How to make a little book like the one in the kit.

 

1.      Take a piece of 12 by 12 inch cardstock and cut a length 1 ½ inches wide – so you end up with a strip 12 by 1 ½ inches.

 

2.   Score a line every inch along the 12 inches (see A)

 

A

 

A.

 

 

3. Concertina fold – first one way, then the other until you have folded the whole strip into 1-inch pieces.

 

4. Cut another piece of cardstock 1 5/8 inches by 2 5/8 inches, this will form the outside of the book. Make a score mark 1 1/8 inches in from either edge on the longest side (look at the example if your not sure!) so you have a cover with spine (3/8 inch wide) (see B)

 

	Spine

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.

 

5. Now at this point you might like to cover the outside of the book with paper or material. You could also strengthen it by adding thicker card or a piece of wood to the spine. (If you want it to lie flat in you album then leave out the spine, just fold in half – make the long side 3/8 inch shorter).

 

6. You can either put the fastening inside the book as I have done by gluing the cord, ribbon, waxy flax, raffia etc to the outside cover of the book before you stick the concertina pages in, or you can stick in the pages (I used acid free Pritt but you could use any glue you like or double sided tape) and secure the book by tying it around the outside with ribbon, a little clasp, some beads – limitless potential!! You could also hang fibres and beads from the spine.

 

7. Once you have done this you get the hang of it – you can then make any size you like – try cutting 2 strips of 2 inch 12 by 12 cardstock, fold into 2 inch squares, and use invisible tape to glue the 2 strips together to make a bigger book.

 

8. When I was making them my 6 year old had a go – he managed very well and wrote a little sentence about Christmas in his – he also coloured on the front and put some stickers in it – I’m sure you have plenty of embellishments to make your little book special and I have put some things in the kit just in caseJ of course, I whisked my sons away to put on a page – it is a lovely way to keep their memories and if they only scribble in it its special – isn’t it!! – Then there are always kitty footprints!!! (Karen!)

 

9. These are a great alternative to tags and you have to have a go!! (Order! J) As once you have done it once they are nearly as easy as tags!

 

Talking about tags………..

 

Another simple little book is to cut out or buy a few of the same tags and make 2 holes in the end, tie them with ribbon or fibres or set eyelets in them and you have a little book! Simple but very effective and plenty of space to play!! And it doesn’t have to be tags!! – It can just be torn paper – your imagination will kick in once you start… much more interesting than a journaling block and a great place to put your favourite embellishments or try out those techniques you have been meaning to try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Memories album Covers.

 

 

I toyed with the idea of cutting up the card to go in these, but decided not to in the end – it isn’t difficult, but you can buy inserts and I didn’t want to cut up the cardstock in case you decided to buy inserts! The inserts are not hugely expensive, but if you would like to know where you could buy them just give me a shout, a couple of the sponsors have them. It is of course much more fun to make your own and so, so easy.

 

How to make a basic insert for your book cover. (After you have threaded the ribbon through)

 

1. Cut 2 pieces of 12 by 12 cardstock down to 11 ½ by 11 ½, then cut each one in half, so you have 4 strips 11 ½ by 5 ¾
2. Fold each of the 4 pieces of cardstock in half down the middle, put them altogether and using a cutting mat or similar, use a large needle or braddle to make 3 holes along the fold line (see A below)

				11 ½ inches
									5 ¾ inches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Sew the paper together – up through the centre, down one side, up through the other side and back down the centre – finish off on the back – you wont see it!!
4. Use the bottom 2 pieces of cardstock to push into the album cover sleeves and hold the cardstock in the album.
5. Decorate the album cover and fill the inside with whatever takes your fancyJ
6. This is a basic insert, you could use vellum, pockets, anything you like – it’s a nice sized canvas to work with and makes these little books much MUCH more affordable if you make your own inserts!! Great presents, fun and not too time consuming to make.