I love these star albums, because they’re perfect for gift giving or just to create a small theme-specific album. Because of the season, I’m going to digitally scrapbook some of my winter storm photos. A Star Book can be three layers of card stock (or two); this particular one is two. You can also change the overall size. I’ve made some small ornament-size albums that are adorable. There are different ways of putting these together. Some make the covers the same size as the book, for example, but the following description is the method I use.
Supplies used:
12 digital scrapbooking panels 4 3/8 inches wide x 5 inches tall
2 sheets of digital scrapbooking designs for the front & back covers
6 sheets of 12×12 cardstock – I used three light blue & three darker blue sheets
2 pieces of chipboard, cut to 6×6
Strong, Permanent Adhesive – I use Xyron and redline tape
Paper trimmer
Scorer, brayer
20 inches of complementary ribbon, cut in half
First, I decide which digital scrapbooking supplies I want to use. I ran Syndee’s ScrapSimple Tools – Actions: Color Swatch 6301 to grab the colors onto a swatch. I love this action! The designers of the digital kits I am using have already done the work of choosing colors that look great together, so why not take advantage of all their work?
Once I have my colors, I start digitally scrapbooking my 12 inside pages – making them all 4 3/8 inches wide by 5 inches tall. I put the completed pages two-up on a letter-size sheet, print them out, cut them to size, and set them aside for later.
I’ve chosen a light blue and darker blue for the cardstock base of the book. The lighter blue is where I will attach my digital scrapbooking images so I cut six panels down to 9 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Then I scored them 4 3/4 inches in along the 9 1/2 edge. Once folded, it is 4 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches.
I adhere my digital scrapbook pages to the inside of these little folders, writing the order of the panels (#1 – #6) on the backside of the light blue card stock so I can easily remember the order once I’m ready to assemble the book.
The next step is taking my #1 light blue panel that has page 1 (the inside front cover) and page 2 and turn it upside down and flat so the back (or blank) is facing up. I run a strip of redline tape down both side edges, getting as close to the edge as possible. Repeat for sections 2-6.
My darker blue card stock is for my outside panels so I cut 6 panels at 11 inches x 5 1/2 inches; score at 5 1/2 inches along the 11 inch edge.
Then I adhere the first light blue panel to the inside of a dark blue one. being careful to line up the right and left edges. At this point, it will not lie flat (it’s not supposed to). I fold the new section over and mark it #1. Then I continue on with the rest of the sections, marking them #2 – 6.
Once all my sections are complete, I take my #1 section, fold it and apply adhesive to the back by running redline tape around the edges and a strip down the middle.
I attach the front of section #2 to the back of section #1, add adhesive to the back of section #2, and attach the front of #3 and so on until my book is complete, except for the covers.
Now I’m ready to do my covers. I’ve used digital scrapbook designs for my front and back covers – making them each 7 inches square and printing them out. I adhere one of these to each piece of chipboard using a glue stick or Xyron machine with a permanent adhesive cartridge. I wrap the overhanging paper onto the back of the chipboard and make sure it is securely glued down. Don’t worry that your paper does not cover the backside; your book will take care of that later on. I cut my 20 inches of ribbon in half and adhere these to the inside of each cover.
I add the covers to my book and woo-hoo! – I’ve got my star book. I can store it closed or tie it open with the ribbon. I can also add dimensional objects to this book to decorate it more.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you make a star album, be sure to post your project in the Scrap Girls Hybrid Gallery.
Tutorial by Bobbi Start
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