Easy Birthday Cover-All Album

It is really, really, REALLY easy to make a cute album quickly using Zutter Cover-Alls.  The Design Team loves 'em and we swear by 'em.  Why?  Because, along with your Bind-it-All, these little album-starters can make you look like the amazing craft diva that you are, in no time flat! 

Start with a Cover-All, decorate the cover as you wish.  Create your inner pages from cardstock, patterned paper...punch and bind to the plastic inner mounting page.  Then insert the plastic page into the back pocket of the Cover-All.  Voila.  You can customize your inside pages ANY WAY you want. Add little goodies of various sizes and textures to truly make it all your own.

This little album was made for a friend's daughter's birthday.  I like to make these as gifts so the recipients can add their own photos and journaling.  Or, many times, I tell them to give me the photos and I add them in, and let them do the journaling.  Any way you work it, it's an always appreciated and thoughtful gift!

Use a variety of paper patterns for matting and enhancing the pages.  Along with border punches, you can really up the "wow" factor on the pages!

As you are trimming the papers, save the scraps and strips for embellishing.  Add coordinating stickers to make creating go fast and easy!

I like to add folds and flaps to give the pages interest and movement.  Plus, for most recipients who are not scrappy or crafty, they LOVE the interactive elements!

Start with a set of papers that coordinate well together and have fun.  We are lucky that we get a batch of papers from Basic Grey every now and then.  This collection called "Life of the Party" was perfect for this birthday theme.

Original Zutter Cover-Alls are on CLEARANCE at http://www.binditall.com/.  They come in three spine styles, and sizes 3X4, 6X6, 5X7.5 and 8X8.  They can accommodate owire sizes 3/4" and 1", so bulk up with the pages if you want!  50% off until they are gone, and they will be gone for good!

Founding Zutter Zister Nan Paturzo

Pockets!

I love making mini albums with pockets that can be used for just about anything. Journaling, photos, memorabilia etc. Here are 2 examples of mini albums I made for my purse that have pockets.

The first one is my business card holder. I made the pockets large enough to hold the standard size business cards and used the 3x4 Zutter Cover-All so that they stay protected in my purse.

The second one is a little first aid kit that has band aids, wipes, tweezers etc. for all those little emergencies. Again I used the 3x4 Zutter Cover-All to hold them but for this one I added some Maya Road envelopes to hold more stuff.

To make the pockets for this size project I cut my paper to 6" x 6" then scored it at 3" on one side then turn a quarter turn and score it at 2". The 3" score is to fold the paper in half then the 2" score folds up to make the pockets. Bind (with your Bind-it-All!)along the open edge and voila you have 2 little pockets.

You could also make a mini sewing kit if you are inclined.  Really, the uses for these simple little pockets are endless!  Start with a 3X4 Zutter Cover-All and you can't go wrong!

Zutter Zister DT Member Fleur Smith