follow! THanks for sharing. I’ve never made one this way before! Cool 🙂
I’m looking forward to the video! this looks like a great little project… I’m hoping to make this for my dd’s graduation table for guests to sign.
one quick question. I don’t have any foamcore, but lots of cardboard (thinner stuff) can I use that in place of the foamcore, or is there a specific reason for the foamcore, other than the thickness?
What a great gift for Mother’s Day! That is beautiful!!
I was one of those under a rock, who didn’t know. I appreciate it very much. And, look forward to tomorrow’s post.
You are a genius! Your tutorial is so good and very easy to follow. Thank you so much!
No that should work as well. I have seen people use chipboard. I just like the thickness of the foam core. But if you have a lot of cardboard go for it.
Oh that would be PERFECT!!! Take lots of pictures I want to see.
Beckie,
I love your videos! Thanks for the how-to ;o)
What a great project! I want to try this to give as gifts. Thanks!
thanks for posting the video… you make it look so easy! I am going to give it a try tomorrow.
Let me know how it goes! I would love to see them.
Thank you for this tutorial. I was endlessly searching the internet for an easy tutorial on accordion scrapbooks and finally landed on yours, which, by the way, is very detailed with perfect pictures that make this seem like an easy project. All the other tutorials I found made it seem confusing and hard to do- so thank you!! 🙂
I saw your segment on My.INDY and recorded it so I could show my friends. I tried to show my Facebook friends your link to the project but it didn’t transition well. Anyway, My friend and I made two of these amazing accordion albums today. Whew! Took us 2 1/2 hours but it was fun though they were pretty rough faximilies. I am hoping to use this as a Thanksgiving Craft with my In-Laws and their kids (ages 8 and 11). I plan on taking pictures of our Thanksgiving Day activities with my digital camera, downloading them to Walgreens for picking up on Friday morning and assembling them before company heads out the door.
** Also we made the same project but in mini form 3X3, it is so amazingly cute!
We are also going to try using thick cardboard and material for a more formal version sometime in the near future. Gotta work out gluing issues with that.
Happy Holidays and Thanks for the wonderful idea.
I am making one for my dad on Christmas but I want to add more pictures to it would I have to add another page???
Yes you would. You can add as many pages as you want.
A few years ago I made one of these for a friend who lives in another state. She and I make each other something for Christmas each year (35 yrs. now!) From time to time she sends me photos of her grandchildren. I used those photos, cutting them up, to place them in each “triangle”. She LOVED it. It’s her personal brag book 🙂
Love these!! Made 2 last night when I was up stewing about something and couldn’t sleep. They were great at getting my mind off of what was bothering me and I was able to go to sleep after they were done (of course, it was 2:40AM, so maybe that was it! LOL!!).
Love them and plan on making one for my niece’s wedding, one for Father’s day coming up, and I think a “manly” one for the hubby to keep at work. Got to look at something other than ribbon to keep it closed for him. 🙂
Yah I am glad you were able to follow the tutorial and fall asleep. I get crafting insomnia too on occasions 😉
You said that you would show how to add pictures to it…. and I can’t find where to go to see that, can you help me?
Thank you so much for the tutorial. I had made one of these back in 2003 and it was just sent back to me when my grandmother passed away recently. My mom now wants to make one and I had no instructions on how to do this, let alone where I even got the idea to begin with. You did a great job with your instructions. Thanks again.
Glad to help, Amy!
My daughter showed me your link. This is a great idea. I’m not sure exactly how to add pictures; could you tell me how to get to your link on the instructions to add the pictures?
Hi Joyce, I took regular 4” x 6” photos and cut off an inch of each side to make them 4” x 4” squares. I cut the picture on a diagonal to make them work for the sides without bending the pictures. Does that make sense?