Six-Pocket Flip-Flap Album with Gusseted Pockets

A project from our live show STUDIO 3 - INDUSTRY NEWS - Join Toni for her latest updates · 29/05/2022 · watch it from 11:30

A decorative six-pocket album made from cardstock wrapped in patterned paper, featuring hinged pockets with gussets that allow extra depth for storing items like tea bags, seeds, or embellishments. The pockets flip and interchange to create different looks each time you open it.

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Step by step

1. Cut a piece of white A4 cardstock to 6.5 inches by 9.5 inches using your guillotine. ▶ watch 12:15
2. Cut a piece of patterned paper to 8 inches by 11 inches. ▶ watch 13:00
3. Apply glue to the white cardstock and centre it onto the patterned paper. ▶ watch 17:00
4. Wrap the patterned paper around all four sides of the cardstock, scoring and creasing as you go. ▶ watch 18:00
5. Cut away the corner squares where the paper overlaps. ▶ watch 19:00
6. Trim a couple of millimetres from the outer edge back to the point at each corner to reduce bulk. ▶ watch 19:45
7. Apply glue to the folded edges and press the patterned paper down firmly onto the cardstock base. ▶ watch 21:00
8. Cut six pieces of cardstock to 6 inches by 5 inches for your pocket pieces. ▶ watch 23:30
9. Using a scoreboard, score each pocket piece at 1 inch and 5 inches along the long side, then turn and score at 2 inches. ▶ watch 26:45
10. Score all the lines on each pocket piece by going back and forth to create strong score lines. ▶ watch 31:00
11. Cut into the score lines at the sides up to the 1-inch mark on each pocket piece. ▶ watch 31:30
12. Cut away the right panel on three pocket pieces and the left panel on the other three pieces to create hinges on opposite sides. ▶ watch 32:00
13. Trim away bulk from the hinge flaps using scissors to reduce thickness. ▶ watch 36:00
14. Fold the pocket base up, then fold the hinges in and back to create the gusset and pocket shape. ▶ watch 36:30
15. Apply glue to the hinges and fold them back to secure the pocket structure. ▶ watch 37:45
16. Glue the three left-hinged pockets into the album, positioning them flush to the top with your desired border on the sides. ▶ watch 53:30

Tips from the show

• If you're using thicker cardstock, you may need to score multiple times to get a good crease.
• You can use single-sided or double-sided paper; single-sided is easier to score but double-sided looks nicer inside.
• Don't worry about wonky cutting as most imperfections will be hidden by the pockets and interior paper.

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly