Learn how to make your own custom binder and album spine labels with a Cricut machine. Are you wanting to create a label on the spine of your binder or album? Have you been frustrated with trying to figure out the right size for the insert so that your software can actually cut it the right size?
Organizing albums and binders that you have at home may be one of the easiests projects you accomplish over a weekend with your Cricut machine. Having beautiful supplies may help you motivate being more organized for your studies.
If you have a cutting machine, like a Cricut Explore, Cricut Joy, or Cricut Maker, you are well on your way to making the perfect size binder label spine. You can create all kinds of fun text, print it out, or even make a sticker adhesive to attach to the spine.
Organizing your albums and binders will be a breeze after you learn how to make them with the Cricut machine.
In This Post
Where to Use Album and Binder Spine Labels
I am kind of a kid's memory hoarder, so I keep a lot of their artwork and grade cards. With four kids, this can add up pretty quickly.
If you are a sentimental clutterer like I am, you probably get really sad to throw any of your kids artwork away nor any of the paper memorabilia from your vacation stops. When you accumulate this much paperwork, binders and albums are a great way to store them.
School Memory Binders
I have a ton of binders that I purchase off of Amazon inexpensively (the exact ones I got). Each kid has a memory binder for every grade. As I write this, I'm going to have about 48 of these once they all finish school. I may have to rethink this strategy.
Vacation and Family Scrapbooks
For our family memories and family vacations that I scrapbook, I use these exact gorgeous classic leather albums in black.
Design for Custom Binder and Album Labels
If you are wanting to create uniform labels for your albums and binders, below are some tips and tricks to consider when making them.
Orientation of Binder Labels
Generally, binder labels have the top of the letters facing left with the bottom labels oriented towards the right.
Materials for Binder Labels
There are various materials you can use for making labels with a Cricut machine.
Vinyl Transfer Vinyl Tape
Vinyl decals may be transferred and placed on various surfaces by using transfer tape to peel the backing paper from the decals. While it does require more work to carefully cut the vinyl with the machine, then transfer it onto the material, it can have a really nice professional finish.
Card Stock Slip In Custom Spine Label
Heavy card stock can be designed with Design Studio using Cricut pens and markers and adding additional designs with craft paper.
Writable Vinyl
Cricut also has writable vinyl that are adhesive that can be used to also adhere to binders and albums. Don't make the mistake I did and buy the wrong kind. These are the writable vinyl that you'll want to use.
- 1 roll 5.5 inches x 48 inches (13.9 cm x 121.9 cm) in White
- Just write, cut, peel & stick, Write directly on vinyl using Cricut Joy Pens & Markers, or by hand. Easy to weed and effortless to apply,without transfer tape
- Works without a cutting mat – just load & go
Tips Before Making Custom Labels for Binders
Making custom binders is a really fun and creative project, but there are a few things should be kept in mind before getting started. Below are some of my tips before making labels with Cricut.
Binder Size and Location
When designing labels for binders, it is vital to consider the size of the school material or where you want to place your label. Will you use the spine for the labels? Will there need to be a matching front-face design?
Since school binders have numerous sizes, measure first the surface where you will place the label for a perfect fit.
Binder Color
Aside from various sizes, binders also come in numerous colors, styles, and textures. Be sure to examine the visibility of your design before implementing any colors or designs you currently have in mind.
When designing one, the font and colors used on a binder label should be legible from a distance. Labels must be readable from a distance so your child can easily see them, and some fonts or colors are more challenging to see than others.
Label Material
It is critical to know exactly what kind of material you'll be working with before you start designing your label. Labels can be printed and cut out on various materials, including paper and plastic. You can achieve a specific aesthetic by using different materials with different qualities and characteristics.
The most common materials used in labels are gloss, transparent, and opaque.
Designing Spine Labels with Cricut Design Space
Below are a few tips to make sure that your album and binder spine making goes flawless.
Use Bold and Simple Lines
You'll want to use bold and simple lines. More intricate designs should be done with a pen. If you are wanting to cut larger words, make sure you don't use intricate and fancy fonts.
Smart Label with Cricut Joy Makes Binder Labels Easy
Smart Label is a new medium that was introduced when the Cricut Joy was released. It is a vinyl that can be used alongside with Cricut Joy markers to make labels quickly and easily without any smuding.
I would recommend using the Smart Label if you are just wanting a stick and peel solution for your album and binder spine label.
Summary of DIY Album and Binder Spine Labels
I hope this tutorial of how to make album and binder spine labels with your Cricut machine helps you organize anything you want.
Having a Cricut machine, like the Cricut Joy, that is super portable and easy to use, will make customizing, personalizing, and designing your album and binder spine labels an absolute breeze.
If you liked that post, you might also like this Basement Tote Labeling DIY project to get your basement organized!
Creative Cricut Project Ideas and Inspiration
- Cricut Home Organization Project Ideas
- Make Pantry Labels with Cricut
- Cricut Infusible Ink Project Ideas
- How to Use Cricut Markers and Pens
- Cricut Infusible Ink Pens Tutorial
- Make a Vinyl Shirt with Cricut
- How to Make a Stencil with Cricut
- Cricut Throw Pillow Tutorial
- Earrings Made with Cricut
- Make Binder Labels with Cricut Machine for School Organization
- Make Earrings with Cricut
- How to Cut Chipboard with Cricut