Julie's blog
Monthly Archives: February 2018
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How To Make A Handmade Notebook
Posted at 11:13 am , on February 24, 2018
I am a compulsive list maker, and I caught the habit from my dear mum, Pearl, who was always making lists on bits of paper or the backs of envelopes!Sadly, my mum passed away many years ago now, but I think she would have loved making her lists in these little handmade books. They make a perfect Mother’s Day gift – and can be made from just a scrap of material… perfect for using up those leftovers!
Top Tip:
It’s easier if you use a darker material (they show less marks!) and preferably one that doesn’t fray.
You Will Need:
- Fabric of your choice
- A length of thin ribbon
- Pinflair’s Bookbinding Glue
- Paper for your book (pages inside)
- Cardboard
- Shirting tape
Step 1:
Lay out your materials, and place your fabric face side down. It should measure 13x8inches. The cardboard (for the book cover) measures 3ins by just under 4ins, and your spacer is also just under 4ins by 0.75ins. Your pages should be 3.5 ins by 3ins.Step 2:
The secret to making a successful book is to use as little glue as possible – you apply it and then you scrape nearly all of it off! You do need to use bookbinding glue too – it might seem just the same as PVA glue, but it’s not. PVA is cheaper, but it contains a lot of water, so it can stain the material you’re using. Bookbinding glue may be a bit more expensive, but it has a drying agent built within it, so it’s stronger and won’t mark your material.
Step 3:
After laying everything out, take your pages and group them together. Next, apply a thick layer of bookbinding glue to the top edge (this is the ONLY time you use the bookbinding glue quite thickly!) Place the shirting on the top of the pages (measure a strip of it – 3.25ins) and press down to seal. Glue the sides down too, but wait until everything is dry to neaten it up and to chop off any stray edges.
Step 4:At this point you could disguise the shirting with some material (so the shirting doesn’t show when the book is opened) but depending on your choice of material, it can sometimes make the book rather thick to close.
Step 5:
The next step is to position your cardboard pieces and the spacer on your material (which you have placed face side down). There doesn’t need to be lots of material around the edges of the cardboard; 0.25ins is enough to create a good overlap.
Step 6:
Glue both the thicker cardboard rectangles onto the material (but DON’T glue the spacer!) and turn them over to gently smooth out any creases.
Step 7:
Next, cut around each of the thin cardboard rectangles – again leaving 0.25ins all round. Cut the corners off (to avoid build-up of material) and as the corners are likely to be messy, just dab a tiny bit of glue on them (with your spatula) to smooth them back.
Step 8:
Now cut the two thicker cardboard pieces all together (the thinner cardboard pieces are cut separately, but the thicker cardboard forms the outside of the book and therefore needs to be all one piece). Cut the corners again and turn the material over the edges, and then glue on the thin cardboard pieces.
Step 9:
Glue the ribbon across the centre of the book (again face side down). Then take the pages and glue them where the spacer was – and hold the book together with the elastic band until it’s dry.
Step 10:
If desired, glue the first pages at the front and back to the inside cover to make it all look neat and tidy!
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Lighthearted Love Tokens
Posted at 11:29 am , on February 9, 2018
When I first saw these polystyrene hearts from Pinflair I immediately thought how good they would look decoupaged. Although they’re wonderfully light, they are surprisingly robust too – perfect for popping in the post if your loved one isn’t close at hand.
I decided to use paper napkins to decorate a few of them with (as I have an ever-increasing collection of serviettes that feel a bit too pretty to wipe my mouth on!) I also tried wrapping ribbons of material on two of the hearts – this worked really well as it’s very fast and easy.
You Will Need:
- Heart-shaped base
- Ribbon of your choice
- Fabric strips of your choice
- Decorative papers
- String
- Pinflair bookbinding glue
- Decorative beads
Ribbon-Wrapped Hearts:
I secured the material with Pinflair’s super-strong Bookbinding Glue. Little plastic beads in the shape of hearts (of course!) added a sweet touch to the shiny heart, making it a pretty adornment for a little girl’s room.
Paper Wrapped Hearts:
For the paper napkins I used Napkin Glue and Lacquer – a special jelly-like formulation also from Pinflair. It’s extremely light and goes a long way, so it’s perfect for working with very soft papers – including tissue paper – and it gives an appealing handpainted look.
Secret Valentine…
Every year since she was 17 (and in the midst of boyfriend troubles) I have sent my daughter, Kate, an anonymous Valentine so she always felt she had a secret admirer.
She is now 36 and a happily married mum, but I still keep up the tradition – even though she’s long ago rumbled that the card is always from me!
This year I shall be sending her one of these hearts – from a secret (and crafty) admirer!
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