The Crafting Raven

I have become addicted to book making! I still need a lot of practice but here is a book I made using TAC papers. The binding I used is called single needle coptic. This type of binding will let your book open to lay flat! It isn’t very hard but I didn’t get it totally right. I suggest printing out the directions so you have them right in front of you. This book is a mix of two different books I have seen, so it looks a little odd. lol.  This book is 6in X 6in. This makes cutting and measuring easy when you are using 12 X 12 papers. I only had 8×8 card stock so I cut down one side and folded the other at 2 inches.\

Then I took the 12×12 and cut in half (6×12), folded that in half and glued each one to one piece of card stock. Be sure to fold your pattern paper pattern side in if it is only one sided. This will make the pattern be on the inside of the page for embellishing.

Then stack your pages together, clip them, and punch the holes. The pic doesn’t show the cover but you should have that clipped to your pages too. To make the cover cut a piece of chipboard to size and glue the paper of your choice to it.

Once you have the hole punched you can begin sewing. I used a curved needle and that seemed to help. Remember to punch your holes big enough that what ever thread/string you are using can pass through twice.

Here is what my book looks like all done. It lays nice and flat so I can use it as a journal or whatever. My binding didn’t come out quite right but it still looks fine and works well. These little books can be used and mini albums, brag books, dream books, or journals. They also make really great gifts. With all the cutting, gluing, sewing, fighting my thread(lol) this book took me almost two hours. Now that I have a better idea of what I’m doing I’m sure the next one will go faster.  I haven’t added any embellishments to the book. I’m not sure if I will yet. This book was a practice book. The real book is going to be a baby girl brag book for my friend!