I wrote this tutorial for the Kenner Road blog. It's a quick run-down of how to put together the structure for this mini book:
Supplies:
- 7gypsies Book Covers
- Ribbon
- Scrips and Scraps
- Sewing Machine
- Thread
- Gel Medium (or other strong adhesive)
- Fabri-Tac
- Cardstock
- Bone Folder
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Corner Punch
- Binder Clips
- Scissors
STEP ONE: Create the Cover Base
The book covers from 7gypsies are 5.5×7 inches, so that's why my cover is the size it is. I cut a piece of cardstock to 7×12 inches and then scored it to create a 1 inch wide spine. You can see the score marks a little more easily in this photo:
If you don't know how to score, here are some instructions I found online. I use a bone folder or my Scor-It to make my scores.
You'll also need to round the corners of your cover (because the 7gypsies book covers are rounded and we want this base to fit the covers perfectly).
I used a corner punch I bought at Staples a million years ago. Here's the result:
Put together a stack of "pages." They should be 11 inches long and 6.5 inches tall to fit in your book. You can use plain paper, scraps, fabric, whatever you'd like. My stack is 5 pages high. As you can see, I used binder clips to hold it together and keep things from shifting around. I also used a pencil and a ruler to draw a line straight down the center of the signature. This is my stitching line.
Above, you can see several signatures all stitched down the middle. I made 3 signatures, but only ended up using 2 of them.
STEP THREE: Fold the Signatures
Fold each signature along the stitched center line and use a bone folder to help ensure you have a strong crease.
STEP FOUR: Stitch the Signatures Into the Cover Base
Use a pencil and a ruler to mark the inside of your spine on the cover base. Make marks every 1/4 inch. Sew your two signatures at the 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch marks. Here's a photo of the signatures stitched into the cover base:
Again, I used binder clips to hold the signature to the cover base while I stitched. You don't want anything to shift while it's going through the machine.
Decorate the front cover any way you'd like. And don't forget to include a ribbon to close up the whole thing. The covers are made out of chipboard and you can sew right through them. Just go slowly.
STEP SIX: Attach the Covers
I used gel medium to adhere the 7gypsies covers to the back and front of my cover base. I used binder clips to hold everything together while it dried.
All that's left now is to cover up that ugly spine!
Stitch two pieces of ribbon together length-wise to create an extra-wide ribbon:
Cut the ribbon to size, cover with Fabri-Tac and adhere it over the spine:
And that's it! Your book is done!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Let me know if you have any questions!
Finally, I thought I'd share some sneak peeks of the March kit from Kenner Road:
Don't miss the "Reveal Night Chat" on March 14 at 11pm EST!
Thanks for stopping by!
thank you so much for this tutorial. you are such a generous soul Julie. I always wanted do this kinda of mini book.
thank you so much for this tutorial. you are such a generous soul Julie. I always wanted do this kinda of mini book.
thank you so much for this tutorial. you are such a generous soul Julie. I always wanted do this kinda of mini book.
thank you so much for this tutorial. you are such a generous soul Julie. I always wanted do this kinda of mini book.
Wow! It’s fabulous!!! Congratulations et thank you so much for your tuturial!
Wow! It’s fabulous!!! Congratulations et thank you so much for your tuturial!
Wow! It’s fabulous!!! Congratulations et thank you so much for your tuturial!
Wow! It’s fabulous!!! Congratulations et thank you so much for your tuturial!
Thank you, Julie. This is amazing. Loved it!
Thank you, Julie. This is amazing. Loved it!
Thank you, Julie. This is amazing. Loved it!
Thank you, Julie. This is amazing. Loved it!
beautiful, love the birdcage stamp, and the bird pin where did you get them?
beautiful, love the birdcage stamp, and the bird pin where did you get them?
beautiful, love the birdcage stamp, and the bird pin where did you get them?
beautiful, love the birdcage stamp, and the bird pin where did you get them?
i hope you don’t mind, this was so fabulous that i posted a link and picture on my blog- with credit to you of course! This is just fabulous!
i hope you don’t mind, this was so fabulous that i posted a link and picture on my blog- with credit to you of course! This is just fabulous!
i hope you don’t mind, this was so fabulous that i posted a link and picture on my blog- with credit to you of course! This is just fabulous!
i hope you don’t mind, this was so fabulous that i posted a link and picture on my blog- with credit to you of course! This is just fabulous!
Great book, Julie!!
And, you’re really rocking those Kenner Road kits – your work tempts me to buy one every month!
Great book, Julie!!
And, you’re really rocking those Kenner Road kits – your work tempts me to buy one every month!
Great book, Julie!!
And, you’re really rocking those Kenner Road kits – your work tempts me to buy one every month!
Great book, Julie!!
And, you’re really rocking those Kenner Road kits – your work tempts me to buy one every month!
Gurl, lemme tell you, I had the most fantastikal time in your live chat yesterday-i look forward to returning to more of them–good luck and remain blessed!!!
Gurl, lemme tell you, I had the most fantastikal time in your live chat yesterday-i look forward to returning to more of them–good luck and remain blessed!!!
Gurl, lemme tell you, I had the most fantastikal time in your live chat yesterday-i look forward to returning to more of them–good luck and remain blessed!!!
Gurl, lemme tell you, I had the most fantastikal time in your live chat yesterday-i look forward to returning to more of them–good luck and remain blessed!!!
