My Mind's Eye Gingham Garden Mini-Album

    I really like mini-albums, but I don't like how stiff they always turn out when I make them.  So this time, I am using the Country Craft Creations Beginners Mini-Album Tutorial, which wraps the spine and the front and back covers all separately making for a more pliable spine.  The thing that I have the most trouble with is laying the hinges on straight, because it seems that the flaps on hinges get in the way of me seeing the edges to line it up straight.  The Country Craft Creations way, folds those flap under the hinge and just glues it on top of the spine.  That makes it easier to put on straight, but I am not sure if it will make the hinge connection on the spine too weak.  

   The spine is 2 1/2 inches x 8 1/2 inches and the covers are 6 1/2 inches x 8 1/2 inches.  The pages are 8 x 6 inches.  The paper is a collection called Gingham Gardens by My Mind's Eye.

   I left the front cover very plain -- just a couple strips of the matching washi tape and a strip of border from a punch in my stash (which I used throughout the album).  I covered all the edges with more of the washi tape from the collection.

The spine:

The back (the stamp I bought from Paper Sushi on Etsy):

There are 4 hinges using a 7 7/8 x 9 1/2 inch strip.  It was scored at 1 3/4, 2. 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2. 7 3/4.  All said and done this makes four 1/2 high hinges with 1/2 inch gussets between the hinges (and an extra 1/4 inch on each side of the hinge).

The inside front cover and first page:

The actual page one (on right) just has a tuck spot for a big picture.  The inside cover:

The inside cover has a deep pocket with one of the chipboard pieces from the collection on it.  Inside the pocket is an accordion folder tied with ribbon:

And turn the page:

The left hand side has a flap that folds down and then a longer flap that folds up:

The right hand side is a 3/4 wide pocket page with photo mats and a flap:

The mats in the pocket are what holds the flap closed.

There is a photo mat that slides out on the right hand side when you pull the ribbon:

And turn the page:

The left side is a belly band with a photo mat.  (One of the book mark magnets from the collection is on the top middle of the photo mat and there is a chipboard piece to use as a stopper at the bottom of the page.

The right hand page is another three fourths pocket page, done the same as the previous one:

And turn the page:

The left side is a vertical pocket with photo mats

The right side is two pockets that have the opening on the right with tags inside the pockets.

The bottom pocket flips down and the top pocket flips up to reveal more places for pictures:

And the last page and the inside back cover:                                                                              

The left hand side is a pocket page with a flap (held down by photo mats):                                  

The inside of the back cover (right side) is a water fall, held closed with a magnet of the strap:   

                                                                    

I didn't take a picture of it, but when the book is closed it does not gap open at all -- actually it is smaller on the right edge than the spine is (if that makes sense), so there is plenty of room for pictures.

Now, on to the next mini-album.