Songs About Rainbows - Sue's Mini Hinged Children's Photo Journal

Hello Everyone, 

It’s been a year of strange events with many challenging times but for me (and I’m sure many others) it’s been the best year for crafting. No need to come up with excuses why you would rather sit at home and craft than go visiting those family members that test your patience.  Take a picture of all those amazing creations (and even those that didn’t quite live up to expectations) and pop it on the Crafty Vera and Friends facebook group feed.  Or just count up how many finished projects you have done and add it as a post.  I wonder if you will be surprised with yourself?

This project is a journal for a child to work in and fill with family photos or maybe little works of art. The colours of the paper make it suitable for either a girl or  a boy and would make a perfect project for when the grandkids come over. 

The materials you will need are as follows;

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Critters

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Wishes

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Discover

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Sunlight

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Imaginary

Crate Paper – Magical Forest – Little

1 Sheet of A4 white 120 gsm paper (or cardstock)

We begin by cutting the white paper to make the spine.  Cut the paper into 5 strips – 15 x 6 cm.

 Once you have chosen the papers you are going to use cut them into pieces 15cm x 30cm.  You will need 6 pieces.  Make sure you check the direction of the design before you cut them.  Choose which pieces will be your front and back cover also.

 

Next step is to fold the smaller white spine pieces in half long ways.

Then we have to glue them together. It is important to line them up as close as you can. The folded edge is glued to the folded edge of the next one.  It will form a sort of open fan shape.  See the next photo.

 

We are up to folding our pages, these need to be folded in half along the long side so when folded they are 15cm x 15 cm.  If you would like to make some into pockets it’s a good idea to have a thumb opening at the top.  This can be cut out using a large circle punch. 

The next step is to begin gluing your pages in.  Starting at the back, run the glue down the back of the last hinge and attach the page on the left edge to the hinge. Make sure you have your set of hinges with the spine side to the left and it opens from the right, like a book.

 

Then close the page and glue the page closed and onto the white hinge. The white hinge is enclosed inside the page. 

Keep going in this manner until you run out of pages.  Make sure when you come to any pocket pages that you only glue the hinge area and along the bottom.  

  

Once you have glued all your pages in you will need to cut a piece for the spine.  It will need to be 15cm tall and 8 cm wide (this can be less if you want a narrower looking spine cover).

 

Glue the spine to the front first, then wrap it around to the back.

Then you can begin to decorate the cover using the ephemera pack or the sticker sheet.

 

I did also make a couple of journal cards or photo mats for the pockets and decorated them.

 

And finally I made a gusted pocket on the inside front cover, filled a decorated bag with some of the ephemera pieces so that they can be used to decorate the pages. 

 

I hope that you give this little journal a try.  It can be made bigger, thicker or with different paper.

Watch my process video using the link HERE.

 

Now I am left with the dilemma as to what to do with the journal… maybe it might be a future giveaway?

Thank you taking the time to read this blog and I will catch you again another time. 

Happy Crafting.