My advanced bookbinding class last spring took on the big project of coptic stitch books and so to reward them for all their hard work and patience as I worked out the kinks of teaching a group of people a very tricky stitch, I made everyone in the class these fun little accordion books! Here’s a step by step photo tutorial. Details on each step after the photos.
You’re welcome to re-post this on your blog if you kindly link back. Click the Photos for a larger size.
Materials:
• Scraps of thin decorative paper for covers,
• filler paper (this can be regular computer paper or sketch paper)
• thin cardboard for the covers (the kind on the back of a sketchpad will work fine)
• glue (I use PVA but any white glue would work fine)
1. Cut cardboard covers slightly larger than the size of your accordion, folded up. I made these strips of paper as wide as printer paper (8.5″) and about 2″ tall, then made the cardboard covers overhang by about 1/8″. I folded the paper first, then measured the folded size to determine the cover. I cut the cardboard with a utility knife and metal ruler.
2. Cut decorative cover paper for the cardboard so that it overhangs all sides by 1/4″ and trim off the corners so they’re mitered (at a 45 degree angle) that way there’s less bulk in the corners when you glue them them. Apply glue and fold opposite sides together. So long sides first, then top and bottom.
3. Gluing the inside is the trickiest – fold up your accordion inside, and put glue on the facing side of the last sheet, then adhere it to the first cover. For the second cover, put glue on the sheet facing you and then lay the cover on top like you’re putting together a sandwich.
4. Viola! If you like, cut a short piece of ribbon and glue it to the back of the book for a tie. Make sure there’s no glue sticking the pages of your book together before you tie it and leave it to dry.
*pssst* I also just got on Pinterest - check out my handmade books board.
Fabulous little book….I will blog about this and link back. Thanks for the tutorial too!
Those little mini books are so charming, thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks Cynthia and Patty!
Ruth, nice work. I love the idea you gave us.
Thanks
thanks Regina, I’m sure there will be more in the future! I love tutorials
These are extremely adorable!! I might make a few as little gifts for my customers. Thank you so much for this easy to follow tutorial.
Lovely work!
SUPERBE
BRAVO
Love this! Thanks!
This is a beautiful project! I LOVE it! I think with an addition of a loop, it would make a sweet little Christmas tree ornament. Thank you for the tutorial!
Becky, I love the idea of these as ornaments – I’m one of those people that collects a new ornament for each year, so it would be cool to put “Christmas 2011″ in it!
Love it. thanks for sharing
Great tutorial! i love it very much,thanks for sharing.
Have just started making books recently. Love these accordion books, my 5 year old made one of Nessie the Loch Ness monster with tartan covers for his school project!
Thanks
Aww that sounds so fun!! Thanks for sharing
Very sweet little book. My granddaughter would love this. She is into tiny little things.
Thank you for such a lovely presentation.
Frannie
Thanks Frannie!
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[...] Bleakley is a very talented book binder. Luckily, her tutorial for making these beautiful mini accordion books is simple enough even for the uninitiated! Ruth originally made these tiny books as gifts for her [...]
[...] Bleakley is a very talented book binder. Luckily, her tutorial for making these beautiful mini accordion books is simple enough even for the uninitiated! Ruth originally made these tiny books as gifts for her [...]
[...] To make your very own diddy-delight, pop on over and take a look at Ruth’s full minibook photo tutorial. [...]
[...] ou simplement pour écrire un petit mot… Un tuto express à découvrir sur le site Ruthbleakley.com [...]
[...] you have your drawing, use my mini accordion book photo tutorial to make a little book and you’ll have a lovely little tiny gift! February 2nd, 2012 | [...]
[...] Mini Book Photo Tutorial « In the StudioSep 4, 2011 … My advanced bookbinding class last spring took on the big project of … You’re welcome to re-post this on your blog if you kindly link back. [...]
[...] Mini Accordion Book Photo Tutorial [...]
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[...] Also a great tutorial which you can find here. [...]