How to Make a Mini Accordion Photo Book

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Square feature image of an accordion photo book, one open and one closed on a black background.

Check out this easy mini accordion photo book DIY and make these pocket-sized keepsakes to give as gifts to family and friends!

These little photo books are easy to make and assemble! Below are all the details on printing contact sheets and designing a beautiful scrap fabric cover.

Supplies

How To Print Photos in Strips – 5 Easy Steps

STEP 1: Gather Your Digital Photos

First, gather up all the digital photos you’d like to use in your accordion photo book and put them in a folder on your desktop. I found that nine photos made a good-sized mini photo book.

You can use –all vertical photos — all horizontals– or both!

Screen capture of digital photos to make to make a mini accordion photo book.
Put digital photos in a folder.

STEP 2 – Print a Contact Sheet

Next, select all of the photos in your folder.

With all of the photos selected, Right-Click and select Print (PC), or Select File in the Menu (MacOS) and select Print from the dialog box. You may need to select More Options at the bottom to extend the menu and find the Print option.

In the Print Pictures Dialog Box, you will be given options. I’m on a PC so I selected the Wallet size option. On MacOS, you can set the number of photos you’d like and create a contact sheet.

In your Print Dialog box select to print as a PDF file.

Screen capture of print dialog box set to Print PDF file as a Wallet Contact Sheet to make a Mini Accordion Photo Book.
Right-click (Windows) and select Print from the menu. Print as a PDF File.

STEP 3 – Print The Contact Sheet to Your Home Printer

Print the PDF photo contact sheet to your home printer. To make a Mini Accordion Book, small enough to fit into a small 3.7″ x 2.3″ tin (links to tutorials below), Print the PDF file 80% size.

Screen capture of a print dialog box set to landscape at 80-percent size to make a mini accordion photo book.
Print the PDF file 80% size.

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STEP 4: Assemble Photo Strips

After you have your photos printed on card stock, cut each row of photos using a straight edge and a precision knife (X-Acto) as shown below.

Cut into photo strips.
Cut into photo strips.

Your photo strips should look something like this with tabs to glue together into one long strip. Lightly score between photos with your precision knife and bend it into an accordion.

Your photo strips should look something like this with tabs to glue together into one long strip. Lightly score between photos with your precision knife and bend into an accordion.
Your photo strips should look something like this with tabs to glue together into one long strip.
Use a glue stick to glue the photo strips together into one long strip.
Use a glue stick to glue the photo strips together into one long strip.

Use a glue stick to glue the photo strips together into one long strip.

This is how mine looked with all three photo strips together.
This is how mine looked with all three photo strips together.

STEP 5: Make a Cover

Measure your Accordion Photo Book – closed size. Use these measurements to cut a front and a back cover out of lightweight cardboard. Cut fabric or decorative paper a little larger than your cover. Cut notches at each corner as shown. Hot glue the flaps to the cardboard.

Cut fabric or decorative paper a little larger than your cover. 
Cut notches at each corner as shown. Hot glue the flaps to the cardboard.
Make a cover out of lightweight cardboard, scrap fabric, or decorative paper.

Finish the cover by adding white cardstock to the inside and write a personalized note on the inside cover if you like!

Here's a closeup of the inside front cover glued to the book. I add a piece of white card stock to the inside cover to cover the exposed cardboard.
Closeup of the inside front cover.

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Finished Mini Accordion Photo Book.
Finished Mini Accordion Photo Book.
How to Make an Accordion Photo Book PIN1 - Pinterest Pin to share.
If you love this easy DIY, Pin it to your Pinterest craft boards to come back to later!

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