Accordion Fold Pocket Book with Tags Tutorial

Yesterday I shared an accordion mini book with pockets and fun tags, as promised here is a tutorial on how to make your own.
Begin by cutting three sheets of 12X12 paper into 6X12 sheets. Fold in half to make them 6X6.If you plan on rounding the corners, now is the time to do so. Choose two of the folded papers. The one with the pig will be paper 1 and the cherries paper 2.

Open paper 1 and lay face down. Open paper 2 and over lap first half as shown above. You will essentially continue like this until you have added as many pages as you like. Pay attention to the orientation of your papers so that the last one will bend forward and you book will have a front and back cover like a traditional book.

Apply adhesive and press down to seal. I like to use a tape runner that lets out a line of double sided tape. Now you should have something that looks like the photo above. Attach your next sheet by taking another sheet of paper and laying it pattern side facing down, like paper 1 previously. Attach and continue alternating until you've reached the desired length for your book.

As I mentioned above I like to use a tape runner for this kind of project. This kind of double sided tape is more expensive, but it's so much quicker to create with and then you know there is a nice seal between both papers.

To make the pocket pages add a little notch to make it easier to slip the tags in and out. I used my scalloped circle punch but a circle one also work well. If you don't have access to either of those a square is easiest to cut. Apply adhesive to three sides ONLY before attaching to the next sheet of paper.

Continue attaching pages until you have reached your desired length. To cover the front and back pages, take one of your folded 6X12 pieces of paper and cut in half. Attach to front and back end pieces. If you'd like to add a ribbon tie, like I did for yesterday's example, add it now. Adhere ends of ribbon with strong adhesive to the book and THEN add the covers shown above. This scrapbook tape is one of my secret tips, use it to attach and then cover the end of the ribbon. This will enable the tags to slide in and out of the pockets more easily and not catch on the ends of the ribbon.

Here is the assembled book from the front. I have made all but one page a pocket page, unlike yesterday's book. That one has five pockets and it's really up to you how many you want to have. It just depends on how many tags you want to make and have materials for.

Here it is from the back. I hope this helps you make on for yourself or as a special gift. The interactive aspect is really fun; I like the idea of tucking little extras throughout. I haven't finished embellishing this one, you can check out yesterday's post for ideas on how to add some extra flourishes to it.


Shared At: Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design,