Welcome to the TWELVE DAys of Christmas Projects 2011! Every other day until December 23rd, I will have a new project to share with you via Youtube and a tutorial here on my blog. Enjoy!!
On the FIRST Day of Christmas Projects I have a super quick and easy mini album to share with you! This fun binding style – I am calling it Stack the Deck Binding – is quick and versatile. (I will have two different uses for a variation of this binding next week during the next two Ustream classes)
To make this binding you will need some card stock and envelopes in the size and color of your choice.
Seal you envelopes closed. Cut off the side that you want next to the binding and the side opposite it….just a sliver unless you want your envelope smaller. You envelope will look like a tube. Measure the length of the opening of your envelope.
Cut your Stack the Deck binding using this dimension for the height of you pieces. The first will be 1 3/4″ wide, the second is 2 1/4″ wide and the third is 2 3/4″. This will give you 6 pages. For more pages, add 1/2″ to the width of the previous piece.
Score and fold 3/4″ in from each side. The channel in the center should get larger by 1/2″ from one piece to the next. Add adhesive to the back side of each channel.
Attach the layers together – STACK THE DECK! – by centering the pieces on top of each other.
Apply adhesive the the Stack the Deck binding unit to each side of each fin. Slip the open edge of the envelope over the fin….you have a page. Repeat for all pages.
Create a chipboard cover with the spine piece 1/2″ wider than the widest piece in your stack. Attach stacked pages to the spine.
Add photo mattes and embellishments.
For the envelope piggy back version, you will need envelopes in two sizes. The larger envelope will be the page base and is sandwiched between the smaller envelopes. Seal the envelopes closed and slice open the center envelope as above. Slice only the top edge of the smaller envelopes. Attach to the Stack the Deck Binding in the same way as the above pages.
Add tags, embellishments and a chip board cover as above.
Check out my Youtube video for a more detailed tutorial.
Enjoy your project!
Laura
I love it. Will try one as soon as Kathryn’s class is over. 🙂
Totally cute. I’ll have to check out the video. As always TFS your creativity.
I’ve got to check out your YT. I want to try this. Tfs. I’m excited to see what’s to come for this month.
LOVE, LOVE it!!!! So easy and beautiful!!!
Thanks for sharing
Laura, this is so pretty…now I want to make it! BTW I got the globe part made today and my Honey is AMAZED! C U tomorrow nite!
Sigh…Why didn’t I start an envelope/stationery company?
This is my favortie time of the year. I found your blog on Year One of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and I am glad that I am still following you. This is an awesome mini and I look forward to doing this stack binding. It looks so simple! Merry Christmas Laura!
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing. I’ll have to file this in my “to-do” list. And if you don’t mind, I pinned this to my Pinterest board as well, making sure to give state who it’s by.
I love this binding technique! I’m usually all thumbs when it come to tape and have to rip things apart. I think I will try this by cutting the ends of the envelope first, then attach to the binding before sealing the envelope. Hope it works so I don’t waste too much of the score tape! I’ve been watching the 12 days the last 2 years and am so looking forward to this years. Counting the days until the New Year’s Eve bash. Loved last years! Thanks so much for all the wonderful ideas and projects!
Just watched the video & am in love with the paper for the “wonderful moments” album. What paper line did you use? It’s so vintage looking. Love,love,love it. I also love the binding too.
I’m loving this binding method! You amaze me with the many ideas you come up with for putting together mini album pages!
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I’ll try again…absolutely brilliant as usual Laura you clever lady….can i just ask will the dry adhesive not stick to the tags I know a lot of the time you use wet glue when there is a tag going in probably a dumb question lol
I’m fairly new to The Paper Trail world but love what you do! I’ve always wanted to make books but have not had the courage to try anything too complicated but you make it look easy enough even for me. thanks!
Katina
kjkoukla(athotmail….
Awesome idea Laura! Love the quickness and simplicity of it!
I do not know how you do it. You are amazing!
Absolutely love it!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. This is an amazing way to make mini’s and so clean! So able to embellish. So quick. You are a genius!!!!
Mary Werner
Ohhh I love this binding technique. I’ll pop over see the YT video. Thanks so much Laura. Lee x
What a cool album. Thanks for the video instructions…makes it so much easier to follow. Do you have an instruction/video elsewhere showing how to make the out cover/spine. I’m a little lost on putting mine together and it gets bunched up at the fold points on the spine/front cover and spine/back cover. Can’t wait to see the other 11 Christmas projects!
Those are just gorgeous! Thanx so much for sharing the binding technique! I have to give this one a try since I want to start making my own minis and not using store bought albums.
KimMJ
bast830@comcast.net
Laura This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I just love coming to see what you can come up with.Can’t wait to see more.
Lady you ARE a genious. Looking forward to what else you’re goona bring us!
Paula
Mia Sogni Dolci
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Tomes Devotee
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Love this! Am working on it now!!! Brilliant idea! keep up the good work.
Thank you! I love this tutorial! So easy, practical, and beautiful!
Love this book! Haven’t tried it yet but it look simple. It’s going to make some nice Christmas gifts!
Laura–How wonderful of you to share this mini idea with us at no charge. I consider this my “special” Christmas present from you. You are such a special Lady to do this for us. Thank You again for all you do. Lillybug27
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Love this! I’m trying one today!
Pam
panutting at gmail dot com
Yippee Skippee! Can’t wait to try this one!
(Site never let’s me post a comment unless it’s annonymous)
Debbie56
Wow that´s so nice, Laura. Thanks for sharing.
Laura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have just watched your Stack the Deck mini album tutorial on Youtube and Oh Em Gee, how amazing is that. That class should be on everyones “go to” list. I have been making minis for ages but for the newer ladies this is the best tutorial out there.I think its genius, pure genius.
I have to head off to work now but thanks for the ideas..cos thats what I can plan in my head while at work…plus I now can go envelope shopping. Woohoo.
Hugs
Bridget
Sydney, Australia
I love this new binding technique, I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Fantastic technique. Sure has taken away the fear of making a book for me. Thanks for sharing your step by step here and on You Tube. I think a session of watching your other videos is in order for me.
Lee:)
Fabulous!!!! I’m going to make some of these for some friends for the pictures from our Crop weekend last week! They will love them!! I told them all about your ABSOLUTELY fantastic mini-albums. I taught them how to make your basic, early paper bag mini-album, from a video you posted a few years ago. They loved, loved, loved it and some of them stopped on their way home from the crop to buy more paper bags!!! They will love this album.
I was wondering if you have a tutorial on how to make the chipboard covers step by step for the mini albums or any album. I really like these albums but don’t know how to put together the cover and spine. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I’ve made one already and I love how “perfectly” it all lines up.
I went to a scrapbook event last Saturday in Sweden and a women next to me made one like this, and she told me about you. I will definitely try to make one my self, they look so nice!
Thank you very much for the great tutorials here and on You Tube!
I will definetly give it a try.
Hugs,
Marina
Laura thank you for all you do! The stack the deck is a great design. I have made several with different size envelopes and paper. It works for both portrait and landscape. It is easy to customize with pockets and/or flaps. The binding allows for expansion with flowers or other decorations. I tie ribbons and/or fibers around the binding. My 11 year old niece even made one as a christmas gift for her mother she was able to finish it in about two hours It turned out really cute.