DIY: Mini Accordion Journal

Accordion journals use one long continuous strip of folded paper where the pages can be used individually or unfolded to create larger sections. To create this Mini Accordion Journal, I decided on using used gift cards to create a sturdy cover.

SUPPLIES

• Pencil
• Ruler
• X-acto knife
• Self-healing mat
• Scissors
• Selected cover paper
• Inner paper
• Two used gift cards
• Glue
• Stylus (optional)
• Rubber band (optional)

DIRECTIONS

— 1 —

Cut out a 2.875 x 4.125 inch rectangle from the selected cover paper.

— 2 —

On the back of the paper, glue the used gift card to the center. Let glue dry.

— 3 —

With scissors, cut the corners at a 45 degree angle.

— 4 —

Run a stylus around the card if desired.

Note: Using a stylus creates an indent in the paper that allows for thicker paper to fold with more ease. My cover paper is a thicker scrapbooking cardstock so I chose to use a stylus to create a cleaner crease.

— 5 —

Fold edges inward.

— 6 —

Glue edges down. Press and hold edges down if needed. Let glue dry.

— 7 —

Repeat Steps 1-6 on the second used gift card.

— 8 —

Cut a strip of paper that’s 3.25 x 8 inches in length.

— 9 —

Create an accordion fold.

To do so: fold the strip of paper in half. Bring the end of paper to the middle fold and fold. Flip paper over. Bring the other end of the paper to the middle fold and fold.

Note: I used a thinner cardstock so the pages were somewhat sturdy, but not so thick that they were difficult to fold by hand. If you want to use really thick cardstock, measure where the folds will be and use a stylus to help create crisp folds.

I recommend not using thin paper for the pages because it may not take glue well. Also, the pages of the journal can be used on the front and back, so you don’t want the paper to be so thin that you can see through the paper.

— 10 —

Repeat Step 7 and 8 to create the number of desired pages. (I created three strips of paper from one letter size sheet of cardstock.)

— 11 —

Glue the ends of pages together to create one long continuous strip of paper.

— 12 —

Glue the last page to the back side of the used gift card. Glue the first page to the back side of the second used gift card. Mini Accordion Journal complete. Use a rubber band or ribbon to keep the journal together if desired.

Note: If you like the design of your used gift cards as-is, then just skip Steps 1–7 and jump straight to Step 8.

If you don’t want to use used gift cards for your covers, use chipboard instead. Use the same dimensions of a gift card (2.125 x 3.375 inch) for a chipboard cover, or choose your own dimensions and create any size accordion journal you like.