I just love scrapping in the 8.5×11-inch format, and I’m so excited that there is now a plethora of digital scrapbooking collections of this size in the Scrap Girls Boutique. I find this size is easier to scrap, cheaper to print on a standard printer, and much cheaper to bind into albums. I’m a very frugal scrapper and have always made my own album covers. I get a real kick out of saving my hard-earned money and enjoy personalizing my album cover to suit its content. I’m going to show you how turn a really cheap ring binder from your local office stationary supplier into a funky, personalized album.
You will need:
- Cheap, uncoated ring binder
- PVA glue
- A few printed sheets of your favorite background papers and matching printed embellishments (I have used my Valentine Baroque Collection)
- Ruler, scissors, craft knife, foam applicator or large paintbrush
- Distress ink and sponge (optional)
Directions:
Dilute the PVA glue to make it easier to apply to your project. I use 2 parts PVA glue to 1 part water. Make sure you use sufficient glue to completely cover each surface and allow to dry after each stage. Don’t worry if the paper appears bubbly and wrinkled – as it dries completely, it will shrink and become smooth again.
Cover the spine of your binder with your chosen paper, allowing approximately one inch at the top and bottom to turn to the inside, and 1.5 to 2 inches on each side. Your binder will be longer than the paper, so you will need to join it. Don’t worry, the joint won’t be seen when finished.
Cover the front of your binder with a contrasting paper, overlapping the binder paper slightly and ensuring that there is approximately one inch at the top, bottom, and outer edge to turn to the inside. Repeat for the back cover.
Miter the top and bottom corners of the paper, turn to the inside, and glue in place.
Use matching paper to cover the inside spine. You will probably have to patch it to accommodate the binder mechanism, but this won’t be noticeable when finished.
Cover the inside of your binder, cutting the paper slightly smaller for a neat finish.
Use your selected embellishments to decorate the cover and distress the edges with ink (optional).
Jan Ransley
http://www.scrapgirls.com/AboutUs/AU_JanRansley.html
Thanks so much for this great tutorial! I’m so glad that I looked–I’m going to give this a try! Love, Love, Love the 8.5 x 11 format!
This is my new favorite addition to the bouqie – kudos to our designers for thinking of those of us who scrp in this format since that’s what I do – thank you so much for thinking of us!