Search
Social Media
Anastasiia Tysevych – Czech Republic
Tamara Morton – United Kingdom
As a new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to reset, get organized, and spark fresh creative energy. In today’s project, Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Kristine Woods shares a beautifully functional binder album planner using the Binder Album with Interactive Pages and the vibrant Journaling Through Time paper collection. Designed to grow with you throughout the year, this handmade album combines organization and creativity in a way that’s both practical and inspiring. Whether you’re new to paper crafting or a longtime Graphic 45 fan, this project shows how a single album can become a planner, card organizer, memory keeper, or 12-month mini album—making it a timeless project you’ll return to year after year.
A step-by-step video tutorial by Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador Kristine Woods
Inspiration for creating a 12-month planner, card organizer, or mini album
Tips for working with the Graphic 45 Binder Album with Interactive Pages
Creative ideas using the Journaling Through Time paper collection, including patterns, solids, ephemera, stickers, rub-ons, and washi tape
Beginner-friendly construction techniques with room to customize for advanced crafters
Ideas for adapting this album using any Graphic 45 paper collection
Organization inspiration to help you plan creatively for the year ahead
“Hi crafty friends and Happy New Year! At the start of every new year, I like to take some time to get organized in some way. This year, my goal is to be more organized with making and sending handmade birthday cards. The brand new, colorful Journaling Through Time collection is the perfect inspiration for the project I had in mind. To keep on top of those monthly birthdays, I created a binder with twelve pocket pages to hold my handmade cards. Throughout the year, I can work on the cards and place them into the pockets for each month.
This binder album project could also be used for a planner, or a 12-month mini album filled with photos and journaling. It can be customized to suit your own needs since the tutorial below shows how to decorate the cover and then create the 12 base pages. Even better, you can use any of your favorite Graphic 45 collections to make your binder album.
Graphic 45 Supplies
Binder Album with Interactive Pages – Ivory
Journaling Through Time Patterns & Solids Pack
Journaling Through Time 8×8 Collection Pack
Journaling Through Time Ephemera Assortment
Journaling Through Time Rub-on Transfers
Journaling Through Time Washi Tape Set
Journaling Through Time Stickers
Other Supplies
Metallic gold cardstock
Cream cardstock
Hole punch
Chipboard month titles or use Graphic 45 monthly stamp set if you have them
Basic craft supplies: scissors, adhesive, ruler, paper trimmer
Decorating the Cover
Aside from the paper on the front cover, I chose to use mostly the Patterns & Solids papers so I could save the papers in the 8×8 collection pack to use on handmade birthday cards. Using each of the monthly sheets, I chose paper colors that I felt best matched the cut apart pieces.
Basic Album Pages
Each page is designed the same way, with one pocket on the front and one pocket on the back. Using the pages included with the binder, I cut the flaps to suit my page style. Each front page has a 3 ½” right side pocket and the back side has a 2 ½” left side pocket. The colorful Washi tape in the set provides an extra pop of color along the edges of the pages.
TIP: to ensure the Washi tape does not lift off the page, add a thin layer of glue underneath the tape.
Embellishments and Extras
Once the basic album pages are constructed and decorated with the Patterns & Solids papers, you can add additional embellishments. For my album, I chose to keep my embellishments minimal, using chipboard month titles on the front pocket and Washi tape on the back side. I also created a simple birthday list insert, printed onto cream cardstock, to keep track of each month’s birthdays. You can download the file here for free and use it in your own projects.
To add a little decoration to the monthly lists, I cut single postage stamps from the Washi tape roll and added one stamp to the bottom left corner of each list.
TIP: do not adhere the birthday list down to the album pockets so that you can change them out when needed and continue to the binder for as long as you want.
Keeping consistent with the postage stamp theme from the front cover and the birthday lists, I added a strip of the postage stamp Washi tape down the center of the spine. Also, I selected two of the postage stamp stickers to include on the inside front and back covers along with a strip of the multicolored Washi tape.
For a full tutorial showing how to decorate the cover and build the base pages, check out the YouTube tutorial below. The video will show you exactly how to measure along the inside back cover to place the paper around the binder mechanism.
One Album, Endless Possibilities | Kristine Woods Binder Album Planner Tutorial
I hope this tutorial has inspired you to try one of the Graphic 45 binder albums for a project of your own. And if you do follow the tutorial, we would love to hear how you plan to use your binder album. If you decide to use another Graphic 45 collection, don’t forget to show off your creations on social media and tag Graphic 45 so we can see them!
As always, happy crafting! ~Kristine
Plan before you glue: Decide how you want to use your binder album—planner, card storage, or memory keeping—before decorating your pages.
Stretch your paper collection: Use Patterns & Solids for album bases so specialty papers can be saved for coordinating cards or layouts.
Secure your washi tape: Add a thin layer of liquid glue underneath washi tape to prevent lifting over time.
Keep it flexible: Avoid permanently adhering inserts like birthday lists so they can be updated year after year.
Make it your own: Swap out chipboard titles for stamps, stickers, or die cuts to match your crafting style.
This binder album truly proves that one thoughtfully designed project can serve endless creative purposes. Whether you use it as a planner, a birthday card organizer, or a personalized keepsake album, this project is a wonderful way to stay inspired all year long. Be sure to watch the full video tutorial to see exactly how Kristine decorates the cover and builds the interactive pages. If you create your own binder album—using Journaling Through Time or another favorite Graphic 45 collection—we’d love to see it! Share your projects on social media and tag Graphic 45 so we can celebrate your creativity with you.
