Book Making

 I mentioned in my last post about Kate from The Last Homely House and how she inspired me to get back to making little books!  I've done different books over the years, mainly from the MIP online class with Hilary.  But in looking through Kate's video's in her Book Making play list I found some great tutorials!  So, wanting to make some handmade gifts for friends, out came my printed, dyed, stamped papers and I got busy!!!  

I covered 5" pieces of cardboard with some painted papers just using Elmer's glue stick.  I then cut other papers 4 1/2" and glued to the inside of each cover (front and back). 

I started by  making 6 signatures, cutting sheets of copy paper 4 1/2"x 9".  This gives 1/4" space around  so the signature papers don't stick out of the covers.  

 6 pages will be folded in half to create the 4 1/2" signature.  The plain papers seem boring...so I started to go through some of my old books and found these pages in a book to color.  I cut those pages the same size, 4 1/2" x 9".  

 I stamped some of the pages with a  leaf.  I used another stamp as well...just so there was some interest inside the book.

This is a picture of the back cover with one of the drawing/coloring pages.  

Another picture of a signature group.  The picture on the right (branches) is the front of the signature and plain pages are inside.  4 sheets folded with the the drawing sheet (also 4 1/2"x9") folded and plain pages inserted to create the signature!

The paper on the left is the back of the previous signature.  Make sense?

Some of the drawing pages were so cute!  

This is the inside of the front cover and the first signature 'cover'.  

This is the back of the book.

This is the side showing the coptic binding.  I did enjoy making this book for my friend.  Kate referred to these little books as "gratitude books".  A little book you write down 5 things you are grateful for that day!  

I had some leftover papers, of course, so decided to make another little book!

With this one I decided, since I ran out of the coloring pages for the inside, I would make the front cover decorative.  So I punched holes around the leaves and embroidered the front cover.  I used some other papers to cover the inside so you don't see the stitching on the backside.  

I think these make nice little gifts.  I love my journals and use them for so many different life events (e.g. hubby's cancer journey, dog journeys - of which we have many!, my sewing projects, etc.).  

Kate's tutorial is so easy to follow!  Try and make one of these even for yourself as your own 'gratitude' book!