Nancy Wethington

How did I miss this . . .

Did you ever have one of those duh moments?

Well, I did this past month.

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that at the moment,

I'm into Junque Journals.

So I've been joining Junque Journal groups on Facebook

to see how these gals put their books together.

And all of a sudden . . . this happens:

Boxes!

Why didn't I know about this?

For years I've been creating my own covers & spines from scratch.

Now I'm digging in the recycle bin.

To make your own book:

(a) eat all the snacks in a box (this is important!)

(b) The box is glued together at one of the sides.

Find that place and carefully open the box where it's glued together.

(c) Cut off the box top and box bottom.

(d) Cut off the glued together side.

And just like that you have a book!

And Pasta Boxes are the best because there's a built in window!

I then took paper and coffee dyed the paper.

Some I scrunched up and some I left with just the coffee splatters.

I made a template for my pamphlet stitch

and punched holes in the box spine.

3 signatures = 3 horizontal holes across

What's a signature?

It's a grouping of papers. Called a signature because back in the days of handwritten books,

each set of papers that was completed was signed by whomever wrote it.

Thus a signature.

For this book, I used 5 papers,

each paper folded in half

and then stacked on top of each other to create 10 pages.

Make sure the folds match in the center!

Then each signature is put together and I used the center hole template, 

punching 3 holes through each signature.

Once the holes are punched, remove the template and save for another book.

Using waxed linen thread and a heavy needle,

thread the needle but do not double and do not knot.

Start with one set of signatures.

Place the signatures into the book spine,

lining up the holes in the signature with one set of vertical holes in the spine.

(I clip mine in place with binder clips.)

Here's a video I found on You Tube that shows how to stitch a signature

(I can't do better than Lynn.)

The only exception is that I use waxed linen thread

as it's hard to break/tear and doesn't stretch

therefore, no doubling of the thread.

Once the signatures were sewn into the book spine,

decorating begins.

I left quite a few of the pages blank for journaling

and tried to decorate the pages that I crumpled.

The smooth pages will be easier to write on.

So much fun to work on these simple books.

And it can be a work in progress or a finish all at once project.

Hope you enjoyed this foray into

Junque Journaling.

Check out what my team mates have put together on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

and join the fun for a chance to win an amazing gift certificate from

Catherine Moore's Character Constructions

Such a fun way to stamp!

Character Constructions $25 GC

Website: http://www.characterconstructions.com/

Blog: https://naturestudy.typepad.com/catherine_moore/

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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/catherine_moore/

Mini Album Makers May 2019 . . .

Hi Everyone!

Today is the start of a new month and that means another challenge on the Mini Album Makers blog.

This month I'm working with a new book from

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

called

Bracket Edge Booklet.

Here are the chipboard pieces that come with the kit:

Base Page with Pockets pre-cut & pre-scored

Mini-book inserts for the pockets (2 of each piece):

Brackets for the book cover (one each):

This is super easy to put together!

First I painted around the outside edges of the base, both inside and outside.

The paint represents Layer #1.

For Layer #2, I used the bracket templates and cut decorative paper

for the inside of the booklet.

Also used a stripe decorative paper for the inside spine.

Next, the outside of the pockets were decorated.

It's much easier to decorate them before folding and glueing in place.

The next step (and before adhering the pockets in place)

decorate the outside.

Using the bracket templates, I cut paper and layered onto both the front & back covers.

I wanted the spine to look like an old book

so I added a layer of chipboard in horizontal strips on the spine.

This needs to be done before adding the decorative paper to the spine.

Then the paper for the spine is cut and dampened slightly to make it easier to mold.

Add the paper to the spine with wet glue, carefully using your finger (not your nail!)

to mold over the horizontal chip.

Once the paper and adhesive are dry, ink with a dark brown ink to make it look old.

Now it's time to glue the inside pockets in place.

Here's a little walk-through of how I decorated my Bracket Edge Booklet:

Come join the challenge at

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

and 

you'll have a chance to win a fabulous prize package from

this month's sponsor

Funkie Junkie Boutique

Rush . . .

