Thrifty Thursdays - One Sheet Wonder

Ask and you shall receive!  Just as I was thinking last night that I had NO ideas for Thrifty Thursday (I am a procrastinator - I ALWAYS wait until the last minute) - I received an email from Paige asking if I would do a tutorial for a mini album I posted on my blog in July 2009 (click to see more photos - including photos of the inside).  It was total luck because I already had photos for this because I taught it as a class (it was my first class ever!) and it is perfect for thrifty Thursday because the base of the mini is made from a single sheet of 12x12 paper!

Tutorial (please excuse the pumpkin paper - it was fall when I originally wrote the tutorial) Note: It's probably best to read through all the instructions first before starting - this book is easy to make once you get the hang of it - you might mess it up the first couple of times though! - I did!)

Step 1: Start with a 12x12 sheet of paper and cut it in half so that you have two 12x6 pieces.  Step 2: Put your paper in the trimmer and SCORE (not cut!!!) at 4" and 8" so that you have broken up the paper into 3 equal parts - do this for both pieces. Step 3: Bend the paper at the creases and lay one on top of the other with the patterns facing up.  Adhere the far left panels to each other by using a thin strip of tape at the top and bottom from outside edge to crease (this is very important - don't put glue anywhere else!).  This piece becomes the middle of your book.  Step 4: Fold the far right panel behind the middle right panel to create a pocket.  Punch a half circle at the top.  Adhere the open side to create a pocket. 

 Step 5: Bend the far left panel over the top of the left middle panel.  Bend the panel down to create a pocket.  Secure with brad.  Adhere the right side down to create pocket.  Step 6: Put the middle panel into the trimmer and trim it in half - at 3" - be careful not to cut past the crease! (I usually stop short and finish with scissors). Step 7: This is what the book should look like now.  Step 8: Punch half circles in the middle panel. 

 Step 9: Adhere the open sides down to create pockets (make sure to leave opening open!).  Step 10: Cut a coordinating strip of paper 2 x6".  Fold in half. Step 11: Adhere to the spine of the book.  Step 12: Embellish - Add pages in the inside pockets.

And if you haven't already make sure you enter Monday's giveaway - 2 ephemera packs are at stake!  And I will let you have a SECOND entry if you leave another comment asking a question - could be question about me, blogging, crafts, anything - I might turn it into a Q&A post.   Make sure to leave those comments on MONDAY'S POST. (otherwise it doesn't count!)