Chipboard Album

This album is designed based on what I saw in the Cricut Chirp newsletter for 3/31/2009. It is not a completely original design, however it is not identical either. I have made adjustments for what I wanted in my album. If anything doesn't make sense, let me know.

Click on the pictures to see a larger image if needed.

First, I decided what size to make my album, 8" x 8" and then realized that 8 1/2" x 8" would work better after binding. I will be using my Bind-it all at the end to finish off the project.

First - some plans. I have 8 1/2" x 8" pages, 8 1/2" x 7" tab top pages, 8 1/2" x 2" pointer pages (for lack of other term), 8 1/2" x 4" tag pages, and will finish off with the letter A shaped front and back pages (using cricut keystone or george font with design studio - however, that will be a later page as I need some more chipboard and probably will need to borrow a friends cricut expression unless some wonderfully inspiring idea hits so I don't have to cut by hand). Anyone have an expression?



Next, start cutting. I used varous cereal and pizza boxes for this project. Be sure to measure your boxes before cutting so you know if the piece you want needs to be turned a specific way.





One thing I did, since my pages are actually rectangular, is to write the word Hi with an arrow pointing which way is the horizontal view. I have done enough of these before to realize that I may punch the wrong side or put pp on the wrong direction if I do not take this step.





I still need to cut out the front and back cover pieces. Need to wait for kids to eat some more cereal, so I don't know how much farther I will get today. Anyway - this is step one! All pieces, and instruction sketch/idea printed from newsletter will go into a bag for now.




One hint - unless you cut straighter than I do, when cutting your chipboard - be sure to either mark with a ruler (don't try to follow bends - you won't get a straight cut) or use one of the flaps, line it up with a mark on your cutter and make the first straight cut. After I make the first cut (normally cutting off about 1/8" of the "good" surface), I have a straight edge to make measured cuts.

It also works if you use a ruler and t-square to pencil it all out first, however, I didn't feel like using that method with this project, so used the above hint.

Don't forget to save your leftover pieces for a bit - you may find you need something

Next I went ahead and used my bind it all to punch holes into the pages. This is when having hi or something written on the pages helps to assure holes are put on the correct edge.

Punching the 8.5 x 8's is easy.

Punching the 8.5 x 7's required a 1/2 punch at the top of the pages since I plan to run wires the entire way up the side



Punching the tab/tags took a bit of thought

First, I stapled (yes, stapled - I knew it would hold in place and the small staple holes won't be noticed once the chipboard is covered) the tabs onto the chipboard





Be sure to label which tab is top and which is bottom. Since I have two sets that will go into the book, I just labelled as A1, A2, A3, A4 and B1, B2, B3 and B4.


I used the same method to punch the two tag page

One note when punching - I faced the chipboard that was already punched forward - that way I could use the tab thing on the side of the BIA as a guide to get the punches correct


Paper selection - really depends on the reason for the journal. Ds wanted a lot of different papers - so he started choosing



and choosing, and choosing, and choosing. These are the ones he ended up with, however not all of them will make it into the final album (he knows this, so he also had to rate his favorites)



Two page changes - first, no letter front, ds wants this page to be the front cover of the book (not a good pic, but really sparkly paper.



Also - he wants the back cover to be like this:


Here are a few inside shots. It will take a while to put together, so it may be a while before I post anything else. Binding color also changed to brown once I knew he didn't really want a letter shape in front.

Well the basic papers are attached - now to add a few journalling spots and all. Pretty much he is ready to start using. I will get some more pics later today and update.

I have added some basic embellishment ds's album, however, he has since taken it and begun to add his own things. I am not positive where he has put it, so I will need to ask when he gets home. It turned out quite fun (though not nearly as embellished if it would have been for a girl - I had planned to ink the edges but he was ready to use )

Wow, you're done.....how exciting! I can't wait to see some pictures of your finished book!

I'm going to have to try this! Don't you just love the BIA? Great blog. too, by the way!

Wanda

Wanda - thanks so much! BTW - checked out your blog - beautiful work! Your stamping techniques are totally cool!

Yep - love my BIA - I use it all the time. Right now trying to come up with teenage boy gifts for Christmas