I have had these file folders for years and decided it was finally time to do something with them. And since it's November (yikes!) and time for a new challenge on Mini Album Makers Challenge blog . . . well, why not use them to create a mini-book.

All the file folders will be cut down so that the finished book will measure 7.5" wide X 9" tall and will have 4 large pockets.

You will need:

• 5 File Folders - 2 with left tabs and 3 with right tabs. The file folders I used are from Cavallini. There are countless designs available at your local office supply store.
• Cardstock for the binding - 7-3/8" X 5-1/4"
• Score Board
• Score-Tape

Steps:

1. To make the cover: Take one file folder with a right tab and cut it down to 7.5" wide.
2. Lay it down, long side to the top of your score board with the tab at the top left corner. Score at 9" and 10". This will become the spine of the book.  Note the score line at 9.5". That's the original fold of the file folder. We'll ignore that until later.

 3.  Cut the other four file folders.  Keeping the tabs, cut 2 folders from the left side and 2 from the right as follows: Close the file folders before trimming. Cut each one 7.5" wide, again keeping the tabs intact. Save the trimmings for later.

4.  Using the same 4 file folders from step 3 above, keep the file folders closed and cut them from the bottom to measure 9" tall. You will now have 2 pieces for each file folder - a front and a back with a tab.

 

Binding: We'll be using the standard hidden hinge binding system.

1. Take a piece of cardstock that measures 7-3/8" X 5-1/4".  Place the 5-1/4" side up against the top of your scoreboard and score as follows:  1/4" - 3/4" - 1-1/4" - 1-1/2" - 2" - 2-1/2" - 2-3/4"-3-1/4" - 3-3/4" - 4" - 4-1/2" - 5".
2. As you can see from the photo below, you will start and end with a 1/4" seam allowance. You will also have 4 pairs of 1/2" seams. On each of those pairs, cover one side only with score tape. So you will have 1/4" no tape - 1/2" tape - 1/2" no tape . . . 1/4" no tape - 1/2" tape - 1/2" no tape and so on.
   
   

3.  Remove the scor-tape from the first 1/2" seam and secure that seam to the next 1/2" seam, folding on the score line between the 2 half inches. Remove the scor-tape from the next 1/2" seam and fold that seam to the next 1/2" seam.  Continue to do this until all 1/2" seams are secured to their partner.

Once this is complete, you have something that looks a bit like an accordion until you turn it over. Fold on the score  lines and you will see fins popping up. Those fins are what you'll use to attach the pages.

4.Place scor-tape on both sides of each fin and miter the corners of each fin.

    

 You'll need the original file folder that was trimmed down and scored. 

 5.  Next place scor-tape on the bottom of this binding system and place on the inside center of the file folder, making sure to get it as even as possible between the two score lines you created earlier for the spine.

 So now you have the original folder with the binding system taped to the spine.

You're ready to work on the 4 pages:

1.  You should have pieces of file folder left from trimming them down. You will need 8 pieces that measure 2" wide X 7.5" tall.
2. With the 2" side up against the top of your score board, score at 1".  Do this with all 8 pieces. These will become the side closures for each folder.
3. Place scor-tape on one side of each of the 8 pieces, making sure to not let the scor-tape cover the scored line.
4. Add one piece to the  inside of one of the folders, making sure the folded scored line is to the outside of the folder and about 3/4" from the bottom of the folder:

         5.  Remove the piece of scor-tape from the top hinge and add the top of the file to the scor-tape:

 Repeat with the remaining folders. You've created large pockets that are open on the top and bottom.

6.  Carefully remove the tape from one of the binding fins and insert the bottom of one of the pockets over the binding fin. Page 1 complete! Repeat with the other 3 pages.

Add the Pages to the Binding:

1. Remove the score tape from one of the fins. Choose the file folder you want to use first and carefully place the bottom of the file folder bottom opening over the first fin.
2. Repeat with the other 3 pages until all the pages are inserted over the fins.

Your file folder book is complete.

Decorate as desired and add inserts to the pockets for more photo opportunities.

