How to Make a Photo Album Cover

Create a cover the whole family will enjoy.

A photo album cover does not necessarily require a digital print. Making a photo album cover ties together your whole photo album. Without the cover, your photo album is just a group of pictures. The cover of the album gives it a theme and serves as the photo album guide. By making one using physical photos or pictures, you avoid having to stick to photographs. Instead, use a favorite piece of art to commemorate a successful first year at school, or a picture of the family drawn by your child.

Things You'll Need

• Photo album
• Construction paper
• Clear contact paper
• Paint pen
• Glitter pen
• Photos
• Hot glue gun (with glue stick)

Instructions

1. Choose the theme of your photo album. Sample themes include examples such as your child's first birthday party, your summer vacation, visiting Grandma's house and family ski trip.

2. Choose a few pictures that personify the theme the most. Make duplicates of these photos to use on the cover, or select a drawing that your child has made.

3. Cover front, back and side (if applicable) of your photo album with construction paper. Use the hot glue gun to attach the paper to your album.

4. Cut out important components of your photos or pictures for the cover. For example, if you have a picture of your son, his birthday cake on a table and many faces in the background, just cut out your son's face and the birthday cake. Scatter the pictures around the cover of the picture album and paste them down with the glue gun. Scatter pictures on the side or back of the photo album in the same manner.

5. Trace the edges of each photo cut out with a paint pen or glitter pen for a decorative appearance.

6. Once the paint or glitter has dried, cover the photo album cover on all sides with clear contact paper to preserve the pictures and make sure they do not bend, fall off or get damaged.

Tips & Warnings

• The glue gun is hot. Do not let children handle alone.

References

• Pioneer Thinking; Easy Fabric-Covered Photo Album; Rachel Paxton