A Mini Book of Love...

This year, I wanted to make my partner something special for Valentine's day - I normally make a card, but this time I wanted to try a mini book. Fortunately, this Christmas I received an instruction book for making all kinds of different mini-books, and I decided to adapt some of the ideas for my own creation. When the Kelly Panacci papers arrived in the post from Papermaze, I knew they were perfect for this project.

First I covered some chipboard to make back and front covers for my mini book. I mitred the corners and covered the insides with contrasting papers. I decided to add some stamped detail using some Autumn Leaves Swirl stamps using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

I made the hinges with two pieces of cardstock - they were folded into accordions before being adhered to the front and back covers. I stuck the inside of the accordion folds together using double sided tape on the outside of the book, so they didn't act as springs!

I chose eight of my favourite photos of myself and my partner and printed them at a small size. I then stuck them to small pieces of the patterned cardstock, inking the edges and adding more stamped details to the back side of each piece of cardstock. These would act as the pages of my mini-book. I stuck the pages alternately on either hinge, as shown.

I wanted the decorations to be fairly simple, so I punched heart shapes out of the cardstock and inked the edges using a heart punch, just adding a touch of bling before sticking them to various pages.

I cut Scallop Circles using a punch from brown cardstock, and made a spot for the date on the inside front cover and a space for my journalling on the back cover.

I also punched a scalloped circle for the front cover, which I adhered so that it slightly hung over one of the front covers. I made the title by cutting a word out from this piece of cardstock:

and added a subtitle with Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers.

I will add some journalling to the back pages of the mini-book before giving it to my partner on Valentines day!