 
Hope you enjoyed my File Folder Mini-Book.

Join the

Mini Album Makers Challenge

Design Team to see what everyone has been up to this month.

 

and enter your own mini-book for this month's challenge.

You'll have a chance to win a prize package from our sponsor:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Online Store

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Facebook Craft Page 

Halloween tags display booklet . . . .

Today is the 1st of the month and that means a new set of Mini Album Makers Challenge blog posts from the Design Team.

I'm featuring a set of Super-X tags from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

But this is a mini-album blog so I'm turning them into a mini-book of sorts.

I wanted them staggered so I cut a 2" piece off the bottom of the first tag and 1.5" off the bottom of the second tag.

Then created a binding as follows:

1.  Cut a piece of cardstock 5" wide (the width of the tags) X 11".
2. Score as follows: 1" -  1-1/8" -  2-1/8" -  3-1/8"  -  3-5/8" -  4-5/8" -  5-5/8"  -  5-3/4" -  6-3/4" -  7-3/4" -  8-1/4" -   8-3/4"  -  9-3/4" -  9-7/8"

Each tag is 1/8" thick.

Here's the goal:

Begin with the shortest tag:

• Glue the very bottom (the 1/8" width) of the tag to the 1/8" margin
• 

 

• Glue the 1" first margin to the bottom front of the tag.

• Glue the next 1" margin to the back of the tag.

• Fold the next 1" margin down on top of the last 1" and glue down.

• The next gusset is the 1/2" margin between the two tags. Do not glue this!
• Continue glueing the second 1/8" wide tag to the 1/8" wide margin and then the front 1" and the back 1" to the 2nd tag until all 3 tags are glued in.

Cut a piece of chipboard (I used the chip from the cut tags):  5" X 1.5". Glue to the bottom of the assembly, stabilizing the tags.

Ready to decorate!

 I wrapped a piece of cardstock around the bottom of the tag booklet and created a pocket for tag #1.  Details of the 1st tag:

Tag #2:

Tag #3:

And when all finished and tied with black & cream striped ribbon, this tag booklet stands up by itself:

Take a look at what my fellow Design Team Members have created

for the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog.

And while there, why not play along for a chance to win

this fabulous prize

from this month's sponsor:

Seth Apter

Website - http://www.sethapter.com/

Blog - https://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sethapter/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thealteredpage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sethapter

Hometown girl makes good . . .

. . . STENCILS. Mary Beth Shaw is the owner of Stencil Girl Stencils and I am happy to say lives near me. I've been a fan of her stencils for years.  This month, we're thrilled to be sharing some of her stencils on our Mini Album Makers Challenge blog.

Since I'm waiting for paint to dry, I'll share one of the first projects I ever did with Stencil Girl Stencils.

Love the detail she gets in her stencils.

And the list of artists who design for Stencil Girl is a who's who list!

(Stencil used on the above book: Bird in Window)

This month on Mini Album Makers Challenge blog, I've re-created a book I did a loooonnnnnggggg time ago. It's a super-easy binding with a flexible spine. Let's get started:

For the binding you will need:

• 2 pieces of chipboard for the covers, each measuring 5" wide X 7" tall
• 6 pieces of cardstock for the page binding, each cut 6-3/4" tall X 2-1/8" wide

• You will also need decorative paper for the covers, binding and inside pages.  I used an A-4 pack from Prima Marketing.
• Scor-Tape or your favorite wet glue. I used scor-tape.

For the binding:

Score each of the 2-1/8" pieces of cardstock at 1" and 1-1/8".

I call that middle section a gusset and the left & right side a margin.  There is a *right* way to fold on score lines. One side of your score line is a valley (indented) and the other side of the paper shows score lines as a mountain (bursting up). Always fold towards the mountain. It will give you a crisper edge.

So you'll end with 6 pieces that look like this:

Working with just one side of each binding piece, place scor-tape on the left and right margins. DO NOT OVERLAP tape on the gusset. 

