More photos are taken now than probably any time in history. With the prevalence of handheld cameras and cellphones equipped with photo-taking abilities, photography has become a hobby for anyone and everyone. While the invention of digital photography has made it much simpler to take tons of pictures, few pictures seem to make it to paper. However, looking at and sharing pictures is more convenient when the photos are in a photo album. You can create many different types of photo albums at home; all you really need is decorative paper and some common household supplies. The albums in these 21 blogs vary in size, from an exploding 3-D box to a tiny pocket album, and come complete with instructions so you can easily create your own.
3-Dimensional
Try your hand at making a 3-D photo album for something different and fun. These exploding box photo albums are unique and make a great conversation piece. If you are looking for a sentimental gift to share with a loved one, these 3-D albums will fit the bill. While these projects may look complicated, the bloggers behind them help simplify the process and break the project down into steps so that you can easily create one of your own.
- Make a DIY Photo Flip-Flap—Hipper than Your Average Photo Album This interesting take on a photo album is simple to create and holds 12 horizontal pictures.
- Make Your Own Exploding Box Photo Album (Tutorial) You can use a lot of photos in this project and dress it all up like a box to give as a gift or keep on your coffee table.
- Hexagon Explosion Box If you have a lot photos to share, you may want to make a hexagon explosion box instead because there are more places to put photos.
- Fold-Out Photo Album This intricate folded photo album can be customized for any holiday or event and works well to give as a gift.
- Pop Up Photo Album Card Tutorial Instead of buying an expensive greeting card why not make one of these pop up photo album cards?
- Manila Folder Album Instructions Recycle an old manila folder (or use a new one) to create this stand-up album that you can embellish with decorative papers.
- Tutorial: DIY Mini-Handbag Albums Remixed This album is made simply by folding paper and even has its own folded paper storage case.
Book Fold
These book fold photo albums may be traditional, but they are anything but boring. Try using some paper lunch sacks to make a photo album or a single sheet of scrapbooking paper. The cutting and folding techniques give these photo albums interest while providing a vehicle for mounting your favorite photos, and are small enough to dedicate each album to a special event, such as a vacation or a graduation. These seven blogs will give you step-by-step instructions on how to create these small wonders.
- How to Make a Lunch Bag Photo Album Using paper sacks that you may already have at home you can put together a photo album with pockets.
- How to Make a Mini Photo Album With some cutting, folding and a little glue you can quickly put together this clever album.
- DIY: Mini Album from One Sheet of Paper Follow the step-by-step instructions on this post for cutting and folding a single 12×12 piece of paper to make a photo album.
- Baby Mini Album & Tutorial You can make this baby album by using a 12×12 piece of paper.
- DIY Pocket Photo Album Try to make this tiny treasure. There’s a little bit of origami going on with this project, so you don’t have to glue or tape your photos in.
- 8 Page Mini—1 Sheet of Paper (Tutorial) Cut and fold this piece of paper to create a mini photo album that will hold 12 to 24 mini photos.
- Do it Yourself Valentine Love Book Using paper and household items you can put together a gift for someone you love.
Expanding
With expanding photo albums you can mount as many photos as you want simply by adding more paper, and the albums open up to display pictures on many surfaces. Instead of a regular flip book, there are many unique ways that expanding albums display photos, such as the accordion album that stands up on its own and can be displayed on a table or mantel. If you need to mail an expanding album, simply fold it up. Read more about expanding albums in these seven blogs.
- DIY Concertina-Fold Photo Book This photo book is adjustable and the directions will explain how to make it fit any size photo.
- Curbly Video Podcast: How to Make and Accordion Photo Album No glue or tape is needed when making this accordion style album.
- DIY According Book Instead of using a single long piece of poster board for this accordion album, this blogger hooks pages together with double sided tape.
- Scrapbooking: DIY Accordion Album by Envelopes If you find yourself with a stack of leftover envelopes, use them to create this unique album.
- Weekend DIY: Accordion Booklets When making this photo album you will need plain paper and one piece of two-sided decorative paper for the cover.
- DIY Stampin’ Up Accordion Paper Photo Album Create this small photo album to keep photos from a single trip or to give away as a gift.
- An Explosion Album for the 4th of July This album lies flat, but has places for journaling as well as photos.
