Easy Mini Book Tutorial

I first made this type of  mini book following Jess' picture tutorial but  since many of you got confused with that tutorial link here is my kiddo sharing a short video tutorial on how to make a basic mini book.


And for my readers who like pictorials better here is how to make a mini book in pictures
You can make a Mini Book using these basic materials

• One 12 x 12 inch paper
• Two 3.5 x 3.5 inch pieces of chipboard/cardboard
• Two 5 x 5 inch pattern papers

Mini Book Tutorial

Materials required to make a basic Mini Book

• One 12 x 12 inch paper
• Optional: Score Board and Scoring Tool . If you dont have one you can simply fold your paper into 4 equal parts .

Score your paper every 3 inches - ie at 3 , 6 and 9 inches

Mini Book Tutorial

Turn 90 degrees and again score at 3, 6 and 9 inches

Mini Book Tutorial

          Cut the paper along the score lines- along the red dotted lines as shown...eg the cut along the 3 inch vertical line will  reach till the top horizontal score line while the cut along the 6 inch vertical score line will reach till the lower horizontal score line and the last cut along the 9 inch vertical score line will reach till the top horizontal score line --- this makes the paper look like an "M" or a W whichever way you want to look at it!

Mini Book Tutorial

Start accordion folding from one end of the "M"- keeping the first fold a valley fold as shown below

Mini Book Tutorial

Accordion fold the paper using a bone folder or your fingers to get crisp folds.

Mini Book Tutorial

Keep on fan folding at the bottom of the paper - if you keep your folds in the valley- mountain sequence  you wont go wrong!

Mini Book Tutorial

 So on the 2nd vertical column of the M you fanfold your way up

Mini Book Tutorial

Once you reach the top keep on folding your way down

Mini Book Tutorial

This is how the folds will look as you start folding the 3rd column!

Mini Book Tutorial

Fold your way down the 3rd column .

Mini Book Tutorial

By the time you have reached the end of your 3rd column your book is quite  the wiggly caterpillar wanting to spring apart so keep a tight hold on it!

Mini Book Tutorial

And once you have folded your way up the last column your mini book is done!

Mini Book Tutorial

If you want to keep it simple- just stick the blank white pages together and you will have a simple mini book with 16 pages to write on or stick pictures to.

Mini Book Tutorial

Materials Required to make the cover of the Mini Book

Mini Book Tutorial

• Two 3.5 x 3.5 inch pieces of chipboard/cardboard
• Two 5 x 5 inch pattern papers
• Scissors and Good adhesive-I used Red tacky tape
• Optional- Ribbon

Mini Book Tutorial

Stick the chipboard to the center of your pattern paper.

Mini Book Tutorial

Cut triangles at the corners of your pattern paper flaps [this gives a less bulkier and neater finish] and stick the pattern paper to your chipboard as shown

Mini Book Tutorial

       I stuck red tacky tape to  around 2.5 inches of ribbon and stuck it firmly to the front page,back page and hinge of my mini. The ribbon adds to the strength of the spine and if you want you can leave the ribbon long to use as a tie closure for your mini.

Mini Book Tutorial

Adhere the mini to the center of the pattern paper covered front and back covers.

Mini Book Tutorial

I used red tacky tape as the adhesive.

Mini Book Tutorial

Though I kept a long ribbon to act as a tie closure for 2 of my first mini books I later found that this was not really required. Here is how the completed mini book looks [yet to add the tags in the pockets]

Mini Book Tutorial

Here is another Mini Book we gifted to my daughter's teacher