Tape one margin of one binding piece to the next binding's margin, until you get a look like this:

 

Notice that there will be left & right wing margins that will not be attached to anything. That's how we'll attach this binding to the book (later).

 Time to decorate:

1.  Cut 2 pieces of decorative paper for the outside covers. I'm wrapping the cover so I will be cutting my paper 1" larger (all around) than the chipboard.  My chipboard is 5" X 7" so my decorative paper will measure 7" x 9".

2.  Place scor-tape on one side of the chipboard.

3.  Remove the scor-tape and center the chipboard, tape down, onto the center back of the decorative paper.  Repeat for the back cover.

 4.  Next, I fold all the edges in towards the raw chip. This makes it easy to tape the paper.  Miter the corners being careful not to cut too far into the paper. The idea is to cover the corners without chipboard showing.

5.  Place tape on the edges and fold over onto the chipboard.  Repeat with the back cover.

NOTE: If you fold the top and bottom over first on the front cover, do the same on the back cover. Looks a bit more professional ; )

Adding the spine to the covers.

Cut a piece of decorative paper 3" wide X 7" tall. This paper will show on the outside of your book.

With the front & back cover facing up and the decorative spine paper in the center (also facing up) . . . 

attach score tape to each side of the spine paper - 1" on each side - leaving a 1" center spine paper showing:

Remove one piece of tape and attach one of the covers to the tape, up to the 1" tape. Repeat with the 2nd cover. 

You will see both covers + the spine paper showing in between the covers.

 

TA DA!

Open the book to insert the binding system. This binding system is not attached to the spine. Rather, we will be using the two wings (left & right margins) and attach those to the front and back cover, avoiding taping anything to the spine.

Place scor-tape on the underside of both the left and right margin of the binding.  Attach the left margin to the front cover and the right margin to the back cover. The margins will not touch the spine at all, but will sit securely onto the covers.

 Add pages to the binding:

• There are 5 pages in this book and 5 fins sticking up from the binding.
• Cut 10 pieces of cardstock measuring 4-1/4" wide X 6-3/4" tall.  
• With scor-tape, attach one piece of cardstock to each side of a fin.  If you wish, you can add scor-tape to the top and bottom of the cardstock to create a side pocket.
• Cover each page with decorative paper.

Cut 2 pieces of decorative paper 4-3/4" wide X 6-3/4" tall for the inside front & back cover. 

• Attach decorative paper to the inside covers.

Next up, the cover and Stencil Girl combined with Prima Marketing:

Select the Stencil Girl product you want to use. I chose this Pressed Leaf pattern.  

1. Place the stencil on top of the paper (or the substrate chosen). You might want to tape the pattern down with painters' tape so that it doesn't move. 
2. I'm using Platinum Crackle Texture Paste for my medium and spreading it on top of the stencil.

I don't worry about getting it smooth. Let dry thoroughly.

 Once dry, there's a shimmering crackle that looks beautiful with a simple pattern.

I chose to use the crackle in it's own color. You can add color to the crackle with Prima Marketing Artisan Powders.  Mix the powders in thoroughly with the crackle before applying to the stencil.

Instead, I chose to color the background with Artisan Powders and a small round paintbrush, giving it a bit more depth:

And the finished product:

Thanks for taking the time to view this Mini Album Makers tutorial.

It was so much fun working with Stencil Girl Products.

Join the Challenge fun on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog this month

for a chance to win a prize package 

from our generous sponsor

Stencil Girl Products

Stencil Girl Blog

Stencil Girl Tutorials

Also entering this in the

Vintage Journay June Challenge

Playing with a Piano Hinge for Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog . . .

It's the 1st of the month and that means new mini-books are up on the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog.  I'm creating a piano hinge mini with help from this month's sponsor, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  You can make these books with any cardstock. Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts carries these in both black and kraft. I chose a mix of both for my book.

 

 

Here's how easy it is to create a piano hinge:

• 6 pre-cut, pre-scored piano hinge pages from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts
• 6 thin skewers (or similar)

Here's how the pages look from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. Of course you can cut and score these yourself, but it's so easy to build this with the help of GSL Cuts pre-prepped pages:

You can see that there is a score line on the left and on the right with one score line down the middle. The centers are pre-cut which makes it easy to thread skewers through to create the hinge.

