12.4.16

Easy Mini Book Tutorial

Mini Book
          Hi friends my daughter graduated from junior school and we made  mini books as year end "Thank you" gifts for my daughter's  favorite teachers. These minis are just 3.5 x 3.5 inches and hence were quite easy to make and decorate.
       Before I share the tutorial here are the details of how this particular mini book's cover looked before it was jazzed up!
Mini Book
        For mixed media fans, I had earlier shared how to decorate a book cover here: Mixed Media mini book cover tutorial . Though I loved the pretty floral pattern I used on the cover ,I added a bit of texture using a Memory box stencil and whipped spackle.
Texture Media
        Once the whipped spackle dried , I added resin corners and some heat embossed parchment flowers [ made with Heartfelt creations Botanical Wings ] and heat embossed and water-colored leaves [ made with the Winnie and Walter In Bloom Elsa's Flora Stamp Set ]
Mini Book
The butterfly was cut out  from a pattern paper sent to me by Mrs A for winning her butterfly Challenge.
Mini Book
The photo below shows how the mini book looks from above with the tags in their pockets.
Mini Book with tags
The mini book has 7 pockets and 4 of the pockets open on top and 3 open to the sides for inserting tags
Mini Book with tags
I first made this type of  mini book following Jess' picture tutorial but  since many of you got confused with that tutorial link here is my kiddo sharing a short video tutorial on how to make a basic mini book.


And for my readers who like pictorials better here is how to make a mini book in pictures
You can make a Mini Book using these basic materials

  • One 12 x 12 inch paper
  • Two 3.5 x 3.5 inch pieces of chipboard/cardboard
  • Two 5 x 5 inch pattern papers

Mini Book Tutorial
Materials required to make a basic Mini Book

  • One 12 x 12 inch paper
  • Optional: Score Board and Scoring Tool . If you dont have one you can simply fold your paper into 4 equal parts .
Score your paper every 3 inches - ie at 3 , 6 and 9 inches
Mini Book Tutorial 
Turn 90 degrees and again score at 3, 6 and 9 inches

Mini Book Tutorial 
          Cut the paper along the score lines- along the red dotted lines as shown...eg the cut along the 3 inch vertical line will  reach till the top horizontal score line while the cut along the 6 inch vertical score line will reach till the lower horizontal score line and the last cut along the 9 inch vertical score line will reach till the top horizontal score line --- this makes the paper look like an "M" or a W whichever way you want to look at it!

Mini Book Tutorial 
Start accordion folding from one end of the "M"- keeping the first fold a valley fold as shown below
Mini Book Tutorial 
Accordion fold the paper using a bone folder or your fingers to get crisp folds.

Mini Book Tutorial 
Keep on fan folding at the bottom of the paper - if you keep your folds in the valley- mountain sequence  you wont go wrong!
Mini Book Tutorial 
 So on the 2nd vertical column of the M you fanfold your way up
Mini Book Tutorial 
Once you reach the top keep on folding your way down

Mini Book Tutorial 
This is how the folds will look as you start folding the 3rd column!

Mini Book Tutorial 
Fold your way down the 3rd column .

Mini Book Tutorial 
By the time you have reached the end of your 3rd column your book is quite  the wiggly caterpillar wanting to spring apart so keep a tight hold on it!

Mini Book Tutorial 
And once you have folded your way up the last column your mini book is done!
Mini Book Tutorial 
If you want to keep it simple- just stick the blank white pages together and you will have a simple mini book with 16 pages to write on or stick pictures to.
Mini Book Tutorial 
Materials Required to make the cover of the Mini Book
Mini Book Tutorial 
  • Two 3.5 x 3.5 inch pieces of chipboard/cardboard
  • Two 5 x 5 inch pattern papers
  • Scissors and Good adhesive-I used Red tacky tape
  • Optional- Ribbon
Mini Book Tutorial 
Stick the chipboard to the center of your pattern paper.
Mini Book Tutorial 
Cut triangles at the corners of your pattern paper flaps [this gives a less bulkier and neater finish] and stick the pattern paper to your chipboard as shown
Mini Book Tutorial 
       I stuck red tacky tape to  around 2.5 inches of ribbon and stuck it firmly to the front page,back page and hinge of my mini. The ribbon adds to the strength of the spine and if you want you can leave the ribbon long to use as a tie closure for your mini.
Mini Book Tutorial 
Adhere the mini to the center of the pattern paper covered front and back covers.
Mini Book Tutorial 
I used red tacky tape as the adhesive.
Mini Book Tutorial 
Though I kept a long ribbon to act as a tie closure for 2 of my first mini books I later found that this was not really required. Here is how the completed mini book looks [yet to add the tags in the pockets]
Mini Book Tutorial 
Here is another Mini Book we gifted to my daughter's teacher
Mini Book
I used the super pretty Bob N Betty  floral logs pattern paper to make the cover of the mini book .
Mini Book Cover

