How to use Super Mini Alphabets with add-ons.
Using a cut and fold alphabet
This post will guide you through how cut and fold alphabets work. I will be using the Super Cali Alphabet as the example which has up to 5 lines of text, but it will give you the info you need for using any cut and fold alphabet so you can:
- Make any word/date you need to create your own custom patterns.
- Create up to 5 lines of text/numbers (depending on the alphabet size you choose).
- Combine any middle add-on design with the Super Mini Alphabets.
Create your own customs without having to order one every time you’d like different words/images. Plus the advantage of using an alphabet is you are guaranteed each letter has enough pages as it’s been fully tested. You can combine any of the middles with either of the Super Mini Alphabets currently available. (Future ones will also be compatible).
How big does the book need to be?
As we’re using an alphabet we need to ‘make’ our own pattern so we have an extra step here than if we had bought a custom but it’s not that hard to do. All my alphabets have everything worked out for you. The measurements for each letter are clearly marked and include measurements for each line too so all you need to do is find the letter you need and the line you want it on, then follow those measurements!
Before we can do that though we need to know how many pages our design is going to take, which will tell us how big our book needs to be and give us the info we need to work out our start pages.
All alphabets include a number of pages chart (Or folds if it’s an MMF pattern) This sheet is either the first page if it’s all one file or you will find it separately named ‘Number of pages chart’.
Cut and folds are in numbered pages so there’s no need to double as it’s already been done. (double check this for alphabets by other designers in case they use a different method).
I’m going to make Happy Easter with the bunny in the middle. So I need to work out how many pages each line is.
So I have Happy with 292 pages, which includes a spacer page (one blank sheet = 2 numbered pages) between each letter for definition.
Easter is 302 numbered pages, including spacers.
If you are using more lines of the alphabet, keep going until you have your totals for all lines.
Or if you’re using a middle like I am, check how many pages that needs, for the bunny it’s 350 numbered pages so the bunny is my largest line, this is how many pages my book needs as a minimum.
Marking up your pattern
Each line is treated as a separate pattern when marking up, it will be rare that each line starts on the same page. To work out your start pages take your
book size – pattern = spare pages.
Then divide spare pages by 2 (Then you have an even amount either side to make it central).
Do this for each line you are making.
I’ve found a book with 375 pages and got my start pages for each line so I’m good to go!
I find it easier to go through and mark one line at a time, that way I wont be getting mixed up and marking the wrong letter in the wrong place. I recommend starting this way then trying other ways, if you want to, once you’re more confident.
My first line starts with a capital H on page 41, so I find H and use the measurements in the first column labelled as ‘1st line’.
After marking up all of H, I skip a page (for the spacer page) then find the lowercase ‘a’ and follow the first line measurements,
skip a page (turn the page over, no marking or folding or anything),
mark lowercase p,
skip a page,
mark p again, (double check when you have two together that you remember to mark it again, it’s easily missed!)
skip a page,
mark up y.
Then I need to mark up Easter on the 5th line. So I find Capital E and the 5th line measurements (these are further on in the file, the front page has an index which tells you which page each case and line starts on), check my start page for the lower line (don’t forget this step!)
Then mark up E,
skip a page,
scroll to the lowercase letters,
mark up a,
skip,
mark up s,
skip,
mark up t,
skip,
mark up e,
skip,
mark up r,
letters done!
Mark up the bunny starting on page number 37.
Time to cut and fold!
Once you’ve marked up all the lines then it’s just like a regular cut and fold pattern from now on!
I get quite a few emails asking where the cut lines are. There aren’t any! Because it’s a cut and fold there’s no need for cutting the pages into sections like you would with an MMF multi liner
As with most patterns, it can be made in any cut and fold style:
- Combination cut and fold style – Fold first and last marks of each page (no cutting them!), cut and fold the rest,
- Embossed – Cut all marks, Fold the odd tabs in,
- Inverted – Cut all marks, Fold the even tabs in.
You can also ‘180 fold’ it if you like the fuller look. For tips on how to do a perfect 180 fold take a look at the how to master the 180 post here.
I’ve decided to make in the embossed style so the design sticks out and the bulk from the odd tabs will fill the book out nicely without the extra steps of a 180.
Using other Alphabets
This info can be used for any of the cut and fold alphabets, the only difference is how many lines of text you can fit into a book.
The mini cut and fold sizes have up to 3 lines and the Super mini can have up to 5 lines when only using the alphabet or 3 when using an add-on in the middle like in this post.
Each alphabet will have a recommendation for how many pages to leave between letters and words. Most need at least one sheet in case the letters finish/start at the same spot but some are made to join up, for example, the squiggly wiggly is a cursive so no need to leave spacers between that one.
For MMF Multi liners there’s a 2 liner tutorial and 3 liner tutorial. There are a few differences in the methods, so if you are wanting to use a mini MMF alphabet then check those out.
Unlimited possibilities!
With the super mini’s Weddings, Anniversaries, New Baby’s and Birthdays etc. can all be personalised easily.
If you’d like to create something a little extra special there are a few different add-ons and bundles from both me and Dawn in the shop. There’s themed bundles for Weddings, Baby, Dad, School and Garden and some mixed bundles too that can be used for many different occasions and the new family trees are in there too. You can of course also use them on their own to use up some of those smaller books
Happy Folding!
Jo x