Well thank goodness you posted this tutorial because I’ve been losing sleep trying to figure out how you did the spine with that ribbon! LOL! Your work is awesome, Julie!
Well thank goodness you posted this tutorial because I’ve been losing sleep trying to figure out how you did the spine with that ribbon! LOL! Your work is awesome, Julie!
Well thank goodness you posted this tutorial because I’ve been losing sleep trying to figure out how you did the spine with that ribbon! LOL! Your work is awesome, Julie!
Well thank goodness you posted this tutorial because I’ve been losing sleep trying to figure out how you did the spine with that ribbon! LOL! Your work is awesome, Julie!
Love the sneak peaks!
Love the sneak peaks!
Love the sneak peaks!
Love the sneak peaks!
holy coolness! it is gorgeous, fab, vintage, sassy…love it!
holy coolness! it is gorgeous, fab, vintage, sassy…love it!
holy coolness! it is gorgeous, fab, vintage, sassy…love it!
holy coolness! it is gorgeous, fab, vintage, sassy…love it!
I am so happy to find your site. You don’t know how annoying it is for a grandma to learn how to make a book. Thank you, thank you. You have saved me a lot of headaches.
I love your site and your art is amazing. Just the kind I love.
I am so happy to find your site. You don’t know how annoying it is for a grandma to learn how to make a book. Thank you, thank you. You have saved me a lot of headaches.
I love your site and your art is amazing. Just the kind I love.
I am so happy to find your site. You don’t know how annoying it is for a grandma to learn how to make a book. Thank you, thank you. You have saved me a lot of headaches.
I love your site and your art is amazing. Just the kind I love.
I am so happy to find your site. You don’t know how annoying it is for a grandma to learn how to make a book. Thank you, thank you. You have saved me a lot of headaches.
I love your site and your art is amazing. Just the kind I love.
thanks a lottttt! love the project!
thanks a lottttt! love the project!
thanks a lottttt! love the project!
thanks a lottttt! love the project!
Thanks for the tutorial :o) I been looking into make little books for my children but always struggle with the binding. I’ll have to give this one a go! But I do have one question first… is the cardstock you used to stitch the signatures through just basic 80 lb cardstock? Do you find that you can’t add too much or it will tear? Or is it pretty durable. Ten-year-olds are not known for being gentle and responsible :o)
Thanks!
Thanks for the tutorial :o) I been looking into make little books for my children but always struggle with the binding. I’ll have to give this one a go! But I do have one question first… is the cardstock you used to stitch the signatures through just basic 80 lb cardstock? Do you find that you can’t add too much or it will tear? Or is it pretty durable. Ten-year-olds are not known for being gentle and responsible :o)
Thanks!
Thanks for the tutorial :o) I been looking into make little books for my children but always struggle with the binding. I’ll have to give this one a go! But I do have one question first… is the cardstock you used to stitch the signatures through just basic 80 lb cardstock? Do you find that you can’t add too much or it will tear? Or is it pretty durable. Ten-year-olds are not known for being gentle and responsible :o)
Thanks!
Thanks for the tutorial :o) I been looking into make little books for my children but always struggle with the binding. I’ll have to give this one a go! But I do have one question first… is the cardstock you used to stitch the signatures through just basic 80 lb cardstock? Do you find that you can’t add too much or it will tear? Or is it pretty durable. Ten-year-olds are not known for being gentle and responsible :o)
Thanks!
I used regular 80 lb. cardstock. I havent had an issue with tearing (yet), but I also havent flung it around too much. I would suggest adding some pretty decorative tape (or even that fabric athletic tape) to strengthen it if youre worried.
Hope that helps!
Julie
I used regular 80 lb. cardstock. I havent had an issue with tearing (yet), but I also havent flung it around too much. I would suggest adding some pretty decorative tape (or even that fabric athletic tape) to strengthen it if youre worried.
Hope that helps!
Julie
I used regular 80 lb. cardstock. I havent had an issue with tearing (yet), but I also havent flung it around too much. I would suggest adding some pretty decorative tape (or even that fabric athletic tape) to strengthen it if youre worried.
Hope that helps!
Julie
I used regular 80 lb. cardstock. I havent had an issue with tearing (yet), but I also havent flung it around too much. I would suggest adding some pretty decorative tape (or even that fabric athletic tape) to strengthen it if youre worried.
Hope that helps!
Julie
I love this idea!! I’ve tried coptic binding, but never this kind of sewn signature binding. I agree the class yesterday was so fun and very informative! Thanks, Julie!
I love this idea!! I’ve tried coptic binding, but never this kind of sewn signature binding. I agree the class yesterday was so fun and very informative! Thanks, Julie!
I love this idea!! I’ve tried coptic binding, but never this kind of sewn signature binding. I agree the class yesterday was so fun and very informative! Thanks, Julie!
I love this idea!! I’ve tried coptic binding, but never this kind of sewn signature binding. I agree the class yesterday was so fun and very informative! Thanks, Julie!
Super!! J’adore ce tuto !!
Merci de partager avec nous !!
Bizz
Super!! J’adore ce tuto !!
Merci de partager avec nous !!
Bizz
Super!! J’adore ce tuto !!
Merci de partager avec nous !!
Bizz
Super!! J’adore ce tuto !!
Merci de partager avec nous !!
Bizz
Magnifique !!!!!! J’adore ! Bravo!
Magnifique !!!!!! J’adore ! Bravo!
Magnifique !!!!!! J’adore ! Bravo!
Magnifique !!!!!! J’adore ! Bravo!