Halloween Books

Even though Halloween is a month away, it’s fun to show books I made recently. I also have suggestions on how to use them.

My friend, Liz Constable of Book Art Studios in New Zealand, used skull paper for her book covers. She inspired me to make books with two prints of skull paper I had in my paper stash.

This book is an ode to Liz, who taught me a form of Coptic binding last year when I won her Facebook contest. See my blog about winning - here. Liz will give online classes soon and she is a fabulous teacher, very patient!

The other book I bound with a French Link Stitch to fit into a box. Art Supply on Main in Houston (where I taught last July 2016) sells box kits, the box below I made with their kit.

Important to keep in mind the needle catches under the thread closest to the next hole (or station) to make the French Link. Also be sure to use a Kettle stitch at the top and bottom so your book covers will not wobble.

I came up with these uses for a Halloween book:

1. Visitor book for Trick or Treaters using their costumed character name, such as Wonder Woman, Batman, etc.

2. Halloween party guest book using visitor names and scary comments about horror movies they love!

3. Personalize: write their names on book covers for family and friends.

When would you use a Halloween Book!?! 

Boo!

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017

Album Bookbinding Revisited

A member of my family is getting married next month. She had her wedding shower last week and received two guest books I made, one for shower guests, another for wedding guests to sign & write greetings.

You can see full instructions for Creating a Photo or Guest Album with this Arnold Grummer kit.

Click here for my June 2016 blog: https://anneritataylor.blogspot.com/2016/06/creating-photo-album.html

For the 2nd album I used a spiral binding. I bought The Cinch machine by We R Memory Keepers at the Archivers shop a while ago (sold at Hobby Lobby where I found the heart-shaped doilies too). 

I made sure to use my awl to punch holes through the first layer of paper - after the glue dried on the cover - before I glued the back piece, to know where the holes were located.

Lining up the spiral bindings and pushing down the wire binding to close it are two valuable features of The Cinch.

I found this lovely Happily Ever After ribbon at Michaels. I used it on both albums. LOVE this modern look for a young couple.

The Cinch comes with great instructions, plus another page of helpful tips and sells for around $75. So worth it for bookbinders, just for hole punching multiple times in a straight row!

My family was very pleased with the Wedding Guest Albums. Please let me know what you think of them too.

©Anne Rita Taylor 2017