Brandy Burke

I love mini albums – theme specific or just as a random place to tuck images, journaling and a few gifts for someone I love – and when I find one that is super simple to put together, like envelope mini album, it often becomes a staple in my creativity.

This isn’t my original design, you’ll find a jillion of other crafters sharing similar designs — so why do I share it? Because what if you never run across it on another channel – you’re here, and I want you to have this idea in your back pocket for the next time you set out to create a mini album.

Envelope Mini Album Supply List

• 9-12 pieces of 6X6 paper (Maggie Holmes Carousel Paper)
• Envelope Punch Board
• 1 Large Brad (Bo Bunny Dot Brads)
• 1/8 ” Double Sided Tape
• Bakers Twine
• Tape Runner
• Binder Clip

For this envelope mini album, I wanted 3 1/2 X 3 1/2 square envelopes – and so I’ll share the tips and sizes used to get that result, but you can scale up or down to your liking.

Create an Envelope Mini Album

Step 1: Prepare your supplies

I used Maggie Holmes Carousel paper – I have the 12X12 pad but she also has a 6X8 on in this collection. I trimmed several pages into 6X6 squares. I also gathered my envelope punch board, some Bo Bunny brads, colorful twine, a bone folder, 1/8″ doublesided tape, a tape runner and a binder clip.

Step 2: Create Envelopes for your Envelope Mini Album

I used the guide on my envelope punch board to create a basic 3 1/2X square envelope. For this one, I didn’t round the corners, but you could if you wanted to, it won’t change how you assemble it but would give a slightly different look.

Step 3: Add a brad to your first envelope

Choose a brad and poke it through about 1/8 – 1/4″ away from any crease. Assemble the envelope being sure to cover the brad (that should be the bottom of your envelope.

Step 4: Assemble the remaining envelopes

Assemble the remaining envelopes, place a strip of 1/8″ double sided tape at the top of each envelope, inside, just below the flap.

Step 5: Create the Envelope Mini Album

Take your cover envelope (the one with the brad in it) and another envelope. Slide the lip of the second envelope into the first envelope and fold it down. Make sure it is in alignment with the cover and clip it together with the binder clip. Remove the backing from the double sided tape and press the pieces flat. Continue until all of your envelopes are together, creating a book.

Step 6: Create the spine

Wrap the lip from the cover around to the back of the booklet, tape it down.

Step 7: Tie it up

Take a piece of twine long enough to wrap around the book several times and tie one end around the brad, wrap the other end around the booklet.

Step 8: Embellish your Envelope Mini Album

If you’re ready, you can begin to fill your envelope mini album with photos, journaling, and other embellishments.

I know once you create one of these, you’ll find yourself making them over and over again – they become second nature and pull together really quickly. I’m anxious to try to make one with used envelopes that I’ve collected from various mailed cards for a really scrappy look.