How to Make Your Own Shaped Chipboard Albums

Use colored or plain chipboard to make your own albums.

Homemade photo albums can be even more unique when you make them in custom shapes. Chipboard is a common material for making several types of crafts and it is perfect for album covers. Chipboard is also easily cut into shapes so that you can have an album that is all your own design. Try making differently shaped albums with chipboard for your next craft or scrapbook project.

Things You'll Need

• Chipboard
• Stencils (optional)
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• 3- hole Punch

Instructions

1. Trace a stencil, or draw a freehand shape onto a sheet of chipboard with your pencil. Draw it twice on the page (or separate pages if it is large) to create the front and back covers to your album. Choose a shape that corresponds to the photos you want to add to the album, or choose any shape you like. Flowers, for example, are a great shape for a springtime photo album.

2. Use your utility knife to carefully cut the shapes out of the chipboard.

3. Trace one of the chipboard shapes onto several sheets of scrapbook paper to make pages for your album.

4. Cut out all of the shapes from the scrapbook paper with scissors.

5. Place the chipboard pieces into your 3-hole punch and press down to make holes along the left side of your shapes for binding. Do the same with the scrapbook paper shapes.

6. Place all of the scrapbook paper pages in between the two chipboard covers and hold them together so the holes match up perfectly.

7. Cut three sections of ribbon, all the same length and tie one through each of the holes in your album.

8. Decorate the covers any way you like, and add your photos to the pages.

Tips & Warnings

• Add some decorative touches to your album with some pre-made chipboard embellishments. You can find them at any craft supply store.

• Use caution when cutting with a utility knife. Keep your hands away from the blade and cut away from yourself, rather than toward yourself.