Accordion Book (mini)

Since I like to share how to make things with paper, I'm starting with a simple, fun book that is easy to adapt to materials you have on hand. You can use recycled cereal or other product boxes for the covers instead of covering chip board with decorative papers. You might use magazine pages for the inside papers. Have fun, and recycle whenever possible.


For this book I am using:
5-7 square papers (2.75 inches) for the inside pages - Use any odd number.
2 chipboard squares (1.5 inches)
2 decorative papers (2.75 inches) for the covers
thin bead elastic (about 5 inches max.)
ball chain (small) about 4-5"
beads (or other embellishments)

These are the papers I'm using.

First fold the papers in half, open, and 
fold again in half the other way. In step 2 
turn the papers over and fold on the diagonal 
(only once). Step 3 shows how the paper  
wants to fold itself like a pocket if you
turn the triangle over and push down on 
the middle point.

Notice you'll have 5-7 pockets when you've 
folded all your papers (step 4). Make sure 
you bring all the points of paper together
and crease well. Next, hold one pocket with 
the opening pointed up (A), and another
with the opening pointed down (B). You'll 
notice that the flat squares of paper will fit 
nicely together when you drop B into A .
Continue adding the other papers until it 
looks like a chain. Glue the flat sides together 
one at a time (steps 5 and 6).

Cover the chipboard pieces (one side 
of each) with glue, and place glue side 
down on wrong side of cover papers 
(step 7 shows only one glued so far).

Trim the corners (but not right against the
chipboard). Add glue to the tabs and fold in
on the board, pinching at the corners (step 8) 
and smoothing down.

Squeeze your chain of papers together,
add glue to the end pieces, and sandwich 
them between the covers. Add clips (or 
rubber bands, etc.) until the glue is dry
(time depends on your choice of glue).

This actually is step 10 (incorrectly numbered).
In one of the covers, punch a hole 1/8" in the
top corner (see photo). Next punch a hole down 
from the first and on the same side. The third
hole should be opposite the second.

String whatever beads you want onto a thin

piece of elastic (about 4-5 inches max.) Thread 

through the parallel holes and tie on the inside.

Add the ball chain to the hole on the corner.  

Close the book, and pull the elastic piece 
around to the other side of the book to keep
it closed tight.

Here are some other finished accordion books,
two of them in a larger size. They're great little
photo albums, notebooks, journals, and cards.
A friend of mind made me one from a cold remedy
box as a get well card.

I plan on posting something new each week,
so check back next week.