6x6 Mini Scrapbook - Part 1 - Making the book

I'm back! And making a scrapbook to commemorate my trip to Las Vegas where lots of fun ensued. Before I get started with my own craft journey here and show you some pictures along the way, I want to give credit to www.dawnsinspirations.com who made a 40ish minute youtube video that shows you in real time how to make this. I took the design and added my own spin and this is the result. I also want to say that with the exception of the paper cutter and folder thing, I got all of the supplies for under $2! Watch for sale coupons, buy things one at a time until you get everything you need. I also had a $10 coupon to AC Moore and a 15% discount for working for a school. Huzzah!

Now to get started. I will omit some of the boring obvious pictures that involve preparing paper and just list what you need to finish with here:

• Two pieces of something firm that will serve as covers. I used grunge paper by Ranger. It's a 6x6 book so use that sized paper or maybe a little bigger.
• A pad of 6x6 paper (or your own paper trimmed to 6x6). I used a set called World Traveler by Teresa Collins ($2.99 for 24 double-sided sheets). Pick 12 sheets out that you like and go together. The rest of the pack is pretty guaranteed to coordinate well for embellishments or matting photos.
• Six 6x6 squares of cardstock. You may see the cardstock so pick a color that goes well with the pattern and don't waste nice cardstock. I just used a basic brown from the Core'dinations Chocolate Lovers set (it was also on sale that day).
• Five 6x2.5 pieces of cardstock (can be the same) this is for the binding of the pages. If you have 8.5x11 cardstock, you can cut it to 6x8.5 and then chop off the 2.5 part to get this and the previous squares you needed ;)
• One piece that is 7x3.75 for the actual spine. You may see this so you might want to pick a nicer cardstock for this or a color that coordinates well with the paper you want on the cover.
• Glue (liquid is best here)
• Other fun stuff like an ink pad and applicator for distressing edges. I also found some sweet washi tape that I wanted to use.

Getting Started:

1. Score the five strips of 6.25 cardstock at 1 1/8 and 1 3/8 inches. It should look like this: 
   
2. Now you add the 6x6 cardstock pieces to the "hinges" to start making the pages. 
   
3. Add a sheet to the other side. 
   
4. Add more hinges and sheets until you get a small book-shaped thing (surprise!). 
   
5. Now start adding your patterned pages into the book. Leave the outsides plain because they will be glued to the covers. I also used Ranger's Distress Ink in Vintage Photo to age the edges of the pages before I glued them in. 
   
6. Once all the pages are glued in. Let it dry a little. 
   
7. Take the grunge board covers and add some paper to them to make it look nice and set it to dry.
8. Once everything is dry, attach the covers to the un-papered ends of the book that you've made. 
   
9. Take the 7x3.75 piece and score it at 1" and 3.75". This will be the outside binding, so score it where it looks nice. I used a plain brown cardstock so it wasn't a big deal. Then glue it in a way that makes sense on the cover. Trim the spine to be level with the book. 
   
10. You can stop here, it's a book! I opened the book and used some cool washi tape I bought to cover the small part of the binding that you can see. In retrospect, I probably should have done this before adding the main spine so that the tape could wrap over but alas, I didn't. I also had to go back a few days later and use glue to adhere the tape better. Apparently washi tape is pretty, but not the most flexible of materials. Here is my finished inside.