How to Make a Scrapbook Cover

Let the cover of your scrapbook reflect the time, care and attention you've given to its interior. Embellish an existing album cover or make your own cover for the scrapbook pages.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Round Hobby Paintbrushes
• Rubber Stamps
• Acid-free Scrapbooks
• Acrylic Paints
• Cording
• Fabric Paints
• Fabrics
• Glue Sticks
• Hot Glue Guns
• Scrapbooks
• Acrylic Paints
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Acid-free Papers
• Card Stock
• Hole Punchers
• Ink Pads
• Clip Art CD-ROMs
• Acid-free Stickers
• Rubber stamps

1. Remove the scrapbook pages before you embellish or cover your album. If your scrapbook's pages cannot be removed, do any work on the cover before you assemble the scrapbook.

2. Decorate the cover of a scrapbook album with decorative stamps, stickers and/or paint. The same types of stickers and stamps used inside the scrapbook can be used on the cover as well.

3. Incorporate the theme of the scrapbook into the cover's decoration. For example, if the scrapbook commemorates a wedding, display traditional wedding motifs on the cover.

4. Create a decorative border on the cover with stamps or traced or printed clip art images. Remember to decorate the spine of the album as well.

5. Cover your album with fabric. (See "How to Make a Fabric Book Cover," under Related eHows, for instructions.) Make a cover that can be slipped on and off, or permanently affix the cover to the album with a hot glue gun.

6. Use corrugated card stock to create your own scrapbook cover. Make the pages of your scrapbook from regular card stock and use wide ribbon or cording to bind the pages and the cover together. Lace the ribbon or cording through holes punched along the left edges of the book.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the surface of the album to make sure that your decorative elements will adhere to the cover.
• Use fabric paint and needlepoint or embroidery to embellish a fabric book cover.
• Glue polyester batting onto the album's front cover, back cover and spine before you permanently affix fabric to the album cover. This will give the album a padded look. Measure for the book cover after you add the batting.
• Look for acid-free and lignin-free paper if you decide to make your own scrapbook. All materials used in your scrapbook should be labeled "acid-free," "archival quality" or "photo safe."

on 11/22/2005 TAKE YOUR TIME