I love making cards. I enjoy stamping (both physical stamping and digi stamping), coloring, choosing all the fun papers and a cool layout--all the way down to sending the finished card to someone. But truth be told, a simple piece of paper is all I need to be a happy crafter! I'm a very tactile person! :) Even my love of reading and writing originally began because I loved how the paper felt in my hands. There is just something about the look, feel, and even the smell of paper that grabs me. So, when I visited my friend,
Deborah, a couple of weeks ago and she gifted me with a stack of gorgeous handmade papers, I knew right away what to do, and in a few days, my sweet friend will have this handmade book in her hands!
I covered framer's mat board with the handmade papers for the covers, which measure 4.5" x 6". The pages inside (24 lb. colored paper) measure 4.25" x 5.5" (A2 size). I don't know exactly what is in the handmade paper, but it feels heavenly. Can you see the texture in the photo? It looks a little like a soft flocked fabric, and has a similar feel (perhaps it's mulberry paper?).
I assembled the book using a pamphlet stitch. Unlike a coptic stitch book, a pamphlet stitch cannot be used to create more than a one-signature book--a pamphlet, but by stitching each pamphlet to an accordian spine, I was able to put seven "pamphlets" together into one book. It is stitched together with waxed pearl cotton, and I used satin ribbons to hold everything together. An exposed spine is the only way to go with a book like this!
Here's a look at the accordion spine from the top. Each of the seven signatures (pamphlets) is made up of four folded sheets, which makes a 112-page book.
When the book is opened, you can see a section of the spine between each of the signatures. Notice that the book opens completely flat. I love that about this style.
The pamphlet stitch creates a knot in the center of each signature (pamphlet). I like to have the knot on the inside and leave the tails long. I think it adds to the handmade look in a beautiful way.
Thank you, again, Deborah, for such a wonderful weekend, and for the beautiful papers!
And, thank you to everyone who stops by my blog, and especially to those of you who leave sweet, encouraging comments. I appreciate each and every one of them!
I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create Challenge #90: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Anything Goes with Whisker Graphics
~Hugs,
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