Articles : Tutorials - Hybrid

Year In Review Hybrid Album

This class will teach you how to make a hybrid accordian album using freebie quick pages designed especially for this class. With special thanks to Liz from Sweet Digi Scraps for allowing the use of her wonderful products.

To download the freebie head here: http://www.acherryontop.com/digital/artist/acot_ct/9004288

You will also need some general paper supplies listed here: http://www.acherryontop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=314&t=200124

First you will need to open your photo editing program. I used Photoshop elements but any program using layers will work. I would also have all 12 photos you plan to use chosen as well. Now open quick page #1 and the 3 photos you will be using here.

Next you will drag your photos one at a time onto your quick page. Use the bounding box to reduce the size of your image so that it fits correctly in the box. Make sure you photo layer is underneath your quick page layer. Now repeat this process for the other 2 photos for this page. See below for an example:

You may now choose to erase the parts of the photos that are hanging out from under the quick page, but it is not necessary because we will be cutting that part off after printing and it will not show.

Now that you images are in place you can write any text you wish in the spaces provided. Be sure that your text layers are on top of your quick page layer. See below:

Once all your photos and text are in place you can save your quick page under a new name incase you would like to use the quick page again and print. I suggest printing on heavy matte photo paper. You may also use heavy white cardstock, although the colors may not print as sharp and bright as on paper made for photos.

Now repeat these steps for the other 2 quick pages, save and print them as well. I have also included a front and back cover in the download if you wish to use them. You can add text to the cover page just as you did the quick pages and print them. You may also use any solid or pattern paper you wish and embellish with any products you chose. But do not do that part until it is shown.

Here is what all the pages should look like printed:

Now cut your pages down into 8x8 squares, as shown below:

Next, fold each page vertically along the center line, open and fold in the opposite direction.

Now open and fold each page again along the horizontal line in both directions.

Third, fold each page on the diagonal but only from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. Fold it one way, then open and fold the other. DO NOT fold again from the bottom left corner to the top right. Your book will not work properly if you do this. See the photos below:

Once you have all your pages your are ready to glue them together. Glue the middle page with the sun on to the white square on page 3. Then glue the middle page part with the butterfly on to the white square of page 1.  See below:

You will now have all of your pages link together and it should look like this:

This next part can be confusing so I will do my best to explain it. Take the top page, holding the fold line of the blue star page and the fold line of the birdie and egg page. Pull these corners together so the purple snowflake folds in and flat. Go over the folds well with a bone folder or something hard to train the paper to stay that way. It should look like this:

For the next fold grab the diagonal fold line of the brown striped page and the diagonal fold line of the red and blue page and pinch them together around the back of the pages. This will be opposite of the first fold you just did. It should look like this:

For the last fold to close up the album hold the diagonal fold of the pumpkin page and the diagonal fold of the scarecrow page and pinch them together in front like you did with the first page. Like this:

Your album should now fold together into a 4x4 square. Go over each of the folds with a hard object to train the paper again. Open and close the album several times. Like this:

Now get your 4x4 inch chipboard or cardboard squares. Glue one on to the front while the album is folded and the other to the back while the album is folded.

It is important to know that the album opens from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. You will pull up and to the left and the album should neatly fold open. Make sure you have the album set in front of you in this way for the next step.

Take your 2.5 feet peice of ribbon and fold it in half. Place the ribbon on the table in front of the album with the fold on the left. Like shown below:

Now glue the ribbon to the chipboard/cardboard on the front cover  ONLY. The top loose piece will be wrapped around the back to tie the album closed.

Now it is time to glue on your front and back cover. If the back cover has no top or bottom like the one included in the download then it does not matter which way you have the album facing when you glue it. For the front cover again make sure that the album is in front of you with it opening from the bottom right to the top left. As shown below.

Again you do not have to use the cover provided, any paper or embellishments will work. To close your album wrap the part of the ribbon coming out of the left side of the cover around the back to the reach the right side part of the ribbon and tie in a bow.

Your album should look like this closed:

and this open:

About the author ...
Ronny was introduced to paper scrapbooking by a friend in 2000 and started digi in 2004 not realizing it. She has been a member here at ACOT for over 2 years and has very recently joined the digital creative team. She lives in Georgia with her husband and 2 kids. Drawing, painting, reading, swimming, photography and playing outdoors with her kids are things she enjoys when she is not scrapbooking.

Submitted by Smiley-Scrap8