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Original poster

Instructions for a scrapbook/album cover

26 replies

SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 09:42

I want to actually make a scrapbook/photoalbum. I have loads of mount board and also brass binding posts and the paper for the pages but I don't know how to physically make the cover... any patterns online??

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Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 16:29

bump

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cod · 28/01/2006 16:33

Message withdrawn

Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 16:35

Pah! At least I can do arty things...

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cod · 28/01/2006 16:35

Message withdrawn

Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 16:36

Can't - my 7yo is at a party

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cod · 28/01/2006 16:39

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Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 18:36

Anyway, ignoring the Fishy One, does anyone have any sensible suggestions?

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UCM · 28/01/2006 19:18

Where did you get the binding stuff?

UCM · 28/01/2006 19:20

I suppose if you cover the board one side with a bit of thin foam, then glue some fabric over the top and secure underneath. Then cut a piece of card slightly smaller than the cover to finish the cruddy side. Thats as far I have got. No idea about the binding bit.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 19:22

Ah...

Sorry, Faulkiners Fine Papers in Holborn I believe. OMG what a heavenly shop. Binder upon binder of fancy paper and you took your selection to the counter where they bought you a huge sheet of it... Sigh. A stationery Fetishist's dream.

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Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 19:23

Having looked at proper albums, they seem to have a clever "foldy bit" where the binding posts are.

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UCM · 28/01/2006 19:29

Is that near Holborn tube. UCM starts to wake up....

Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 19:34

Faulkner Fine Papers
74 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, WC1

IIRC, it's a bit of a walk from the tube, expensive but has the most beautiful papers I've ever seen like Japanese lace paper.... sigh.

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UCM · 28/01/2006 19:34

Ok, have an idea. cover board with paper/fabric. Then make a foam topper using a bit of card for base & cover. Make it 2 inches narrower to leave a margin down left hand side. Then plonk topper on top of already covered board. Voila, not sure about this in RL as it's hypothetical.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 19:47

I spent a while examining one in a shop making mental notes of how the fold went over the posts etc etc and can I remember? Not really!

It involves (in some way) having a big bit of card for the main cover, then 2 strips - one for the left hand edge of the cover where it folds back and one that goes underneath this. All 3 bits get covered to make one piece which can fold where the gaps between strips are....

i'm going to have to try this out I guess but I was hoping to find instructions on how to do it properly!

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Original poster
SoupDragon · 28/01/2006 19:48

Ooooh - hang on... did I have a book on book binding once? Blime! I think I did! I wonder where it is...

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UCM · 28/01/2006 21:35

How much was a paper and what size please. May saunter off there on Monday Will run actually!!

Original poster
SoupDragon · 29/01/2006 10:04

Oh, I couldn't tell you I'm afraid. It's been ages since I've been (pre children!). All the papers are individually priced - the lace papers are pricier than plainer papers for example. Size-wise I think they tended to be large sheets rather than A4 or 12 x 12 type sizes. Probably more geared towards art rather than craft IYSWIM.

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UCM · 29/01/2006 13:18

I am going there on Monday. Anyone want anything...

UCM · 30/01/2006 11:25

I went. It's a beautiful old fashioned shop. But if I bought papers there and used them on a card the card would have to be sold for about 25.00. I did however, buy the little binder thingys for making own scrapbook. They screw in and there are a set of 10 to a bag. 5.50. I have never seen them anywhere else so it was worth going. The guy in there said that they mostly serve book restorers/binders. But thanks for that anyway, it was very inspiring.

UCM · 31/01/2006 19:00

Right I went and bought foam board, mount board etc today to make my own cover but have no idea how to make the bit on top where you bend back the pages to look at the damn thing. HELP

UCM · 31/01/2006 19:02

Soupy it's your fault. But one thing I was told at the bookbinders is that once you have your bits in place it's best to drill the holes. Thank god my DH is in the building game and has lots of different drills for stuff. Deep breath

Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/01/2006 20:12

snigger.

And that's the bit I wanted help with but did anyone come forward to help? No.

You do need to have a big bit of card for the cover, then a small bit of card where the posts go - this leaves a gap for the main cover to fold back along. I imagine you tape the 2 with a long line of tape and then cover the whole lot in the foam, paper etc etc.

I've looked at other albums in great detail and they seem to have an arrangement whereby the cover folds over the screw tops of the posts so they are inside but I'm damned if I can work it out.

And yes, drilling is best because it means all the holes are accurately lined up - you can get round this by having torg edged paper though and use a hole punch. Or maybe use a die from a coastal set.

When drilling you need to support both edges of the paper/cover block or it can be prone to bending.

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Original poster
SoupDragon · 31/01/2006 20:13

torg edge paper? I meant torn.

But isn't the paper in FFPapers divine?

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UCM · 31/01/2006 22:06

Please tell me you were joking about the coastal set. I thought you were my friend......