Here is another charming pre-loved children's book I have recycled/upcycled into an equally charming journal/blank book. The illustrations in this book drew me to it on first sight, so I knew I wanted to include several of them in the finished journal.
I cut out the book block and threw away some damaged pages. Then I sliced the cover in half at the spine, folded the raw edges over and glued them down to create the covers. I drilled holes for the coptic binding and set them aside.
The pages are 24 lb white text paper. I folded 40 sheets into eight signatures. Then I tipped in an illustration from the book at the front of each signature, using decorative masking tape. I wrapped the tape around the fold of the sig so it would show at the open spine as a design element. I also glued down two other illustrations from the book as end papers inside the front and back covers.
This is a double-needle coptic stitch binding. With six sewing stations, that meant I needed six needles, two on each end of three threads. Keeping all those needles and threads in order is the challenge! But I finally feel like I've got a handle on this binding. The stitches are much neater than my earlier attempts.
This is a charming journal. Since a trip to St, Vincent de Paul's Thrift Shop this week netted quite a haul of great kids' books, look for more recycled children's book journals.
I cut out the book block and threw away some damaged pages. Then I sliced the cover in half at the spine, folded the raw edges over and glued them down to create the covers. I drilled holes for the coptic binding and set them aside.
The pages are 24 lb white text paper. I folded 40 sheets into eight signatures. Then I tipped in an illustration from the book at the front of each signature, using decorative masking tape. I wrapped the tape around the fold of the sig so it would show at the open spine as a design element. I also glued down two other illustrations from the book as end papers inside the front and back covers.
This is a double-needle coptic stitch binding. With six sewing stations, that meant I needed six needles, two on each end of three threads. Keeping all those needles and threads in order is the challenge! But I finally feel like I've got a handle on this binding. The stitches are much neater than my earlier attempts.
This is a charming journal. Since a trip to St, Vincent de Paul's Thrift Shop this week netted quite a haul of great kids' books, look for more recycled children's book journals.
I just love when you keep some of the illustrations inside the new book! Keeping all those needles and threads would be really challenging. I've had enough trouble just learning coptic with one thread and one needle--LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnother great recycled children's book!! :)
I really enjoy the children's book journals. Actually I did a four needle coptic once and it was fine as long as I kept a close eye on the directions. Not something I could do on my own.
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