I made this little book to give to my daughter, Carrie. It was my version of a journal created by Barbara at Joggles. Every Wednesday Barbara emails a new video tutorial for a project or technique. One week the tutorial was making this little tag book. I love making books, I just don't make many! Carrie is really the book maker in the family. She makes gorgeous books! So, when I got the idea to make this little book I thought perhaps it was like bringing coals to Newcastle, so to speak! But, I couldn't resist.
The whole thing started last summer when I made a tag background in a class at The Queen's Ink. It turned out so well and it reminded me of old books. I decided to keep it and turn it into tag art and give it to Carrie. She is also a librarian and conservator and loves old books. Old books even played a prominent role in her wedding décor theme. So, back to the tag! Around the same time as the idea to make the tag into a gift came to me I found instructions on making a little book out of sheet metal and paper with filigree as ornamentation in the magazine Belle Armoire Jewelry. Perfect!! I would add the little book to the tag. After I watched Barbara's video I decided I had to use the tag to make one of these little journals. The tag was a different size than the one in the video so I adapted the instructions. I had so much fun making it and for once I documented the process! So, I have lots of pictures but I won't bore you with all of them!!!
I covered the back side of the tag with paper from The Queen's Ink and used a bone folder to make the creases.
Once the cover was folded I added some old clips from an old thesaurus we use for paper art. I inked them to make them blend in with the cover and glued them randomly to the tag.
Appropriate, no?!! The others also had to do with books and libraries!
I then cut paper for the signatures. I used a pamphlet binding to put it all together using bakers' twine. Then it was time to make the little metal book! It was fun to make with a piece of patinated copper sheet that I had on my table. I used a piece of filigree for ornamentation on the outside and some vellum paper for the signatures inside. Yes, it has paper inside even though it can't be opened!
As you can see in the picture I used bakers' twine that has a metallic thread wrapped around it as a closure. I attached the metal book to it and on the other end I attached a Tim Holtz pen nib. The pen nib is inscribed with the word "journal" and the number 23. Both are perfect for this project because it's a journal (!) and Carrie's birthday is the 23rd!!!
Here's one more picture of the little book.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed my story of what I've come to call "the little book". Have a great day!
