How to Make a Mini Chipboard Album with Cut Away Windows
by Randi Lanz
April 19, 2008
Having recently reviewed the Tinkering Ink "Peekaboo" albums, I was hooked! The problem? I was out of albums and they didn't seem to be available in my area. All of my fellow scrappers will be able to identify with me being "on a roll" and wanting to keep going when something strikes my creative fancy. What do we do? Why we improvise and create something ourselves!

Supplies Needed:
Chipboard Sheets
Ruler
Scissors or Paper Cutter
Hole Punch
Binder Rings (sold by the box in the office supply area)
Various Paper Punches (or template shapes for tracing)
Photos that you want to include in the album
To finish the item you'll also need:

Other supplies:
Patterned Paper
Stickers
Ribbons
Adhesive
Dimensional Glaze (optional)
Ink for distressing (optional)
The first thing is to decide what size book you would like to create. I wanted to make a 6 inch square album. Since my chipboard came in large sheets (too large for my paper cutter) it was necessary to mark out the pages on the large sheet.

The next step is to cut each page down to size.

Arrange your photos on the pages then decide which pages you want to cut windows into. My paper punches wouldn't go through the thick chipboard, so I punched a scrap envelope then used the negative image as a template.

Cut away the traced shape with small scissors and your photo will show through from the next page.

Continue to arrange your photos and cut away any pages that you want to highlight. Be sure to plan well in this stage and remember that a cut out window in a page will show two different ways on the inside pages. Be sure your photos line up with the cut window on BOTH sides of the page.
Punch holes in the left side of each page. Be sure to line them up with each other to get them straight! Once the holes are punched, the fun can begin in earnest. Decorate your chipboard pages with paint, ink, or patterned paper. Embellish with stickers and add dimensional glaze to them if desired.

When all of the pages are covered and embellished, insert the binder rings and add ribbons. Super easy, super cheap! Now you can have a custom-made album whenever the fancy strikes.





A Visit With the Sloth
Chipboard Sheets (Hobby Lobby)
Binder Rings (Office Depot)
Blossom Patterned Paper (Three Bugs in a Rug)
Blossom Stickers (Three Bugs in a Rug)
Blossom Die Cut Tags (Three Bugs in a Rug)
Blossom Alphabet Design Board (Three Bugs in a Rug)
Faded Jeans Distress Ink (Ranger)
Ribbon (Tie One One Ribbon Club)
Permanent Bond Glue Runner (Adhesive Tech)
Fine Line, Finishing Touch Dimensional Adhesive (Adhesive Tech)
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