Step 1:  Fold each page on the outside score lines (the far right and far left score lines).

Step 2:  

Above photo shows an actual piano hinge.  And here's our piano hinge page.  The idea is to marry one side of the hinge with the other.

To do that, I used a skewer and threaded every other hinge - first one on the kraft and then alternated with one on the black.

 

Continue that until every other hinge on each page is skewered.

You can see from the photo above that you are using every other hinge on the kraft cardstock and the opposite hinge on the black cardstock.

For the 3rd page, use the opposite hinges.  (see video above)

And the finished product with simple inside pages:

 

Now that you've seen how easy it is to put this book together,

please enter your own mini-book

(all styles highly encouraged)

on the

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog

for a chance to win a fabulous prize from this month's sponsor

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog . . .

Today is the day the Designers show you more ideas on the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog. This month I decided to do a very simple binding using a Zutter Bind-It-All.

To see the mechanics of putting this together, please visit Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog. I've written a tutorial with photos.  

In the meantime, here's how I decorated my mini:

I've used a Zutter chipboard book. I love these books! They have a rounded spine that looks like an old binding. I've darkened the book cover (it's a kraft color to begin with) using three shades of brown ink.

Building up the cover, I used chipboard with some of my cross stitch, Prima flowers and beautiful papers from Stamperia.

Left side with pockets including tissue paper prepared with resin.

Right side opens and holds pockets with tags.

Tiny feathers on the left page are from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

Left page opens and holds 2 library pockets with tag inserts.

Right page reveals pages that hold 4" X 6" photos and a journaling card in a library pocket.

The button tag is used as a closure.

Left page with flaps open and a belly band to hold more photos:

A fun accordion paper bag page

with lots of storage:

A gate-fold page:

Thanks for visiting today.

Hope you enjoyed my mini-book.

Please visit

Mini Album Makers Challenge blog

and enter your own mini

with a chance to win a prize from our amazing sponsor

Seth Apter!

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog . . .

Hi Everyone! Back this month with a new project for Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog. 

This is from one of Eilleen Hull's Sizzix dies and it is called Passport. And wow is it ever easy to put together.  The die includes the covers, binding and inside pages.

Here's what I did with mine:

After die-cutting the binding and covers in chipboard, I stained the binding with Vintage Photo stain. Using a paintbrush helped me soak some stain into the grooves.  

I wanted the binding to look like leather, so I used Ground Espresso and dabbed some onto the dried Vintage Photo.

These are the inside pages. They are already scored and hole punched (the die does that for you!). I inked the edges, chose some decorative paper and cut it slightly smaller than the original pages. This would give me a bit of an edge all around.

I chose my decorative papers and cut them 3-1/8" X 4 5/8" and wallpapered the original pages.

To bind the inside pages, I use waxed linen thread. In fact, I use this thread for all my tied bindings. It's super strong and doesn't stretch at all - perfect for binding pages. Normally I would tie the binding in the center of each signature. This time I decided to tie the binding on the outside so I can hang charms.  So . . . 

Take a long piece of waxed linen thread and one section of the inside pages.  Thread one end of the waxed linen thread through the top hole and one end through the bottom hole.

Now do the same with the first set of holes in the binding i.e., one end of the thread in the top hole and one end of thread in the bottom hole.

Tie the ends together on the outside of the book binding, making sure the thread is taut.

Continue with the other 2 signatures . . .

until your booklet looks like this:

Now it's time to add the covers. Add adhesive to the inner side of the binding.

Adhere the covers to the inside binding.

How easy was that! Here's a couple of my pages:

A few decorative additions to the cover and my Eilleen Hull Passport book is complete.

Hop on over to the Mini Album Makers challenge blog to see what my teamies have put together this month.

In the meantime, start on your own mini album and enter it for a chance to win a fabulous prize from this month's sponsor, Lindy's Stamp Gang.

