Authentique Utopia Tropical Mini Album Tutorial

Happy July friends!  Today we launch a new challenge at Mini Album Makers.  There's a plethora of inspiration awaiting you on the MAM blog with loads of tutorials from our talented design team.  We hope you will be inspired to play along for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Lindy's Stamp Gang.

Today I'm sharing a fabric wrapped spine mini album, inspired by the stunning work of Tati Scrap.  I picked up the Authentique Utopia 12x12 pad at my local Tuesday Morning (on the never ending hunt for fabulous Tim Holtz goods of course - he he).  I also scooped up a wooden word set by Little Yellow Bicycle and used some Prima Flowers and the Tim Holtz Tropical die cut set to complete the work.

Because we've been on vacation for two weeks: 1. I went a little more vibrant than usual and 2. I kept the pages simple with out many flaps and fuss.  After all, that is what vacation is about - carefree living.  :)  Each spread has a mat for a 4x4" photo.

The die cut Hibiscus flowers are all sponged with Distress Inks.  The pineapple is by Spellbinders and the sunglasses is by Tutti Designs.

To add lots of texture to the pages I layered two identical sizes of crumpled edge prints on each page.  

Now on to the assembly...  First I cut my 5 signatures from watercolor paper to 7 x 10 3/8".  I scored each one at 5" and 5 3/8" on the long side.  I decorated the insides before proceeding.  I love this method of assembly because I can work flat with the page designs, then build my book.  It's especially helpful when adding brads and flaps because they can be hidden when the pages are glued together.

I decided to add some batting to my covers to make then nice and thick and cushy.  I cut the front and back cover to 5 1x8 x 7 1/4".  I glued the covers to the batting, then cut off any excess.  I wasn't sure if this would work well with paper wraps, but it did!  :)

Next I added a tiny bit of glue to the batting to make it stick to my paper wraps.  I cut two of them to 6 3/4 x 8 3/4".  I mitered the corners, making sure not to cut too close to the corner so the chipboard won't be seen when the paper is wrapped.

I applied Red Line tape around my paper and then adhered it to my cover.  (I sanded the corners lightly to make sure everything was smooth.)

I added some brads so it would look like they are holding the fabric to the spine.  I hammered them flat on the reverse side.

Now, I wanted to have a pattern inside on my spine that would show when the fabric gave way.  To do this, I glued my stack of signatures together in order.  I glued the back of the first page to the second, etc.  Next, I measured the width of the signatures.  This was 2".  So I cut another piece of chipboard 2 x 7 1/4" (the height of my covers).  I cut a paper wrap to 3 1/2 x 8 3/4" and then adhered it to my chipboard.

I liberally added glue to the signatures then glued them to the wrapped chipboard.

Next, I cut a width of fabric.  This fabric is a vintage table runner.  I trimmed it and glued the edges in for a finished look.  Then I glued it to the front and back of the white signature as shown.  I left a little give way.

Then I glued on my covers.  I made sure to line up the inner spine with the covers on both sides.

See!  Isn't that neat?  I used my awl to poke the corner of the fabric between the covers while the glue was wet so it didn't show.

I would recommend using a heavyweight fabric and not quilter's cotton.  Tati Scrap often adds grommets to the inner hard spine and then wraps chains and adds dangles to her spines, but since I made this a top opening book, that wouldn't work for me.

I sure hope you've enjoyed this super sunny album and will try to make one of these on your own.  Regardless of what you make, do get crafty and add a project to our current challenge.  We can't wait to see what you come up with!  Hugs, Autumn

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Simon Says Stamp: Food/Drink

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

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