Tri-shutter mini album tutorial

I saw this idea in a gallery but when I followed the link it was not a tutorial but it was to buy the albums so I thought...Gee I have done a Tri-shutter card- I can do this! I have changed the dimensions from the card though so I could accommodate larger pictures for the album...you will be able to fit 3-almost 4X6 vertical pictures...you can fit whole pictures but you will no longer have any mat- if you trim just a smidgen off the pic you will still see your pretty papers. You will also be able to fit a "almost" or full size 3X4 horizontal picture.
What you will need is two pieces of the same colored 12X12 Cardstock, and I use three different types of coordinating Patterned paper (You will not need the full 12X12, you will have some left over.) You will also need a variety of embellishments some co-coordinating Cardstock and a ribbon for a closure if you wish or whatever type of closure you choose.
So let's get started! Please bear with me...I'm not one to write a quick sentence :)
I have done a crude draw up template for you to follow along with.

On one piece of 12X12 Cardstock start by cutting in half at the six inch mark. This gives you the two sides (which are indicated on the diagram as the large light blue and the large pink rectangles on the left side of the diagram) Marked cut between Side 1 and side 2 on the diagram
take one of the halves and score it going up the long way at 2, 4, 8 and 10 inches of the 12 inch length. (as indicated on diagram in hot pink)
Now you will cut at 1 1/2 inches from the edge between the 2" score line and the 10 inch score line. (as indicated on diagram in green)
Now the second side is done in the exact same way.
Now you will put these aside and working on the second 12X12 paper you will cut at 6 inches take one of these pieces and cut off a piece 4X6 and that will give you your inside middle (in peach on diagram) with the left over take and score it at 4 1/8th inches(hot pink line) and then cut it off at 6 1/8th inches(in yellow on diagram) this will provide your cover, put the leftover away in your scraps (marked in grey)
On the second 6X12 piece you will again score at 4 1/8th(hot pink) and cut at 6 1/8 inches. This is your second cover....set the two together aside.
Now lets take the two first pieces we set aside and do the folding.
The picture indicates how the folds should be done in each one...I am assuming you have a "good side" or textured side to your cardstock and this is facing towards the camera.

Now you will take the first piece cut from the second piece of Cardstock the Middle inside, apply the glue all over the back of this and you will stick it in between the Side 1 and side 2 on the end piece of side 1 and the first piece of side 2 to join them Make sure to line up the top and bottom and fold in the sides to ensure it is lined up correctly.

Now all you have to do is put on your cover pieces- fold on the score line we created and apply the glue to the backside of the 2 inch piece and attach to the start and end pieces of the album, at the back, making sure to line up the top and bottom and fold to ensure you have it in the right place.


Now you will decorate the book...I have done a few in advance and this will show you the various placements of the papers...but feel free to decorate as you wish and then embellish!


I generally use one paper for the inside covers and the middle inside mats for photos and then I use a different one for the outside covers
On the top small 1 1/2" pieces on the top and bottom I cover with a busier pattern and one more paper for the 2X6 strips and the 2X3 strips just inside the covers...and a plain mat for the 4X3 pieces on either side for smaller pictures. Once you have the base of the mini album put together this will make much more sense to you. (I HOPE! LOL) To do the Patterned papers I take the size of each panel and I take off 1/8th of an inch for each side so the 2X6 piece for instance I cut at 1 6/8 X 5 6/8.
Then you will decorate your cover with a closure you can use a scrap of Cardstock and attach a message or decoration I sandwich my ribbon tie underneath this so I can tie it closed.

You will notice that there may be a slight overlap in the cover "doors" you can either trim this before adding your closure or just close it so the left side is on the top.
I am including the link for the tri shutter card in case it helps you figure out the folds better...because part1 is folded in the same matter as the card (minus the cover) and part two is just folded in the opposite direction...if your Cardstock is not textured you can just do the folds the same and flip it so it goes in the opposite direction.
http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/2009-04-23-quad-fold-card-sample-tutorial/
I have provided a short video to show you the album in it's entirety. They are a ton of fun to make! ENJOY!