Website - https://www.lindysgang.com/

Blog - https://lindysgang.blog/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/lindysgang/

 

Thanks for visiting today!

 

Nancy Wethington

Design Team Member

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

2018 Seasonal Folios . . .

December 1 brings a new challenge at the

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog.

I'm getting ready for the new year with folios from Heartfelt Creations decorated with gorgeous papers from Graphic 45 and embellishments courtesy of Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

It all began with these Flipfold Album Inserts:

Here's what you get in each package:

I used the wider of the two options with several of the flips and decided to decorate them with these gorgeous papers from Graphic 45.

You can find the entire collection of Graphic 45 Seasons paper here: Graphic 45 Seasons

These folios can be configured in several different ways. As you'll see from the pictures below, on two of the folios I used waterfalls. On the other two folios I used side flips.

 

SPRING

The wrought iron miniature fence is available thru

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

I used it as a pocket for photo mats.

The *Spring* words & flowers were backed on black cardstock

and used as a belly band.

The horizontal words at the bottom of the page

is a skinny pocket

insuring that the inserts don't slide out of that page.

SUMMER

This folio was completed with side flips:

 

AUTUMN

I adore these feathers from 

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Feathers Shape Set

+

Simple Feathers

and these garden Gates Shape Sets

used as a pocket

from

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

 

This Autumn folio uses side flips.

WINTER

"Winter" has a waterfall for photo placement.

As suggested by a class I took with Heartfelt Creations, you can add a magnet to the back of each of these and they make beautiful refrigerator mini booklets for photos of the season.

They are all bound in a mini-book created from scratch.

 I've included a free PDF tutorial on how I bound these Heartfelt Creations/Graphic 45 folios. You can find the tutorial here:

Binding the Heartfelt Creations Folios

Why not create your own mini and join us on the Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog?

We have a few easy rules for you to become eligible for a great prize from our wonderful sponsors:

1. Any Handmade Book Goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini albums, scrapbooks, journals and book arts.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project. You do not have to provide a tutorial, but we wish you would. Feel free to use one of the DT tutorials to make your project and give proper credit where due.  
2. No back linking allowed.  
3. Please add our badge to your post and link to our challenge. 

Combine with any other challenges as applicable.  No limit on entries.  Share the love by visiting and commenting on other entries.  Please become a follower.  That's it - have fun!

See what my talented Teamies have created this month by visiting our Challenge Blog:  Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog

 

Building a mini-book from scratch is easy . . .

It's the first of the month and that means another set of minis from the crew at

Mini Album Makers Challenge Blog.

If you're reading this blog, you're probably a fan of mini-books.  It's rewarding to watch a mini come to life from start to finish. But where to begin?

Here are steps I take when starting a new mini project:

• Decide on the size of your book. Sometimes, it depends on the paper I'm using. For example, if I'm using 12x12 paper and have a lot of it in a paper pad, I have enough for a larger book. If using a 6x6 paper pad, I'll create a smaller book to fit my pages.  For this example, I'm making my book 5.5" wide X 7.5" tall.
• Cut chipboard for the covers and spine. I've cut my front and back covers exactly the same size I want my book to be: 5.5" X 7.5". But that also means the pages need to be slightly smaller to fit inside my book. I also like very thick books so my spine is 4" wide. A 4" wide spine will allow me plenty of room for 6 pages with 1/2" in between each page. 
• Put the covers together: Lay the covers and spine in front of you on a flat surface. Make sure to leave 3/8" between the covers and spine. This will allow your book to bend without breaking or tearing the binding papers.

• Attach the front and back covers to the spine using binding tape. tyvek or reinforced packing tape. It's important to use a binding tape that won't easily tear. Tyvek is great but it's becoming more and more difficult to find - or very expensive. I've been using packing tape for years - the kraft colored type that's reinforced with threads running horizontal, vertical and cross-ways. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to use.  The tape directions  say water activated but I never use water. I always apply a strong wet adhesive such as Beacon to the shiny side of the tape and then place on the chipboard cover and spine - 1/2 on the cover and 1/2 on the spine - making sure to keep that 3/8" open seam between.

