Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Kristine Woods is sharing a creative DIY scrapbook album cover tutorial featuring our Ocean Blue – Keepsake Kit with Exclusive Metal Die Set. Inspired by an old, well-loved captain’s log, this handmade album is packed with weathered texture and nautical charm.

The secret to that distressed leather look? Hair conditioner!

Kristine crinkles, inks, conditions, and layers Graphic 45 paper to create a surprisingly realistic distressed leather paper technique. Then she adds a curved spine, twine details, metal embellishments, and Ocean Blue die cuts to complete the transformation.

It’s a little messy. A lot creative. And definitely worth trying.

Follow the step-by-step video tutorial and discover a new way to transform scrapbook paper into a one-of-a-kind handmade mini album or journal.

Distressed “Leather” Paper Cover Technique

Tutorial by Kristine Woods

“Hi crafty friends. It’s Kristine and today I’m sharing a tutorial for a cover idea that was given to me by a YouTube subscriber. With the new release of the Ocean Blue Keepsake Kit, I asked for any suggestions or ideas to incorporate into an album. The suggestion was to make a cover look like an old worn out captain’s log book. In the tutorial below, I’ll show you how I made my paper look like distressed, worn leather. This one is a bit messy, but I think the results are worth it.

Graphic 45 Supplies

Ocean Blue Keepsake Kit with Metal Dies

Fiji: (1) 12” x 8”

Brown patterned paper: (1) 5” x 8” and (1) 5” x 3 ½”

Chipboard sheets (album base)

Covers: (2) 5 ½” x 7”

Spine: (1) 2 ¾” x 7”

Ornate Metal Corners

Metal Brads

Other Supplies

Kraft cardstock (1 piece)

Album Cover: (4) 2” x 7”

Die cut pieces the size of the seaweed and coral dies

Cording or jute twine for the spine

Metal turn buckle closure and brads

Archival ink/waterproof ink in dark brown

Hair conditioner

Water

Mod Podge (optional)

Album Base

My albums have a curved spine, which can be accomplished by spraying the piece with water and shaping with your fingers and something round, such as your glue bottle. Allow the chipboard to dry fully once the piece is curved to your liking. Using (4) 2” x 7” strips of Kraft cardstock, connect the spine to the covers. Add pieces of cording or twine to the spine to create ridges under the paper.

The album base is not included in the video tutorial below. However, I do have a tutorial on my YouTube channel showing how I made it if you aren’t sure how.

Making the Paper Leather

This is where things start to get a bit messy! Gently crinkle the papers to create wrinkles all over them. Once the papers are crinkled, use your ink to add darker spots along the surface of the wrinkles.

TIP: You can lightly mist the papers with a spray bottle of water to help them bend, but you will need to allow them to dry before inking.

I recommend completing this next step over the kitchen sink. Mist your papers so they are damp and bend easier. Apply a small amount of hair conditioner onto your hands and add a small amount of water to thin it out. Rub the conditioner all over the surface of the papers and crinkle them all into a loose ball. Use a heat tool or allow them to dry naturally, but make sure the papers are not completely crinkled into a ball. Once dry, use your ink again along the wrinkled surface to create more texture and that worn look.

Decorating the Cover

There are two options in the video for decorating the cover. On the first one, I’ll wrap my spine with the cover opened flat, which will cause it to crack when I fold it. This will definitely give the cover that old, worn look. It will be covered with Mod Podge to protect it from damaging where it is cracked. The second option in the video is for wrapping the spine with the cover in the curved book shape. Once dry, the papers will not crack when the book is opened.

The tutorial will also show you how to create the closure band, add the metal buckle to the front, and then add embellishments to the cover and spine. Since I made two different covers, there are also two cover designs to follow, or you can create your own design.

Video Tutorial

How to Make Faux Leather from Paper | DIY Scrapbook Album Cover Tutorial

Once the outside of the cover is finished, you can decide what you want to put inside. I couldn’t decide whether to make a mini album or a journal so I decided to make one of each! If you want to follow along with me, I will be sharing a tutorial on my YouTube channel as I go along. Otherwise, I hope this tutorial has inspired you to go outside your comfort zone and to get a little messy! As always, happy crafting! ~Kristine

G45 Tip: Embrace the Imperfections!

When creating faux leather paper, wrinkles, creases, cracks, and uneven ink are your friends. These little imperfections give the paper its aged, well-traveled appearance.

Try adding ink in layers instead of all at once. Crinkle. Ink. Condition. Dry. Then ink again to bring out those beautiful peaks and valleys.

Want even more dimension? Tuck die-cut seaweed and coral shapes beneath the cover paper before adhering it. The raised shapes create subtle embossed texture—and put those exclusive Ocean Blue metal dies to work in an unexpected way.

No two covers will turn out exactly alike. That’s part of the fun!