How to Make a Mini Scrapbook Album

A mini scrapbook album is the easiest way to finish a scrapbook. Fewer pages, smaller photos and quick layouts mean you can make one in an afternoon, and it makes a thoughtful gift. This guide explains how to make a mini scrapbook album with printable paper: a simple bound album, a folded accordion album and a paper bag album, all sized around 6 x 6 inches.

Why 6 x 6

A 6 x 6 page holds one photo with room for a title, or two small photos side by side. Every Hearth Paper pack includes a 6 x 6 mini PDF, with each paper printed at mini size and cut marks on Letter sheets, so the pattern scale suits small pages. Sizes are compared in scrapbook paper sizes explained.

What you need

• The 6 x 6 mini PDF from a pack, printed on 65 to 80 lb cardstock.
• Chipboard or heavy cardstock for covers, two 6.25 x 6.25 in squares.
• Binder rings, ribbon, or a hole punch and book rings.
• Photos printed at 3 x 4 or 4 x 4 in, glue and a trimmer.

Album 1: ring-bound mini album (easiest)

1. Print and cut 10 to 12 squares from the mini PDF along the cut marks.
2. Cover the chipboard squares with your boldest paper, folding the edges around the back.
3. Punch two holes along the left edge of every page and the covers, the same distance from the edge.
4. Thread binder rings or ribbon through. Rings let you add pages later.

Album 2: accordion album

Fold a long strip of cardstock into 6 in panels and glue a printed square onto each panel. Add photos and short notes. It stands up on a shelf and folds flat into a cover. Join two strips with a glued tab if you need more panels.

Album 3: paper bag album

Stack three lunch bags, alternating the open ends, fold them in half and bind along the fold. The open bag ends become pockets for tags and journaling cards. Cover each page with printed paper. Tag and pocket sizes are in gift tags, envelopes and bookmarks.

What to put in a mini album

• A December Daily, one page a day, see Christmas scrapbook layout ideas.
• A baby’s first year, one page per month, see baby shower and baby book ideas.
• A pet’s story or a memorial album, see pet scrapbook ideas.
• A trip or a weekend, with tickets in pockets.
• An anniversary or “our year” album, see Valentine paper craft ideas.

Layout tips for small pages

Keep to one photo per page most of the time, and leave a margin of at least a quarter inch. Small-scale patterns look better at this size than large motifs. Alternate a patterned page with a quieter one so photos do not compete. The rules in scrapbook layout ideas for beginners apply at every size.

Mini albums as gifts or for sale

Mini albums are popular handmade gifts and craft fair items. Selling up to 500 handmade albums per design is covered by the Personal license; beyond that, read can you sell crafts made with digital paper. Print issues such as white edges on the mini sheets are covered in printing problems and fixes.

Find a pack for your album in the shop, or try 10 papers free with the Hearth Paper Sampler.