How to Build an Accordion Envelope Mini Album
Six small envelopes, accordion-folded and glued back to back, give you a mini album with built-in pockets for photos and memorabilia. Amber built this one for the holidays using December 2019 Hip Kit supplies, but the format works for any theme – trips, birthdays, baby milestones.
Hello Hip Kit Club friends! Amber here on the blog today to share with you…you guessed it! Another fun holiday mini album! This time around I used the adorable, festive December Kits to create a fun and interactive envelope mini album that is folded accordion style!
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The base of this album requires six envelopes. I used the We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 punch board to create mine, but a cut file would work just as well! The envelopes I used measure 2.5 inches by 3 inches. To assemble them, simply glue the top flap of one, to the bottom back of another. Continue this method until all six of your envelopes are adhered together (they will look like a tall ladder of envelopes). Then, simply accordion fold them.
Once your envelopes are assembled and folded, it’s time to make the covers. I went with my favorite type–chipboard. But, you can get creative and cut out shapes like hearts, stars, or trees. As long as it covers and hides your envelopes from the outside, it works!
Since I used chipboard, I first began by wrapping it with a fun star background from Crate Paper. I then added some gold stitching along the edges of both my covers. Then, to finish the album base off, I just adhered them to the envelopes (one at the start to act as the front cover and one at the back to act as the back cover). My covers measured 3.5 inches by 4.25 inches.
The next step is the best part–adding photos and embellishing! Since this album is made out of envelopes, there are six pockets that photos can be stored in. I decided to embellish the front of each envelope pocket and the front cover of the album.
I also added the year number on the back cover using the pink alphas that came in the December add on embellishment kit. Then stitched across it for longevity.
And, of course, a project of mine would not be complete without some cute tassels and charms. I created a paper tassel (my favorite) using my Cricut and a hand painted bead. I then created a paper bead charm and added some flair pieces (glued back to back) and a jingle bell to that to finish it off.
And that’s how you make this cute accordion envelope mini! This project is super quick and a fun way to store holiday memories!
Thanks for stopping by the Hip Kit Club blog today! Take care and happy crafting!
Construction Details from Amber's Build
- Amber used the We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 punch board to make 2.5 x 3 inch envelopes. A die cutting machine or a simple template works too.
- The trick to the accordion fold: glue the top flap of one envelope to the bottom back of the next. Repeat until all six are connected, then fold them up.
- Chipboard covers wrapped in patterned paper protect the album and give you two surfaces to decorate. Amber added gold stitching along the edges for a finished look.
- She made paper tassels with her Cricut and added a hand-painted bead charm as a closure. Small details like that make a mini album feel like a gift.
- Each envelope pocket holds a photo plus small ephemera. Six pockets means twelve surfaces to decorate if you count front and back.
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