An envelope album is one of the quickest and most rewarding mini-albums to make. Album construction itself takes only a minute or two, and the rest is all embellishment!
Supplies:
- Flair Designs Patterned Papers
- Flair Designs Horsin’ Around Sticker Strips and Cardstock Stickers
- Flair Designs Giddy Up Tags
- Ranger Distress Inks (tattered rose, frayed burlap, dried marigold)
- Envelopes (6)
- Permanent Glue Runner
- 2’ length of twine
- Paper trimmer and/or scissors
1) Open one envelope and place it on your table with the flap opened, pocket-side-up. Take a second envelope and line up the bottom of that envelope with the flap-fold of the first one. Both envelopes should be facing the same direction. Once you’ve figured out placement, adhere the second envelope to the flap of the first, using your glue of choice (I used a permanent glue runner).
2) Add a third envelope by adhering it to the flap of the second envelope in the same fashion. Continue until all six envelopes have been linked together. Make sure the pockets of each envelope are all facing up as you work. When you are finished, accordion-fold the envelopes. This is now the basic shape of the album.
3) Run Distress Ink pads along each edge and folded edge of the album.
4) Measure one envelope to determine its length and width. Cut nine pieces of patterned paper into rectangles, each measuring ¼” shorter in length and width than the envelope itself. Set three aside. Run Distress Ink pads along the edge of each of the remaining six rectangles.
5) Adhere one rectangle of patterned paper to the back side of each envelope in the album, except for the last envelope (the one with the open flap). Glue the center of the strip of twine to the back of that last envelope, then adhere the rectangle of patterned paper over the twine.
6) When accordion folded, the front flap of the album will overlap one of the rectangles. The envelopes I purchased for this project had a tattered edge to start with. If yours do not, you may wish to use decorative scissors to create a patterned edge.
7) Most envelopes come with glue on the envelope flap. You may wish to remove this glue from the album’s flap now, so that if your album gets damp it does not seal itself! This can be done by dampening a paper towel and gently wiping the adhesive from the flap.
8) Turn the album over so that the ‘pockets’ of each envelope face up. Take the three rectangles of patterned paper set aside earlier, and cut each in half lengthwise, so that you now have six paper strips. Run the Distress Ink pads along the edges of each strip. Once the ink is dry, use these strips to ‘line’ the inside of each envelope pocket, adhering them with the glue runner.
9) Use Cardstock Stickers and Horsin’ Around Sticker Strips to embellish the pockets of your album. When using Sticker Strips, it’s easiest to cut the borders into smaller strips to fit each envelope, rather than to lay the border stickers out in one piece. This allows the album to fold more easily when finished.
10) Accordion fold the album. Adhere a border sticker along the top of the album flap, along with any other embellishments you like. Wrap the twine around the album a couple of times, tying a charm from the Giddy Up Tag Set onto the twine using a tight double knot, so that it will fall in the front of the album when wrapped. Trim any excess twine.
11) Unfold the album to slip photos, memorabilia, or journaling boxes and tags into each pocket, then refold and tie to carry it. The album can be stored closed, or displayed standing open. The envelope album makes for a versatile brag or gift album as well, since the loose photos and stories in each pocket can be easily swapped out for new ones at any time.
