Create a Mini Album using Envelopes

Today I’m sharing how you can make a mini album, or journal, using envelopes. This idea could be used with any size envelopes. To recreate a version of this album, you’ll need 3 of the same size envelope. You could use more but I find 3 seems to give just the right amount of space for photos, journaling and pockets.

You can find a video walking you through creating this album linked below.

How to Attach the Envelopes

To create the album base place your three envelopes, side by side, pocket side up, with the flap on the right side. Start by adding adhesive to the flap of the middle envelope. Adhere that to the back of the envelope on the right. With the two joined envelopes open, position the third envelope, pocket side down, on top of the envelope on the left. Position it so that it lines up nicely and carefully flip it over so that the unattached envelope flap is now on the top. Open the flap, being careful not to move the envelope, add adhesive and close to adhere. NOTE: you should still have the envelope flap from the third envelope free. That’s going to be your flap. You can use your paper trimmer and score that at about 1/4″ to provide some depth to the flap.

The base of your album is now complete and ready to decorate. It’s easier to understand if you watch me assemble it in the video. Here’s what it will look like open. You can see the two obvious envelopes and then the flap of the third.

Decorating Your Album

I chose to use some leftover supplies from the Farmhouse Florals Paper Pumpkin kit to decorate my album and added an album created from a greeting card inside. However, I encourage you to use products from your stash to decorate your albums. This album was created more as a journal than a mini album with lots of writing spots. However, it would be easy to add a few photo mats and turn it into a mini album.

If you aren’t familiar with how to turn a greeting card into a mini album, or journal, check out this video. I did this to add more space for writing/photos but you can skip this step if you need the extra room.

When you open the album, this is what it looks like. I created a little pad of scrap papers to write on and tucked it into a belly band. The clip was cut using one of the dies from the Just a Note die set.

There are lots of little pockets throughout the album. Here’s a look at some of the tags that I created to tuck into them.

I even turned this little bag ephemera piece into a pocket by adding dimensionals around the edges and then tucking some little labels into the bag. These will be perfect for the recipient to scatter throughout the album.

For more inspiration using the Farmhouse Florals Paper Pumpkin kit, check out this blog post.

I hope you enjoyed this little envelope mini album tutorial and that you give it a try.

Until next time,

Shopping List

Click on any of the images below to shop my Canadian online store or to find out more information about any of these products. In addition to these I also used the stamp set that came with the Farmhouse Florals Paper Pumpkin kit, some ephemera pieces from my stash (retired or leftover from past kits); retired ribbon & twine and some book pages, ledger paper and other random papers from my junk journaling stash.