Simple Six by Six Mini Book with Pockets

A project from our live show STUDIO 3 - INDUSTRY NEWS - Join Toni for her latest updates - broadcast 17th April · 17/04/2022 · watch it from 14:00

Create a beginner-friendly six by six inch (or eight by eight) mini album with interactive pockets, hinged pages, and space for photos, tags, and embellishments. This foundational album teaches basic scoring, folding, and pocket construction techniques.

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Step by step

1. Cut five sheets of six by six inch double-sided paper, or use eight by eight if you prefer a larger album. ▶ watch 14:15
2. Score your first sheet down the centre at three inches (or four inches for eight by eight) using a score tool on your guillotine. ▶ watch 15:00
3. Turn the paper and score across the bottom at two inches to mark the depth of your pocket. ▶ watch 15:30
4. Cut up the centre line to the horizontal score line, then fold one section up and one section back to create a small pocket book. ▶ watch 16:45
5. Glue the sides of this pocket book together to close it, creating your first mini book insert. ▶ watch 17:30
6. Score all remaining sheets at half an inch down the left edge to create the hinge that will bind your album together. ▶ watch 23:00
7. On your second sheet, score at half an inch on the left, then at four inches across to create an interactive pocket page. ▶ watch 24:30
8. Score a line at three inches (the middle of your six by six sheet) to create a T-shaped score pattern for the pocket. ▶ watch 26:45
9. Cut up the centre line to the horizontal score line, then trim the corners at an angle to reduce bulk when folding. ▶ watch 27:00
10. Glue the hinge of this page to the hinge of your front cover, then fold and crease all pages together. ▶ watch 28:00
11. Continue adding pages by gluing hinge to hinge, alternating between plain pages and pages with interactive pockets. ▶ watch 38:00
12. Cut five by five inch squares from your paper and score at half an inch on three sides to create additional pockets for tags and embellishments. ▶ watch 44:00
13. Glue these smaller pockets onto your pages, positioning them at the base, sides, or corners as desired. ▶ watch 49:00
14. Create double-layered waterfall pockets by making progressively smaller pockets (five by five and a half, then four by four and a half) and stacking them. ▶ watch 1:08:00

Tips from the show

• Always score at half an inch for hinges to keep the binding consistent and strong.
• Trim corners at an angle before folding pockets to reduce bulk and prevent the paper from cracking.
• You can use single-sided paper; just accept that the back will be white, or stick two pieces together back-to-back for a more finished look.

More from this show

• Interactive Pocket Tags from Offcuts

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