I used a few resin corners to "frame" my mini!

Mini Book
Added a resin chair with a fluttering butterfly to the rose garden!

Mini Book
Made the heart shaped glass cabochon with scrap pattern papers [again from Bob n Betty]
Heart Shaped Glass Cabochon
Here is the link to the  tutorial : Glass Cabochon tutorial 
Cabochon
The inside pages are again in a nature theme with birds and flowers  and made using a paper from another Indian brand "Papericious".
Mini Book
Here is the tutorial on how to make the pockets in this mini book : Mini Book Pocket tutorial 

Supplies:Papers : Bob n Betty Floral Logs, Bob n Betty Ornate Annie , Papericious Bird Song, Papericious the Flora Season
Stamps : Heartfelt creations Botanical Wings , Winnie and Walter In Bloom Elsa's Flora Stamp Set 
Punches : Itsy Bitsy Circular foam punch 
Dies : Poppy Stamps Pinpoint Main Street Tags , Heartfelt creations Botanical Wings 
Linking to
Simon Says Monday
Pixie's Snippets Playground 224 - used snippets of parchment and paper to make the flowers and leaves on my first mini book and again more snippets of pattern paper to make the glass cabochon embellishment on my 2nd mini book

57 comments:

  1. Wow! These are beautiful!
    Such lovely gifts, too!

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  2. Gorgeous mini book project, beautiful papers and brilliant techniques. Love the vellum flowers and details x

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  3. Fabulous mini books!! Love the chabby style and all the gorgous embellishments!

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  4. So beautiful! The teachers are lucky as these are so very precious Karen x

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  5. Wonderful mini book created. The way you embellished the cover is bee-utiful. Hard to believe the size of this since it looks so much bigger with all the wonderful embellishments. I made a small mini book for Easter. Have a BEE-utiful day!
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  6. Absolutely amazing I love everything about it the colour and the flowers are gorgeous and the overall design is wonderful.
    Debs xx
    {Debs Cards}

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  7. Oh my goodness, what stunning minis!! These are amazing, Sonia!! I love how you decorated them!! The papers are so beautiful!! They make such gorgeous gifts!! I know your daughter's teachers loved them!! Thank you for the awesome tutorial, too!! Have a great day my friend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. This is stunning, thank you for the amazing tutorial, I'm going to make one of these for my daughter and myself. hugs, Lori m

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  9. This is fabulous! Thanks for the step by step!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  10. You little mini book is FABULOUS Sonia..beautiful decorated, love the resin corners and that cute chair.You such awesome tutorials, so easy to follow..thank you.

    luv CHRISSYxx

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  11. Excellent tutorial by your kid Dr Sonia Thanks for sharing the video.
    Mini book very easily made and very beautifully decorated .I'm sure the recipients will go head over heels.

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  12. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. Your little crafter has become an expert in offering video tutorials.

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  13. as usual beautifully explained dear. thanks for sharing

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  14. This is absolutely breath taking and your tutorial is great.
    Myrna

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  15. Thats a wonderful creation and lovely tutorial ! good to see you try your hands on these mini albums !

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  16. Lovely lovely lovely... !!

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  17. Beautiful mini album and thanks for sharing tutorial. You put everything in details which is easy to understand and apply.

