Saturday, April 10, 2010

Left-over scraps mini-book tutorial

While taking Shimelle's recent class "Something from {Almost} Nothing" I accumulated a lot of paper scraps! I had trimmed 8-12" x 11" pages down to 8" x 8" for my "Celebrate Life" album and had several scraps of paper all the same size (3" x 8-1/2") in a nice little stack on my worktable. What to do...what to do...
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I know! I'll make a mini-book and while I'm at it I'll throw in a tutorial!

♥ ♥ ♥

I've made a bunch of these little books and they are quick and easy. Here's how it's done...
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I used 6 pieces of 3" x 8-1/2" paper, scored them in the middle, and folded in half.
Next, I glued them back-to-back with a glue stick like this:
I wanted to add a ribbon tie, so I cut two 8" pieces of ribbon and attached it to the front and back with a small strip of strong double-sided tape.

I measured the "spine" and included this measurement (plus a little extra for wiggle-room) when I cut my book cover... (So, my cover was the same size as my book pages, plus 1/4".)
Scored and folded like this:

I love to stamp the covers and always do this before I glue it to the book pages:

Then I glued the cover on (I don't put glue where the spine is - the pages seem to turn easier not being glued in).

Now I can add pictures and favorite quotes or notes.
And that's it. The trick on this one is to cut your paper carefully to make sure the pages are exactly the same size. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you'll share pictures if/when you make one yourself.
:o)

17 comments:

emhowl said...

Gorgeous, Deb. It's a lovely sunny day in Scotland but I'll go and explore my scraps now. I've resisted so much buying a butterfly punch but please tell me which one it is you use. I'm actually looking at your blog and Mel's to get inspiration for a birthday card!

Sian said...

Cutting accurately is something I have trouble with lol. But if I'm careful, I could end up with something as cute as this..

MarleneMAZ said...

Love the tutorial, thanks Deb.
It seems like a great little gift idea too, thinking teachers at the end of the year...

Maria Ontiveros said...

Great tutorial Deb! I love making minibooks, and I love your format for this one.
Rinda

humel said...

Yay, fab tutorial :-) Hooray that you had lots of scraps left over!! Thanks for sharing x

Mom said...

I love making these little books--you taught me how last year, remember? I'm going to make a 6" X 6" tomorrow for a friend's birthday. Since the outside cover will need to be slightly larger (by 1/4"), the front edge will be a different color trim. Thanks for all the ideas you give me, Sweetie! xo

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial and a pretty book! Will give this a go! alexa

Rhona said...

I love that mini book, what a great idea. You're so clever coming up with these ideas and thanks for sharing the tutorial with us. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

helena said...

love minis and this is a method I'd not used before - I've been a fan of using rings or ties for last 18 months. Love your style decorating the cover

Cate Brickell said...

great tutorial, and I love the stamp you used! one day... ~lol~

Amy said...

Fantastic Deb, I'm itching to make something at the moment - I love how you have made the cover :-)

Daphne said...

Lovely - thank you for sharing!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

Deb, the only thing I don't like about your site is that I am running out of ways to tell you how amazing you are! The combination of the butterflies and stamp work so well together! Love it love it love it!

Jeanne Oliver said...

It turned out great...and what a great use of all that leftover paper.

debs14 said...

I love learning new things and this all seems clear and easy to follow. I think this could be a little project for me to do in the last week of the Easter holidays!

Lizzie said...

Lovely little book - and such a simple construction method too.
Thanks for sharing!

Jana said...

Absolutely wonderful little book. I love that you created it with "leftovers". AND I love the red cover.

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