Make sure to also keep the top and bottoms of the covers and spine lined up evenly.

 

• Decorate the cover, inside and out. My TeamMate Gloria has a great how-to tutorial here: Gloria's *cover* story 

 Once the covers are decorated, it's time to add pages. Below is a very simple way to add pages to your book:

For these pages, I need to remember that

1. I'm using a 4" spine, and I want 1/2" margin in the front and back of the spine
2. My book is 7.5" tall and 5.5" wide. My pages need to be about 1/4" smaller than that. If my pages are 7.25" tall X 5.25" wide, it will give me a 1/8" allowance top to bottom and side to side.

• Cut a piece of cardstock 7.25" X 13.5". squeeall...squeeek...tire marks from putting on the brakes. We don't usually purchase cardstock that's more than 12" wide. If you have a source, great. If not, I use cheap cut up gift boxes. The ones you can find at the dollar store that come several in a pack for $1. You're going to cover them with pretty paper anyway so no need to worry about designs etc.  So, let's continue . . . Make the following cuts:  1 piece cut 7.25" X 13.5";  1 piece cut 7.25" X 12.5"; 1 piece cut 7.25" X 11.5".
• Score each piece as follows:  With the widest edge up against the top of your score board, score each piece at 5.25".  Give each piece a 180" turn and score again at 5.25".   Fold on the score marks. This will leave you with 1 piece that is 13.5" wide with a 3" center; 1 piece that is 12.5" wide with a 2" center and 1 piece that is 11.5" wide with a 1" center.
• And now we'll Stack the Deck. This is a binding I learned from Laura Denison. Using a strong wet glue, attach the 2" center to the 3" center, matching top to bottom and centering from side to side.  I use a brayer to ensure the glue is spread evenly.  Next attach the 1" center to the 2" center, matching top to bottom and centering from side to side. Brayer.

 

Time to cover the cover. I'm using a combination of fabric and paper for the cover.

• Cover the spine in Fabric. Measure the spine top to bottom and side to side. To that measurement add about 1" to the top & bottom and about 2" to each side. For the purposes of this book, I  cut a piece of fabric that was 8.5" tall and 8" wide. (You don't have to iron the fabric. I never do.)
• Add score tape to the spine of the book, making sure to cover the entire spine.  Place the center of the fabric on top of the score tape and smooth out any wrinkles in the fabric.
• Add score tape to the front and back covers of the book, where the fabric will go. Smooth the fabric on top of the score tape.

• Turn the book to the inside and place score tape where the fabric will fold over at the top and bottom of the inside spine, front & back covers.
• Wrap the fabric over to the exposed score tape. Smooth out fabric.

• Cut decorative paper for the front & back covers. The paper will overlap the fabric by about 1/2", so you will need to cut the width + 3/4" for wrapping and the height by 1.5" (3/4" for top and 3/4" for bottom wrapping). 

• Apply score tape to the front cover and adhere the decorative paper.
• Miter the corners.
• Wrap the top, bottom and sides to the inside covers, same as was done with the fabric.
• 
  

• Now for the inside covers. Cut decorative paper a bit shorter than the cover height. I usually cut mine about 1/2" shorter. The width should be as wide as the cover + 3/4 of the spine. The decorative paper will overlap in the spine area. Apply the back piece first. Then the front inside cover paper. The front piece will overlap the back piece in the spine area.

Let the decorating begin! 

Of course, you have the pages to add. Those can be decorated before you adhere to the inside spine. Once decorated, apply a heavy wet glue and adhere to the inside spine, centering from side to side.

IF the pages are very heavy, I apply the pages to the very bottom of the spine. That way, when the book is standing upright, it will give some relief to the heavy pages.

IF you're a light decorator, then center the pages from top to bottom as well.

Hope this helps you build your own mini from scratch. It's really fun and easy. If you've done these before, you know exactly what I mean. If you're new to this, congratulations on your first book.

I'm off to decorate. Please check back for photos of the inside of this mini on November 8. Thanks for visiting!

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