craftgrrl | Handbound journal tutorial.

Yes, Hello, me again.

It is christmas time and

dancewithoutme won't let me buy him a present, so I made a him a journal. He loves Over The Rhine, so that's where the lyrics come from. Since I always have you wonderful ladies on my mind I decided to take pics along the way so I could include a tutorial on bookbinding. (I am in no way an authority on the subject, I just made it up as I went along)

Enjoy.

I started out with 4 sheets of cardstock, folded in half and marked every half inch or so (i don't really measure things.) I'm hardcore like that.

Then using a nail and a hammer I nailed through the sheets of paper to make holes. (you should try to hit yourself in the thumb while doing this, it's so much fun)

Repeat 5 times so you have *thinks* 35 pages? (i don't really multiple either, you know, H@RDK0RE!!)

Then stacking them all together, begin the coptic stitch, its through one side to the other side, then through the loop you'll make on the next stich. I used wire, you could use a really heavy duty thread and a needle though.

Another view.

Finished

Now to make the cover. Measure (it's ok, i still think you're hardcore) the front and back and cut out heavy compressed cardboard in matching widths, do the same with the spine. Lay them out with 1/4 of an inch between each piece on duct tape
Cover the entire seam both sides with duct tape

should look a little something like that

then i covered the outside seam with some patterned paper to hide the duct tape. (no one is going to see the inside)

outside. I ran the paper through my xyron but you could just as easily use a glue stick

the paper post xyroned

Cover the rest of the outside with more patterned paper, midar the edges, I put the pieces i cut off inside so it would look neater

Then it's all covered and we get to embellish!

I printed some OTR lyrics from I Radio Heaven on mulberry paper, tore the edges, xyroned it and stuck it on

Front cover.

Then I added some fun fibers, and a metal T sticker (T is for thommy) and tied it up with a satin ribbon and volia! Instant (ok, it took a few hours) journal!

No one tell him it's a seeeeeeeeeecret

Thanks for reading
Adam

ps. as always :-*!!!!!