Baby Brag Book

A good friend of mine just had a beautiful baby boy. This little brag book is simple to make and easy to personalize for anyone. Here's how:

Supplies:
~Chipboard (you can buy it or just use the cardboard backing you find in scrapbook paper packs or notepads.)
~Scrapbook paper 2-12x12 sheets and coordinating scraps for matting and embellishments
~7 3/4"x 26" piece of artist paper (I buy a large piece from a local art supply and ask them to cut multiple pieces to be used for other books.  Generally I will get 3-4 books out of one piece!)
~Gluestick (you will probably use at least one full stick)
~Papercutter
~Embellies: Here I've used coordinating scraps of ribbon, stamped images, stickers, punches, brads etc.

1. Cut 2-4x8" pieces of cardboard and 1-1/2x8" for the spine
2. Lay pieces on a 9 1/2"x 9" scrapbook piece of paper leaving 1/4" in between pieces.  You should have at least 1/4" margin all the way around.  It should look like this:

3.  Using a glue stick, cover entire area of the three pieces of cardboard and affix to paper.  You can use a bone folder or just your hands to make sure it is smooth.

4.  Cut corners on the diagonal as close to the corner of the cardboard as possible.  An exacto knife works best. 

5.  Now glue edges down.  Here's what it looks like now:

6.  If you would like to use ribbons to close the book, center and glue them now!  Glue a coordinating 8"x8"piece of scrapbook paper on the inside.  I usually set mine just inside the border so that a little bit of the cover paper shows.  Depending on how far apart the cardboard pieces are, you may have to adjust the measurement.  It looks like this:

7.  If you want to add the giftcard pocket, simply cut a scrap of paper slightly shorter than the height of the giftcard and fold the bottom and two sides about 1/4" in.  Use a gluestick to secure on the front panel.  Only glue the 3-1/4" folded parts so that you create a pocket!

8.  Now take your 7 3/4" x 26" piece of white artist paper and accordian fold it making each panel approximately 3 1/2" wide. 

9.  Glue the first panel of the accordian to the back (right side) of the book. 

10.  Now you are ready to embellish each panel with fun papers and embellies.  As you can see here, I used two panels to form one layout for a larger picture.

Let your imagination run wild and you will have an "out of this world" gift for a loved one!!!! 

p.s. I tore the front panel of the accordian for a different look.  This also works well when your accordian piece is a little short of a full panel!

Hope you enjoyed this project!  Let me know how your's turns out:)