Accordion Zig Zag Snail Mail flipbook

So I saw this tutorial on YT of a accordion zig zag mini album and thought to myself that it would make a super cute snail mail flipbook. The original tutorial I saw was by Kay F. If you prefer video tutorials then i suggest you head over there because it's pretty much the same, except I added more envelopes and belly bands to make it a snail mail flipbook.

I absolutely LOVED making this. A believe it or not it IS actually really easy to make! No really!! It is!

Tools and stuff required!

- Paper trimmer

 (unless you can cut, really really straight...show off!)

- Score board 

(unless you can score without one...show off...)

- Desired patterned paper

- Cardstock 

 (any colour of your choice)

- Scissors

- Scor tape 

(or any chosen tape...make sure it sticks!)

- Glue

- Ruler

(because you are going to be measuring a whole bunch of shit...)

- Ribbon

Things you can have but aren't required

- Embellishments

(stickers, enamel dots, adhesive crystals)

- Boarder punches 

(to make decorative belly bands)

- A good music playlist to listen to whilst creating!!

Measurements

This flipbook will require a whole load of measurements. So let me tell you all of them now so you can go and cut your papers and cardstock!

Measurements for covers (you will need 2 pieces)

- 6 1/8 inches x 2 3/4 inches

Measurements for inside pages  (you will need 7 pieces)

- 5 1/2 inches x 2 1/2inches

Measurements for pockets (have any many as you wish, but it will bulk up your flipbook)

- 3 1/2 inches x 2 1/2inches

Matting

Here are the measurements for the matting papers.

So the matts are the patterned paper that you'll be 'matting' on top of your blank cardstock to make your flipbook look pretty! Apologies if you know this already!

(if you'd rather not have that border, or rather not use cardstock and go straight to using patterned paper, you can miss this step and cut your papers to the sizes above - just make sure your patterned papers are strong and not flimsy!)

Measurements for cover matting paper 

- 5 1/2 inches x 2 1/2 inches

(You will need 4 of these)

Measurements for inside papers

You will require 3 sizes for this if you include the pockets so it might get slightly confusing here...

- 4 1/4 inches x 2 1/4 inches 

(the amount of this size will change if you have pockets, because the pocket will more likely fall on the pages that are 'longer')

- Page with 2 scored edges - 3 1/2inches x 2 1/4inches

- Page with pocket - 2 1/4 x 2 1/4

Measurements for scored edges

(to make them pretty! If you you've just used patterned paper and not cardstock just skip this!)

- 3/4 inch x 2 1/4 inches

Measurements for pockets

(again skip if you've just used patterned paper)

- 2 1/4inches x 1 3/4 inch

Scoring

So more measurements! Yaaayyy...... This time for scoring!

You're going to need to score the bits of paper you have just cut.

For the covers score at - 5 3/4inch.

For the inside papers score at - 1 inch 

(but on 6 pieces ONLY! Leave the 7th piece alone! that's going to be the bottom piece)

For the pockets score 3 of the 4 sides at 1/2 inch.

Gah!! That's all the measurements done with now! Phew!

Clear as mud?

Oh well...let's just get going anyway....

After all of that it's pretty simple.

Covers

- Burnish the scored edges

- On one of the scored edges of the spine, put down some tape on the inside.

- Making sure they are nice and flush, sticker on top of the other spine edge.

- To create the closure, stick down a bit of ribbon on both sides. I just used scor tape to do this.

For the zig zag accordion middle

- Start with the bottom piece of the inside papers,  (the one that's not scored).

- Using the scored edge of one of the inside pieces, glue down to the bottom piece. You'll need to make sure they are flush against it so using a respositional glue - like a wet glue or really good glue stick.

- To create the zig zag/accordian look alternate the sides you stick the scored edges down. So I did right, left, right, left etc. 

- Stick bottom piece to the right side of the cover.

Now all you need to do is add the matts and pockets!

- to add the pockets, burnish the scored edges and stick some scor tape onto the edges. Cut the corners to prevent bulkiness.

 - Stick down onto the 'longer' pages (the pages without 2 scored edges). 

- Note - make sure you alternate what side you put the pockets on as if you put them on the same side it will bulk up your flipbook. If you wanted to add more pockets you could make the cover longer and  make the spine bigger so there is more room.

Now, stick down the matts and embellish the crap out of it!!

To make it slightly more snail mail friendly I added belly bands using border punches and i made some tiny envelopes and stuck them to the pages without pockets.

If you'd rather them not be so bulky, you can reduce the number of pages.

Have fun!!

Take care, lovelies!