How to Make a Padded Photo Album

Finding the perfect photo album is not always easy. This is a great way to create your own look for that special album that you want to display, or give as a gift to hold your memories.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2/3 yards of fabric
• 1/3 yard contrasting fabric
• 4 ½ yards of 1-inch gathered lace
• 2/3 yards narrow ribbon
• Three-ring binder
• Poster board
• Glue gun or super tacky glue
• 3/8 yard quilt batting
• Photo sheets

1. Iron press all the fabric so that there are no wrinkles in your finished product.

2. Understand that for the front, there is going to be an open oval for a picture or design of your choice. To prepare the oval, first take the contrasting fabric piece 11 x10 inches and cut into the shape of the oval.

3. Cut the batting in the shape of the oval, as well as the poster board.

4. Glue the batting to the cardboard (poster) oval. Now place the fabric over the batting. Glue on the wrong side of the cardboard, and hold it in place for a few minutes to begin to dry and stick.

5. Place glue on the outside edge of the wrong side to adhere the lace. Set to the side to dry.

6. For the binder, cut batting the size of the binder laying open.

7. Glue the batting to the outside of the binder.

8. Place glue on the inside of binder about 1-inch wide. Place the fabric over the batting. Glue down on the inside, being careful when turning corners.

9. For edges near the metal center clip, use a screw driver to shove the raw edges under the metal strip.

10. Glue lace around the outer edge on the inside of the binder. Glue ribbon over the edge of the lace and down the center edges by the metal clip.

11. Now take the cardboard and cut the correct size for the inside panels of your binder. Be sure to still allow the lace and ribbon to show on the edges.

12. Cover the cardboard with fabric and glue to the inside of the binder. Allow to dry.

13. At this point, you can decide to add an extra piece of cardboard onto the front of the binder with the fabric wrapped around it, or you can use the covered front as is and place the oval on top.

14. Add extra decorations to the oval. Suggestions would be photos, fabric paint, buttons, sequins, more ribbon and lace, stitch work or any other personal touches.

Tips & Warnings

• If you prefer to have a photo matted, instead of using the oval shape on top, invert it to where the oval is cut out and covered in fabric and have your picture underneath the inverted oval when gluing it on.
• Feel free to change the shapes and styles around to personalize it.