I wanted to share with you a new binding system I created for mini-albums, I’m calling it the ‘Kiss Hinge’.

I wanted to make something that was easy to cut on the Silhouette Cameo (it can also be cut by hand) and also very easy to assemble.

So pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea and take a look, I think you will agree it’s a very easy tutorial!

I have made a short video tutorial, with a written one below. Update! I now have a downloadable and printable version here PDF Version.

Firstly you need to open up your Silhouette Studio software, then switch on your grids and guides, I made my grid in 1cm squares.
Insert some guides for the height of the hinge, the width of the ‘lips’ and the width of the base, as in the picture below.(you can click on all the pictures to make them bigger)

Then create 2 perforated lines along the inner guides, these will be your score/fold lines

Then create a rectangle around the outer guide lines to form one hinge section

Then duplicate the hinge section, we will create 2 end sections by adjusting one of the hinges by deleting one of the perforated lines

Then drag the rectangle side to replace the perforated line using the guide.

Now duplicate the end section so you have 2, and duplicate the hinge you created according to the number of pages required in your mini-album.

You can now cut this on your cutting machine and I will show you how to assemble it below.

First score/fold along all the perforated lines with a bone folder or other tool

Then glue one of the end sections to your hinge spine with the ‘lip’ on the inside.

Add the remaining hinge sections, aligning them with the top and bottom of the spine making sure they are tightly pressed up against each other ‘kissing’ ;) to create a straight binding.

Add the second end section with the ‘lip’ on the inside.

You can now attach the spine with hinge system to your mini-album cover

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, please feel free to leave a comment below :)

xxjo