Live Out Loud Mini Album, Part One

I made another mini album using a variation on my Double Zine Fold. This tutorial and mini you can see here.  I thought about how I could use the same concept to make a sort of "gatefold" mini. I also incorporated some recycling in this project, using an oversized grocery bag for the base of the book.  I am going to do this in two parts, the first being how I made it, the second, the final embellishment of it.

 I recycled a very tall grocery bag for this project.  I cut out the bottom and made it one long piece, then folded it lengthwise to make a long skinny piece.  Then I did a little measuring and created two zine folds, one on each side, with a 1" spine piece.  Each side is four "sections" and the spine piece.

 This shows the folded piece, after cutting the two midsections on each side.

 All folded up.

 It is hard to see, but the parts that become the front and back covers are 1/2" longer than the inside pages, so that I could utilize the middle pocket created by the fold on the inside.  You will get two top loading pockets and one side loading middle pocket on each side of the mini.

 After folding and gluing, I inked the book.

 I found these GORGEOUS papers from Colorbok called Antique Paperie at Jo Ann's.  OMG...Love this line!  The closure is seam binding by 7 Gypsies.

 This is the first opening...

 Then the first page opened,

 The second page opened,

And the third.

On the next post, I will show the finished project.  I think it turned out beautiful.  The final dimensions are 7 1/2" tall by 4 3/4" wide.  It has so many tags that you won't believe it.  I also used some interesting recycling ideas for filling it and decorating it.  If you have any questions about how I made the base book, please let me know.

Stay tuned, and stay crafty!