How to Make an Accordion Styled Brag Book

If you are a parent or grandparent, an accordion-styled brag book is the perfect way to show off the children. It is also a nice way to commemorate special occasions--such as a wedding, a vacation--or honor your favorite pet. Portable and decorative, a brag book is ideal for displaying anywhere, including on your desk at work. Make one as a gift or make one for yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard sheets
• Patterned scrapbook paper
• Cardstock scrapbook paper
• Photos
• White school glue or stick glue
• Hot glue gun and hot glue (optional)
• Stylus embossing tool
• Standard scissors
• Decorative scissors
• Standard ruler
• Pencil
• Stickers (optional)
• Rubber stamps and ink (optional)
• Colored pencils or pens (optional)
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Cut a thin piece of cardboard (perhaps the back of a notebook tablet) and cut it into two pieces, each 4 ¾" x 6 ¾".

2. Cover both pieces of cardboard with two pieces of decorative scrapbook paper, each 8 ½" x11". Wrap it as you would a present, with the flaps at the tops and bottoms, cutting off the extra and gluing the edges down.

3. Take two pieces of cardstock scrapbook paper and trim the 8 ½" width to 6". Keep one of the pieces at the 11" length and cut the other to 9" in length.

4. Using the stylus embossing tool, score (make a crease) the 9" piece of cardstock measuring at 4 ½" in, going down the short side from top to bottom.

5. Repeat Step 4 on the 11" piece of cardstock. After scoring the first crease, move over another 4 ½" and score again. This will leave about 2" of paper beyond that second crease.

6. Glue the two pieces of cardstock together, with the shorter piece of paper overlapping the longer piece, with the leftover 2" of paper from Step 5 in the back.

7. Cut two ribbons, each about 10" in length.

8. Place the covered cardboard with the backside facing upward and place a ribbon on the opposite side of each, directly in the middle of the length. Glue the cardstock paper to the inside of the cardboard, sealing the ribbon inside, making sure to cover as much of the paper seams as possible.

9. Fold the cardstock paper in opposite directions for an accordion fold.

10. Attach your desired photos inside and decorate both the inside and the cover with scrapbook embellishments, stickers, rubber-stamp art, paper punches or other decorations.

Tips & Warnings

• Use decorative-edged scissors instead of straight scissors for more creative flair.