tutorial and give away!

A few people had some questions about the little book I posted back on July 7th so I thought I'd make a video recreating the book to share the process. I started this video project a couple days later and had certainly hoped to get it done long before now, but slow and steady is where I'm at with this computer stuff! So here we go - to start, you'll need to gather up your tools, which include:

• straight edge
• paper cutter or sharp utility knife
• 60 sheets of typing sized paper for your pages (8.5 x 11 inches) these will be cut down, giving you 2 pages per sheet
• needle
• binding cord - I prefer waxed linen
• scissors
• book cover material - you may want to create your own cover in your own way. I explain mine in the video, which uses two layers of craft paper with Tyvek glued and sandwiched in between.
• scissors
• glue (PVA I use)

there are always additional materials that are optional - a bone folder makes folding repeatedly, a whole lot easier, but it isn't necessary. These are a few of my favorite book binding tools (click on tool names for sources):

• Swivel Head Pin Vice or needle awl, as I refer to it!

This tool is perfect for poking binding holes. While a needle or T-pin will do the job, this gives you something good to hold onto, and allows you to insert any sized needle to adjust for the hole size you desire.

(and here's an Australian source for you Zom! You may be able to find it cheaper/closer, but I smiled when it was one of the first places that popped up in my search, knowing you have difficulty finding some supplies.)

• Teflon Bone Folder

because it simply glides across all surfaces and works well for working together surfaces being glued, to achieve good adhesion - as well as for clean folds.

• Scoring Tool

fits the hand perfectly and creates clean scored lines for folding, when used along a straight edge.

• Paper Cutter

a decent one makes life so much easier when accurately cutting multiple pieces of paper. It can be a bit of an investment, but the time saved and ease to your hands (versus a utility knife and straight edge) makes it a worthwhile one, when possible. Mine is made of heavy plastic and was not one of the more expensive ones, under $40. It has served me well for a number of years. I recommend the guillotine style (as pictured above), and would dissuade anyone from using the rotary cutters if you want to cut multiple sheets of paper at a time, cleanly and accurately, based on my own experience with both.

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OKay, now I'm going to let the videos do the talking, and meet you on the other side :) I had to divide the instruction into 3 parts to cover all the info - and even so, I left out a little when it came to making the cover. The last of the three has the stitching, though the second explains the layout of the holes and pattern for the stitching. Sorry I couldn't fit it all more concisely. Hopefully with experience will come better timing! I see several areas for improvement and better instructive value down the line.

Feel free to ask questions if I've left something unclear. I admire those that can teach to an invisible audience! I feel much better engaging directly, but lets see how this goes...

and for those of you who have no interest in watching video tutorials, or never intend to make a book, but DO like a give away, you may want to watch this little 50 second deal!

The one year anniversary of my blog is here - so hard to believe!

To celebrate I thought I'd give away the book I made while making this tutorial. All you have to do is leave a comment here between now and midnight July 25th, and I will do a drawing on Sunday, the 26th, and announce the winner! Good luck to all, and thank you for the wonderful support, friendship, and richness you have each added to my life.