Papers used for this album include - 18 double-sided 12" x 12" heavyweight printed sheets, 2 color matched monochromatic heavyweight sheets (green as shown), 6 CCC Artisan Cardstock 12" x 12" in Linen (cream color), 3 heavyweight 12" x 12" chipboard pieces for covers. A complete supply list is at the end of the instructions.
Paper & Chipboard Cuts: Outside Cover - chipboard - one 8" x 10" (back/center), two 1" x 10" (side spines for gatefold), two 4" x 10" (side front's of book). Artisan Cardstock for cover - one 8" x 11" (back cover), two 4 1/2" x 11" (side spines), two 2 1/2" x 10" (second set of spine pieces); printed papers for cover - two 3 3/4" x 9 3/4" (cover pieces out of the same 12"x12" piece to match), two 9 3/4" x 7/8" pieces for spines (can be cut from page scraps), one 6 1/2" x 2" strip for closure flap, corner round on left side only. Optional back piece (bottom of album) of 7 1/2" x 9 1/2". Inside Cover - front sides - two 8" x 10" printed pieces, scored at 4" and corner rounded on "folded out" corners (keep a straight edge on corners to be glued into chipboard cover), two 10" x 7/8" strips (will cover inside spine sides).
Pages - the center section of this album has a waterfall effect - a 8" x 10" paper piece is the largest and background base (NOT shown or corner rounded), the next page up from the back would be 8" x 9 1/4", then each of the next seven pages are decreased in height by 1/2". A specifically chosen print was used for the top page as shown and the 8 pages have been corner rounded at the bottom edge:
Fold Out Pocket - inside both side panels - two 4" x 5 1/2" pockets, score and fold three sides at 1/4", clipping bottom corners at score lines to fold under, half circle punch center top, Journal Panels to insert into pockets - two printed papers 2 3/4" x 6 3/4" glued to two 7" x 3 1/8" more solid color mats, TIP - corner round the bottom edges of panels so they more easily insert into the pockets.
Waterfall Cards - eight (4 each side) 4 1/4" x 3 1/4" printed paper panels, eight 3 1/2" x 5" matching solid color mats, score and fold top at 1/2", a second set of eight artisan cardstock panels can be cut to add on back of each card - cards and mats to be corner rounded on bottom edge only before gluing:
Album Strips - to hold album pages together - seven 8" x 1" (can be cut from scrap), score lengthwise and fold as shown, add 1/4" Scor Tape to edges - NOTE - do not put Scor Tape next to center fold:
Album Top - a scrap piece of printed papers in a more solid color - one 8" x 2 1/2" border punched:
outside edges of chipboard cover pieces as shown (I am using red backed tape to illustrate), then lay out the artisan cardstock as pictured and place the chipboard pieces - NOTE - the side panel chipboard pieces go all the way to the inner edge of the artisan cardstock and the center chipboard piece goes side edge-to-edge as photographed.
Flip the "tape applied" back and side chipboard pieces over and adhere them to the artisan cardstock - DO NOT adhere the two spine pieces at this time.
Temporarily REMOVE the two (1"x 10") spine pieces and apply 1/4" Scor Tape to the artisan cardstock margin of the back and two side chipboard panels - as shown. DO NOT CLIP CORNERS, remove tape backing and fold them back onto the chipboard as shown, continue to remove tape backing and smooth artisan cardstock over and onto the chipboard panels.
The two spine pieces that were removed are now flipped over and two strips of 1" Scor Tape are applied to either side of the center chipboard.
Re-position the spine pieces BEHIND the center and side chipboard pieces (red tape backing shown only for you to see visual of spacing). IMPORTANT - leave at least a 1/8" space between the chipboard pieces (as shown) to allow for turn and closure of album sides - without this space, your album will not close! Remove the tape backing and secure pieces into place.
You will now use the second cut set of two artisan cardstock spine pieces 2 1/2" x 10" and glue them to the exposed chipboard spines with CCC Glitter Glue, using a bone folder to GENTLY smooth into the "depressed" turning space left between chipboard panels (these appear to be flipped up on either side in the photo). Once the center section of these pieces is set & secure, apply glue and smooth down the side strips to the chipboard and the top and bottom cardstock "flaps", thus, you will have covered the album inside and out as pictured.
