Hardcover Folio Mini Album

September 22, 2022

Hello, everyone! I will be constructing a DIY folio album from scratch. This folio album does not have a central binding and hinge system, but rather pages are built upon each other and the “folio” is attached to the back inside cover. Our album cover will measure 6¾” x 4⅝” with our overall folio measuring 6½” x 4⅛” x 1” (depth). The pages are various sizes. No die-cutting machine or dies are required for this fun DIY project.

Blog Supplies:

Cardstock Warehouse Cardstock Papers

12x12 & 8.5x11 Acqua Materica 92lb
8.5x11 Vermillion Colorplan 100lb

Score Board & Bone Folder
Paper Trimmer
(1) 12x12 Medium Weight Chipboard - 30pt
Liquid Adhesive
Various Sizes Scor-tape
Ruler
(1) Yard Ribbon
Optional:

Patterned paper, ephemera, or photos to decorate your album
Full stick post-it notes to label the size of your pages

supplies for hardcover folio album

This method can be adjusted for any size album!

Cutting Guide (width x height):

Chipboard:

(2) 6 ¾” x 4 ⅝” - Front and back cover
(1) 1 ¼” x 4 ⅝” - Spine

Cardstock for Cover (Acqua):

(1) 12” x 6 ⅝” - Cardstock for cover - Score Three Sides 1”
(1) 6” x 6 ⅝” - Cardstock for cover - Score Landscape 1”
(2) 6 ½ x 4 ⅜” - Cardstock for inside cover
(1) 3 ¼” x 4 ⅜ - Cardstock for inside cover margin

Cardstock for Folio (Acqua):

(1) 6 ½” x 6 ¼” - Score Portrait at 1” on both sides
(1) 6 ½ x 4” - Score Portrait at 1”
(1) 6 ½” x 3 ½” - Score Portrait at 1”
(1) 5 ½” x 4 ⅛” - Score Landscape at 1”, 1 ½”
(1) 9 ½” x 4 ⅛” - Score Landscape at 1”, 1 ⅜”, 6
(1) 6” x 4 ⅛” - Score Landscape at 1”, 1 ⅝”

Additional cardstock is needed for decoration. Please refer to the video for an example. I used Colorplan Vermillion and patterned paper to decorate my album.

undecorated hardcover folio album

GETTING STARTED

Join us in this video tutorial. Please reference the cutting guide above to help you cut and score your cardstock.

Here are the basic steps for assembling your folio:

Assemble the inside folio.

Decorate the inside folio, with additional solid paper, patterned paper, pictures and ephemera.

Cut cardstock and chipboard for folio album cover.

Assemble album cover. Attach ribbon before assembling inside cover.<

Decorate album cover.

Attach folio to album cover.

Tips and Tricks:

Want to resize this album? Your pages should be at least a half inch smaller in width and height than your cover margin.
Scor-tape used on pages when used to build folio MUST be smaller than the height of the hinge. In our video, our margins are 1” high, so I used ⅝” and ¼” scor-tape so the margins did not stick to the pages.
Experiment with your pages! Add additional flaps and fold outs! Add a pocket!
Decorate your album pages before adhering them to your album. I would recommend decorating the outside cover last.

Here is my finished album all decorated.

Hardcover Folio Mini Album