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Photo Gift Folder

By April Staker
Off Road Inksters
Intermediate Scramping Team Designer

This gift came about as one of those unplanned adventures.  I wanted to showcase a gift or two, as we get closer to the holidays.  I just had a hard time deciding which way to go with this gift idea.  Then, I discovered a few rolls of undeveloped film.  Those rolls had pictures of some of my nephews on them from various outings and trips we had this summer.   So, the idea to make a photo album for their family popped into my head. 

I wasn’t sure how to put it all together.  I had envisioned an accordion album at first, but these photos were too large and I need to make this a quick gift in case I wanted to duplicate it for Christmas gifts.  So I wanted to eliminate the cropping and the measuring associated with the cropping! 

The idea to make a folder with pockets inside started to come to life.  I made photo mats that went together very quickly to put some of the photos on.  I left other photos loose to be tucked in along with the mats.   

This project took me about 2½ hours to complete, start to finish.  You may be able to make them in less time as the thinking and measuring has already been figured out!  I think this will be a great gift as it is hand crafted (nothing beats that) and from the heart.  It, also, contains those precious memories and moments that the family may not even know I had captured!  I am going to enclose the photos in clear envelopes before I send it off to them.  They have four little boys and that will make it a little easier to share the gift with them without fear of damaging the photos. 

Supplies:

•  Harlequin Background Stamp (The Angel Company)
•  Versamark Ink Pad (Tsukineko)
•  L’Amour Red Palette Hybrid Ink Pad (Stewart Superior)
•  Red Cardstock 8” x 8”, 2 sheets (Die Cuts with a View)
•  Purple Cardstock 8” x 8” 2 sheets (Die Cuts with a View)
•  Yellow Cardstock 8” x 8” 2 sheets (Die Cuts with a View)
•  Black Cardstock 12" x 12" (Bazzill)
•  Sunkissed Lucky Paper (Basic Grey)
•  Bliss Lucky Paper (Basic Grey)
•  Iris Lucky Paper (Basic Grey)
•  Destiny Lucky Paper (Basic Grey)
•  Cornsilk Lucky Paper (Basic Grey)
•  Assorted ribbons (Michael’s)
•  Purple Ribbons (Bazzill)
•  Metallic Purple Eyelets (unknown)
•  Metallic Pink Eyelets (unknown)
•  Scissors (Provo Craft)
•  Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)
•  Xyron Machine with double sided adhesive
•  Silent Setter (Provo Craft)

Instructions:

1.    Score your Black Cardstock to the following dimensions:

Score 4” from one edge (this will fold up to form the pocket)

Score in the opposite direction of the first score at 6” (for the middle crease) 

2.    Using the Versamark ink stamp the Harlequin Background along the top sections (the 8” sections) of the black cardstock.  This will be the inside of the folder.  (See photo 3) 

3.    Ink the edges and all creases of the black cardstock with the Versamark Ink.  As this is drying cut the other papers. 

4.    Cut the Red, Yellow and Purple Cardstocks to measure 5” x 7”.  You will have two mats of each color.  (Add more to accommodate more photos) 

5.    Cut the Basic Grey Papers as follows to make the mat layer for each photo mat (This will only be for the fronts.  You can use the scraps to cover the backs if desired).

Mat layers all measure 4¾” x 6¾”

Sunkissed - cut one

Bliss - cut two

Iris - cut one

Destiny - cut one

Cornsilk - cut one 

6.    For the front cover cut the papers as follows:

Destiny - 7¾” x 5¾”

Sunkissed - 1¼” x 5¾”

Cornsilk - 3” x 5¾” 

7.    For the pockets cut the papers as follows:

Sunkissed - 5¾” x 3¾”

Bliss - 5¾” x 1”

Purple Cardstock - 5¾” x 1¼”

Cornsilk - 5¾” x 3¾”

Destiny - 5¾” x 1”

Red Cardstock - 5¾” x 1¼” 

8.    Use scraps to add more pieces to the mats to make them each look unique.  Add side strips or borders as desired. (See photos 4-6.) 

9.    Ink all edges in L’Amour Red ink. 

10.     Run all pieces through the Xyron and then adhere them as shown. 

11.     With the pocket folded up and the folder opened, punch holes for eyelets along the edge on each side.  This will ensure they are lined up properly.  These holes will be used to tie the pockets closed. 

12.     Unfold the pocket and set the eyelets so the back of the eyelet will be inside the pocket and hidden.  By unfolding the pocket before setting the eyelets you will be able to have only the eyelet fronts facing out on the cover and the pocket! 

13.     Fold the pocket up and then close the folder.  On the outside punch a hole for eyelets on the left and about in the middle height-wise, that will hold the ribbons used to tie the folder closed. (I used a larger sized eyelet to accommodate multiple ribbons.) Open the folder and set two eyelets with the back of the eyelet facing inside the folder. 

14.     With the pocket folded up thread ribbon through the eyelet pairs and tie a knot.  Continue until all the eyelet pairs have been tied. 

15.     Attach photos to the mats and tuck into the pockets. 

16.     Close the folder and wrap ribbon around it adding enough extra to tie it shut.  Cut as many ribbons as you like to that length.  Holding them together push/pull them through the larger eyelets at the side.  Open the folder to make sure the ribbon is allowed enough “give” to open.  Re-close the folder and tie it shut! 

Voila!  You have a quick, but fabulous gift to give to someone you love!  Embellish as desired if you are not sending it to a family of all little boys! Hee hee!

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