Traveling Skewer Book

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

Taking a trip by car, boat or plane? During down time - you can think great thoughts or have interesting conversations with Questions from the Traveling Skewer Book.

Supplies:

Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit
Arnold Grummer How To Make Paper 

Two pieces of wrapping paper or handmade paper - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches

Two pieces of color coordinated paper -  5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches

Two 6 inch bamboo skewers 

2 pieces of ribbon - 15 inches each

Bone folder, hole punch, double sided tape

Road Trip rubber stamp

Twelve questions to ask while traveling - see below.

Prepare two signatures: 

One piece of handmade paper and one piece of coordinated paper each.

Punch holes in both signatures an inch from the top and bottom.

Place a skewer inside each signature.

Thread the ribbon from the outside into the first signature, around the skewer and out.

Repeat for the second signature using the same ribbon.

Snug up the ends, creating a tight tension.

Tie a knot, make a bow.

Repeat for the other hole.

Snip sharp ends of the skewers.

Use double sided tape to adhere

your questions, such as:

What do you daydream about?

What are your favorite crayon colors?

Did you have something funny happen on a trip?

Which author living or dead would you like to meet?

What would you like to sell in a TV commercial?

What do you miss the most when away from home?

What was your all-time favorite vacation?

If you opened a restaurant what is your house specialty?

What's your favorite fast food meal?

Which would you give up - if you had to - pizza, hamburgers or hot dogs?

What would you perform in a talent show?

Would you rather live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or San Francisco?

Actually I prefer Houston, Texas!

Skewer Books are quick to make! Interesting quotes you find make a nice gift too.

Ribbon Book Binding

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

We had interesting themes when we swapped handmade books online a few years ago. It was always fun seeing what each person made. The books had content, except when we would have a Blank Book Exchange or a How-To Book Binding.

The How-To Book Binding theme always received the most participation! We included the paper and instructions. I sent the Ribbon Binding - pretty and an easy book to make. It requires only 4 pages with a cover, plus a good amount of ribbon. Especially good for using leftover hand-made paper scraps.

Supplies: 

Arnold Grummer Paper Making supplies. 

Arnold Grummer Paper Making how-to.

Cover: 5 1/2 by 8 inches, folded in half to 4 inches by 5 1/2 inches

Paper: 4 pages 5 1/2 by 8 inches, also folded in half - I used stationery with roses on the edges

Pretty Hand-made paper: 3 by 4 inches - Paper that I made with flower inclusions

Optional paper for framing the handmade paper on the cover: 2 1/2 by 3 1/2

Ribbon: 4 feet; Double sided tape

Two beads with large holes

Directions:

• Start by wrapping the ribbon around the outside into the inside middle of the cover. Tie a knot at the top leaving 6 inches of ribbon - where you’ll add a bead

• Fold in one page wrapping the ribbon around the valley fold of the page. Loop through the ribbon at the bottom
• Fold in the second page and wrap the ribbon, loop through the ribbon at the top
• Proceed doing the same for the next two pages and you’ll arrive back at the top.
• Tie another knot at the top.

Knots at top and bottom

• To avoid pages slipping, cover the ribbon binding with frame and hand-made paper.
• Thread beads to the ribbon. The beads should have large holes to go through the ribbon. Tie a knot at the end of the bead.

Fun to make, put the book in an Easter Basket! Plus fun to keep for a little diary or journal.