Tutorial for the Accordion Album

Hello!

On my last post, I shared two accordion albums, and today I am providing the tutorial for how to make these special albums for anyone interested!  These albums really are a great way to showcase your favorite photos and are super fun to make.

I used the lovely feminine Lemoncraft Sense and Sensibility papers to make this album for the tutorial.

ACCORDION ALBUM TUTORIAL

Step 1:  Cut 4 pieces of cardstock measuring 6" x 12".

Step 2:  Score every 1/2" down the short 6" side of all 4 of these cardstock pieces

Step 3.  Turn each cardstock piece and lightly score down the long 12" side at 1/4" on each end as shown below.  These score marks will be your guide for cutting your slits.

Step 4:  Separate the 4 pieces of scored cardstock into two groups of two.  For the first group of two, take one of the scored pieces of cardstock and starting at the first score mark, cut a slit using the score marks at 1/4" from each end as your guide of where to start and stop the cutting.  Using the 1/4" score guides on each end, this will make your cut slit 5 1/2" long.

Step 5:  After making this 5 1/2" slit,  count to the 4th score mark from the slit and make another slit.  Repeat this for a total of 6 cut slits. Repeat for the other cardstock piece.  We will call each of these two pieces "Piece A" as they have their cut slits in exactly the same places.

Step 6:  Take the remaining two pieces of cardstock and starting at the 2nd score mark, cut a 5 1/2" slit using the score marks at 1/4" from each end as your guide of where to start and stop the cutting.

Step 7:   After making this slit,  count to the 4th score mark from the slit and make another 5 1/2" slit.  Repeat this for a total of 6 cut slits. Repeat for the other cardstock piece.  We will call each of  these two pieces "Piece B" as their cut slits are in the exact same places.

Step 8:  Fold all 4 scored cardstock pieces like a fan.  When joining the pieces together, it will be important to make sure the pieces are turned so that the cut slits are in the valleys when viewing from the outside of the square.

Step 9:  You can only join two unlike pieces for the project to come together correctly, so Piece A can only be joined with Piece B and vice versa.  Take one Piece A, and merge the edge at a 90 degree angle with the edge of one of the B Pieces, making sure the cut slits are in the valleys on the outside of the square (the slits will be the mountains on the inside of the square).  Line up each valley of the end of one piece to fit with the corresponding mountain of the other piece's end. The mountains and valleys of the accordion will fit together perfectly.  Glue the ends together once perfectly in place.

Step 10:  To join the 3rd piece of cardstock, take a Piece A and join the edge with the exposed edge of Piece B, again making sure Piece A is turned so that the valleys with the cut slits are on the outside of the square (the slits will be the mountains on the inside of the square).  Glue the ends together once perfected fitted together.  The exposed ends of the 3 pieces are both Piece A.

Step 11:  Before completing the square, you will need to insert supporting pocket cards.  Cut 11 pieces of cardstock measuring 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" and place them inside each of the valleys.

Step 12:  Complete the square by now joining the the edges of the remaining last piece, Piece B, to the exposed edges of both A Pieces.  Make sure this piece is turned so that the valleys with the cut slits are on the outside of the square (the slits will be the mountains on the inside of the square).  Go slowly when merging this last piece as it is a little more challenging since you will be merging both ends. Remember that once you have merged one end, hold it in place with one hand while merging the other end with your other hand, otherwise it will come apart.  Glue the ends together once both ends are merged correctly.

Step 13:  Take two pieces of cardstock measuring 6" x 6" and glue the outside edges only onto the top and bottom of the square base to complete the square.  Now you have the base for the album with the inserted supporting pocket cards.

Step 14:  Cut 24 pieces of cardstock measuring 5.25" x 7.25" to fit into the slits.  Place 6 of these pull-out cards on each side of the square where you have made the cut slits.  Each pull-out card will share a space with the pull-out card from the opposite end of the square.  The internal supporting cards of the square base support these pull-out cards.

Step 15.  Cover the top of the square and each of the pull-out cards with decorative papers.

I hope you all have a great day!
Tara