Make a Simple Scrapbook: The Matchbook Album

Khris Cochran, contributor

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Start with a selection of beautiful and complementary papers, such as these.

Khris Cochran

Here is the matchbook album cover with score lines.

Khris Cochran

Punch holes through all flap and cardstock layers.

Khris Cochran

Start with a selection of beautiful and complementary papers, such as these.

Photo: Khris Cochran

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This little scrapbooking gem only takes about 30 minutes to complete, costs under $5.00, and is great for seasoned scrapbookers and newbies alike. What's not to love? You just need a few paper supplies to create a unique little album for your keepsakes and treasures. Once you've made one, you're ready to switch it up with different colors and papers to create a whole new look.

What You'll Need:

• 1 piece of solid cardstock, cut to 12" long x 4.25" wide, for the cover
• 1 piece of patterned paper, cut to 5.25" long x 4.25" wide, to decorate the outside cover
• 4 pieces of patterned paper or cardstock, cut to 5.5" long x 4.25" wide, for the inner pages
• 2 eyelets
• Eyelet setter
• Paper cutter
• 4 photographs, trimmed to fit within a 4.5" long x 4.25" wide page
• Bone folder
• Double-sided tape runner

Directions:

Step 1
Place the 12" x 4.25" cardstock lengthwise on your table. Measure 1" from the left-hand side and make a score line from top to bottom.

The matchbook album cover is really just a single sheet of cardstock, scored and folded.

Step 2
Make 2 more score lines at 6.5" and at 6.75".

Step 3
Fold the cardstock along the score lines to make nice, crisp creases. Now fold the right flap over towards the left. Apply double-sided tape to the back of the 5.25" x 4.25" piece of decorative paper. Adhere this piece of the front flap of the album.

You can use all kinds of beautiful decorative paper to adhere to the cover.

Step 4
The next step is to attach pictures to the inner pages using double-stick tape on the back side of each photo.

On the inner scrapbook pages you can attach favorite photos.

(It's important to leave a margin of 1" wide on each left-hand side of the inner pages. This margin will be in the spine of the book.) Once your photos are secure and in the order you're happy with, it's time to attach them inside the cover. Place pages inside of the album, aligned to the left. Fold over the 1" flap on the left side of the album.

Step 5
With the eyelet setter, punch two holes, evenly spaced and about 0.25" in from the fold, through the folded 1" flap and all of the layers of paper/cardstock underneath it.

Punch holes through all flap and cardstock layers.

Insert the eyelets and set them with the eyelet tool.

Set the eyelets right into the punched holes.

Step 6
The last step is to tuck the right-hand flap underneath the edge of the left-hand flap - just like a sideways matchbook.

Note how the scrapbook pages align with the left-hand margin.

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Comments (3)

ChristabelBenoitUK writes: Really nice tutorial. I've been looking for creative and easy paper craft projects. I think this will do just fine.
Posted: 12:33 am on August 5th

SusanneBendtner writes: This is lovely and I think it will work great with fabrics as well.
Posted: 5:28 am on January 21st

mickikocher writes: I am new to this, but I love your instructions. very easy to follow.and the list of supplies and measurements is very helpful.
Posted: 2:09 pm on January 28th

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