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  18. Simply fabulous Doc.
    And I'm awestruck at your daughter's command at this level of creativity..... U definitely inspire me to do the same with my little girl :-D
    Thanks a lot

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  19. Wow...that's very pretty... Loved your daughters tutorial...she is to good n well trained..love n hugs to her
    Daksha

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  20. Amazing tutorial and your dother is so adorable and it is so great to folow her, must try one album to make :)
    ♥Hugs Valentina♥

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  21. Lovely!! Sonia, I have a request, do share with us ideas to make unisex or mini books for men as well

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    Replies
    1. Hehe Divya the man of my home my hubby loves flowers and birds and butterflies so never really tried the classical masculine look of gears and cars theme!

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  22. Gorgeous mini books! Fantastic tutorial from Prisha, really well explained!! Can't wait for the next instalment of the tutorial for the pockets. Debra x

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  23. This is just so lovely ! Thank you so much for this clear tutorial !
    Greetz
    Margo

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  24. Gorgeous..!! Loved the beautifully embellished mixed media covers and thanks a lot for the easy to follow tutorial ,will check prisha's video tutorial soon !

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    Replies
    1. Just watched Prisha's video tutorial ! Enjoyed it thoroughly.. Prisha's seemed so natural all the time I was watching her more than the paper ;)!

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  25. You have created a real keepsake for your daughters teacher Sonia, I sure she will treasure it.

    B x

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  26. Its a beautiful creation ... Love to visit your blog and creations.

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  27. Mini book is so beautiful...Thanks for sharing the tutorial Dr.Sonia and Prisha..

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  28. What a beautiful Keep sake! Very pretty!! :)
    Suchi xx

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  29. Sonia this is awesome. And thankyou so much for showing so many photos!!
    Lia xx

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  30. Crumbs Sonya! What a fabulous mini book - and how lovely of your to show us just how to do it. I LOVE your daughter's video tutorial :) Talent runs in the family.

    Great to see you in the Playground.

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  31. Beautiful!! I'm sure the teachers will treasure their handmade gift.

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  32. Wow, fantastic Sonia!! I'm so glad you shared the tutorial, I had no idea how small the album was!! So gorgeous and such a wonderful project idea!! hugs :)

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  33. hey Doc !! very pretty projects i wonder how u manage so much!!!

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  34. Beautiful mini books and thank you for such a clear tutorial, fabulous! Cara x

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  35. What a beautiful mini book! Your detailed instructions and fabulous!
    Pam
    scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

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  36. Wonderful mini books! And thank you for the tutorial.
    Wies

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  37. OMG!!! This is fantastic. You daughter is adorable. I have stamp club this week end and I need a project to show the girls and this is perfect. The mini books are wonderful thank you for sharing the tutorial and the wonderful video.
    Pat

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    Replies
    1. Pat I will publish the 2nd part today or tomorrow- will show how to make the the pockets

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  38. What pretty books those are. They look like they would be fun to make too. Thanks for the tutorial

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  39. its so pretty!
    love your all creations!
    Bad Kitty's Craftroom

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  40. amazing mini books and thank you for such a great tutorial.

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  41. Fantastic mini book and great tutorial Sonia..Loz

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  42. Absolutely beautiful work Sonia and a great photographic tutorial. I really love your parchment flowers. Barbxx

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  43. They are gorgeous, so pretty, xxx

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  44. It's stunning! And it does not seems to be too difficult to make. Thank you for tutorial, Dr Sonia!
    Warm greetings!
    Aneta

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  45. beautiful mini book love it. hugs

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  46. Beautiful mini book! So many gorgeous details to a mini piece, especially the resin embellishments and flowers are very pretty. Thanks for the step by step tutorial.
    Hi Prisha, the video tutorial is awesome, thanks for sharing the making! Lots of love :)

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  47. Wow! What beautiful keepsakes for your daughters teachers. Fantastic technique with the whipped spackle and a great tutorial. Hugs!

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  48. Beautiful mini book Sonia!! Such an easy to follow tutorial!! I'm sure the teachers loved them!! The embellishments are awesome!!
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

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  49. Gorgeous mini book! This style is so elegant, I love your tutorial!! Thanks so much to sharing with us this week on Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog! Barbara

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  50. Stunning....very elegant! Love your pretty mini album!

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  51. Everything you post makes me smile... thank you for all the great ideas!

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