Tuesday 16 May 2017

Good morning everyone,

Here's how to make the mini keepsake book that I demonstrated on Hochanda using Wild Rose Studio 6"x 6" papers and their rose corner die, which are fab.

If you purchased the 6"x 6" papers (which came as a pack of 2), the chipboard in each pack is perfect for the covers. If not, don't worry, measurements are below with instructions and some pictures for some of the stages.

Instructions for 6" x 6" keepsake book

Covers, from chipboard, cut 2 pieces measuring 6" x 6".

Pages: ideally from 12" x 12" card stock so you can use the off cuts for page pockets, tags or corners.

I suggest you don't have more than 6 pages, as it will become too bulky to close properly once tags, embellishments etc are added.

Cut 6 pages measuring 6 1/4" x 5 3/4", keep any off cuts as they can be used for page pockets and corner die cutting.

Page pocket size: 2 1/2" x 5 3/4" - cut as many as you choose.



Handy hints:

If you have any spare chipboard from another project, cut 2 strips and stick together- keep this and use as a cutting guide when trimming card stock corners for book covers.
Use strong, good quality double sided tape- I recommend scor-pal or red line tape, when I first started making books/albums I used cheaper tapes, which was a mistake as they soon came unstuck.
I use Collall all purpose glue to stick the pages as it gives you time to move the paper if you need too.
Cosmic shimmer (dries clear) glue is good for sticking pocket edges to pages if you don't want to use tape as it "grabs" the surface very quickly, BUT it is less forgiving and not easy to manipulate paper once stuck down.
If you're using a delicate corner die (e.g wild rose studio rose corner) as a pocket to slide tags/photos into, cut 2 and stick together to provide extra strength- if using decorative paper, cut the bottom layer from card stock used for pages. For additional strength, apply clear embossing powder, once both layers are stuck together.
Finally, I always have a "glue rubber" nearby, to remove any excess glue gently once it has dried- I go through the book, page by page  once I've completed it to check for glue marks.

Construction

With the page landscape (6 1/4" along the top edge), score in 1/2" on one edge only on each page, so that when the score is folded, the page size will measure 5 3/4" x 5 3/4".
Burnish each fold using a bone folder.










Take the pages, with the fold on the left side facing downwards, line up to edge of the page underneath, ensuring that the fold is always on the left underside of the next page.
Once all pages are stuck, forming a booklet, trim off the remaining 1/2"flap. The first page will become the front inside cover and the last page of the booklet will become the inside of the back cover.




Cover the outside of your chipboard covers, using a piece of 8"x 8" card stock which will provide an overlap of approx 1" all round. Trim the corners as shown and stick opposite sides first, then using a bone folder or your thumb nail, push in the side edge of each corner, so that when the flap is folded over, there is a neat corner with no chipboard showing.





 Place the back cover -covered side down, apply  Collal glue to the last page of the booklet, line up along the left edge leaving a gap of approximately 1/8" all round. Stick down firmly.
Apply glue to first page of booklet, and stick  to the inside of the top cover, pick up the book so that you can ensure the covers are lined up correctly by holding firmly onto hard surface- you will only be able to do this if you have used a glue with moving time.
Once stuck. allow the glue to set overnight, otherwise you may end up with an odd crease on a cover page.



Before decorating front cover, choose and fix a fastening of your choice to the outside of the front and back cover. Use double sided tape to stick.
Decorate internal pages and add pockets or corners.
I cut decorative papers 1/4" smaller than book pages, and the covers, BUT always double check by lining paper up first before cutting, to ensure you have the size you're happy with.

Here are page suggestions, you can also use decorative edge punches on the pockets to provide a different effect.
Rose corner die, double thickness, covered with clear
embossing powder.

I hope you have fun making this booklet - I'd love to see what you create,
Happy Book making!

Thanks for dropping by,

Maggie












2 comments:

  1. Heather Langstaff21 May 2017 at 23:53

    Thank you so much Maggie for sharing this. I can't wait to have a go. Will try and post pictures when I've made it. Best wishes, Heather

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome, looking forward to seeing the finished project. Any feedback about the instructions etc would be appreciated.
    have fun, Maggie

    ReplyDelete