After the cover has set and dried a bit, add 1/2 of the magnetic closures to either side of the front (as shown), then ink inside and out - remember, you can add more ink later and paper pieces will cover the ragged inner edge of inking. I start with the lighter color (Peeled Paint), add daubs of medium color (Broken Glass) and daub a bit of the darker color (Vintage Photo) on edges and corners. Ranger Distress Oxide inks are very forgiving and can be rubbed off when "wet" if need be.
Finishing the cover is fairly easy, glue your cut paper pieces to the back and front panels - remember the two front panels should match in the middle, even though some of the inked cardstock shows at the edges. IMPORTANT - before gluing on right hand side spine paper piece, secure the tab closure onto the side of the cover so the paper piece, when applied, will cover the end of the tab. The second 1/2 of magnet can now be secured in place on the back of the tab, in perfect position to close.
After the tab sets, we will begin to build the inside of the album. Glue in the large 8" x 10" paper piece to completely cover the back. Now adhere ribbon pieces to the center "inner" edge of the side panels, Scor Tape into place (shown in photo at top of page) before gluing on the folded side paper panels which will cover the ribbon edge. The corner rounded edge folds out away from the center and is not glued. The second piece of ribbon (to tie these side panels closed) is Scor Taped on the OPEN center front of the paper so the end can be covered with a pocket.
Here is the left side, closed and opened to reveal pocket, cards, waterfall cards and embellishments.
Here is the right side closed and opened to reveal pocket, cards, waterfall cards and embellishments.
Now we will build the center section with the album pages, I think it is easier to start at the back and build up the album while keeping the pages straight on the sides. Using the cut, scored and Scor Taped Album Strips (photo above), you will remove tape backing from ONE SIDE ONLY and adhere to a page piece. When the first side of the Scor Taped strip is in place, remove tape backing from the second side and add another page, thus stacking them one on top of the other. Here is a photo of what they should look like where the papers meet at the top:
After all the pages have been taped and secured together, you will adhere the border punched Album Top (photo above) to cover the page edges and to secure into the cover. Most of this piece will be glued to the back side of the album. Gently roll this piece over the edge of a counter top or table to curve and stretch the paper out a bit, then begin gluing the border punched side to the album front - consider your paper design area and the width of the punch - let this edge set for a few minutes before proceeding. Continue to gently bend this piece over to the back of the album and glue into place - IMPORTANT - do not get this bend too tight or it will not allow the pages to turn & will tear (see photo below). After glue sets up, add a piece of 1" Scor Tape to the back top, remove backing and secure INTO the top of the cover as shown in photo - this area should be at but not over cover top.
Your album should now be complete, add any additional inking, touch-ups and embellishments. I tend not to use allot of flowers and fru-fru on the covers of my albums because my cats tear them up or they get smashed in my bookcases and baskets, however, I did use pieces of 49 Market leaves and ferns, plus dots of a gold Pearl Pen to accent. Please feel free to add decorations to your hearts content, CCC has wonderful matching paper flowers and accessories. The following are photos of each page, opened with mats & embellishments in place. A complete supply list is in the end - enjoy!
SUPPLIES - all available from "CCC" - Country Craft Creations:
Blue Fern Studio "Wanderlust" paper collection and chipboard embellishments
A more solid color "print" for mats - mine used is no longer available from BoBunny
CCC Artisan Cardstock - Linen
Heavyweight chipboard
Seam Binding - medium green
Ranger distress Oxide Inks - Peeled Paint, Broken China, Vintage Photo
Scor Tape - 1/4", 1/2", 1"
CCC Art Glitter Glue
Large Magnetic Disc Closures
49 Market - Cottage Blooms in Linen + paper fern leaves
Other basic crafting tools & supplies needed - pencil, silicone eraser, 12" paper trimmer, 12" score board, scissors, corner rounder, ink applicator + sponges, 1" circle punch, border punch, gold Pearl Pen.
