Make a tiny fold-up scrapbook!

Mini books are a great way to present special photos, and this design from Fiona Beckman has a fun interactive element. Tiny enough to fit in your pocket, the book flips and folds out to reveal its secrets! “I love interactive books, where there’s an element of discovery with the lifting of each page or flap,” explains Fiona, “My youngest daughter has been obsessed with flap books since she was a toddler, and she particularly enjoys this very tactile way of revisiting memories of family day trips. “I wanted to create a mini book that could be cut from a single sheet of standard scrapbooking- sized 12x12in card. I’ve created it with staggered spines so that it still folds up even when you add chunky embellishments!”

Scroll this page to download your free template to help you make Fiona's fold-out pocket album.

You will need:

• 12x12in Bazzill basics card, from Craft Obsessions
• Bo Bunny 'Flower Child' patterned paper & stickers, from Craft Obsessions
• Echo Park ' A walk in the park' patterned papers, from A Trip Down Memory Lane
• My Little Shoebox alphabet stickers, from A Trip Down Memory Lane
• Ink pads
• Ribbon - Mod Podge, from Calico Crafts
• Corner rounder punch

How to cut & make the fold-up book shape 

Follow these steps to craft your own book from a single 12x12in card sheet. 

1. Cut out a square of card to measure 8x8cm. This will be a template to draw around. 
2. Place the template square in the centre of a sheet of 12x12in card and draw around it. 
3. Draw the rest of the mini book outline as follows: Use pencil so you can rub out if you go wrong. Leave a 5mm gap to the right of the centre square, and draw another square. Label this ‘1b’. Draw another square directly above this one and label it ‘1a’. To the left of the centre square, leave a 1cm gap then draw square ‘2b’. Directly below this, draw and label ‘2a’. Above the centre square, leave a 1.5cm gap, and draw ‘3b’. Directly to the left of this, draw ‘3a’. Below the centre square, leave a 2cm gap, and draw square ‘4b’. To the right of this, draw ‘4a’. 
4. Cut around all the external lines. Score the lines where squares and/or spine sections meet. Now your book is ready to decorate with photos, journaling and a cover!

Decorate & protect

Decorate the cover of your book with bright alphabet stickers and other embellishments. If you’re making a ‘brag book’ to keep in your handbag, use heavyweight patterned card and give it a coat of Mod Podge for protection.

Set the scene

Pair up text & photos

The book has nine square areas on each side, perfect for photos measuring 7cm square. “I’ve paired up journaling and photos on adjacent pages,” says Fiona. “Alternatively, you could put a photo on every square, and write straight on to the image with a permanent pen.”

Peek-a-boo! 

Some of the squares – like the centre one – can’t be paired up with a nearby square for text. Solve the problem by turning some of the photos into lift-up flaps. Simply hide your journaling text underneath!

Layer on embellishments

Each folding section has a different width of spine, so you can stick two or more layers of paper and photos to each page, and there’s still room for you to add 3D embellishments! 

Cover up

Make the cover for your book from a strip of patterned paper measuring 7x18cm. To stick the cover in place, fold up the book and attach it with double-sided tape, sandwiching ribbon ties between the layers at each end.

Top tips:

✿ You can crop photos down from ordinary prints, or use your home computer to crop digital photos to the correct size before printing them.

✿ For a smart look, use a corner rounder punch to smooth the corners of your book. This will also stop it from getting dog-eared over time!