Maze Book

Video: Maze Book - Materials

Materials Needed

•         12” x 12” paper in two colours (2 pieces each) that coordinate with chosen eco-dyed, gelli print or specialty paper
•         Cardboard for cover (optional)
•         Ruler
•         Knife
•         Cutting mat
•        Scissors
•        Adhesive

 Paper Dimensions

6” x 12”  Colour A

5.5” x 11”  Colour B

5” x 10”  A

4.5” x 9”  B

4” x 8”  A

3.5” x 7”  B

3” x 6”  A

2.5” x 5”  B

2” x 4”  A

 

Eco-dyed or Specialty Paper

2 @ 7.5” x 7.5” for cover decoration (a hard cover) to complement Colour A -- optional

2 @ 5.5” x 5.5” for cover decoration (if not making a hard cover) to complement Colour A

1 @ 5.5” x 5.5” as inner end paper decoration to complement Colour A

2 @ 5” x 5” to complement Colour B

2 @ 4.5” x 4.5” to complement A

2 @ 4” x 4” B

2 @ 3.5” x 3.5” A

2 @ 3” x 3” B

2 @ 2.5” x 2.5” A

2 @ 2” x 2” B

3 @ 1.5” x 1.5” A

Video: Maze Book - Creating the Base

Assembly

1.   Fold each strip of plain paper in half

2.   Open the 6” x 12” strip

3.   Take the next largest strip of paper – 5.5” x 11” in Colour B and with the fold facing the bottom, center it on the right half of the first strip of paper.  Leave an even border around the folded piece of paper.  You should be able to close the 6” x 12” strip of paper over the top of the piece you have just glued down. (if you did that – open it again)

4.   Open the paper you just glued down so that it lies flat and rub it down firmly. Give everything a quarter turn counterclockwise (to the left).

5.   Take the next size piece of paper (Colour A) and center it to the right of the fold line and glue it down with the fold facing down.

6.    Open the paper, rub it firmly and turn it everything one quarter turn to the left.

7.   Take the next size piece of folded paper, Colour B, and center it to the right of the fold line and glue it down with the fold facing down. 

8.   Open the paper and keep repeating these steps until you have glued all the folded sheets of paper in decreasing order of size.  Make sure each one is securely fastened by rubbing each one thoroughly when adhering them.

When the last one is secure you can begin to add the decorative element as you work your way back to the beginning.

Video: Maze Book - Decorating the Pages

Adding Decorative Eco-dyed or Specialty Element

1.   If you haven’t taken a break at this point, you will still be in the middle of your project so starting at the middle, with the smallest elements, you are going to reverse the steps that you have used so far. Using the smallest eco dyed or specialty decorative piece to complement Colour A, center it on the right hand side of the plain paper.  Turn the paper clockwise and repeat.  (If you have taken a break you will be working from the outside in, turning counterclockwise and working from largest to smallest pieces of decorative paper.)

2.   As you change coloured background you will also be changing sizes for your decorative elements.  You will be leaving a ¼ “ border around the edge of your decorative element.  If you plan to add stitching to your eco-dyed or specialty paper, this should be done before it is attached at this point. 

3.   Note:  stitching may add additional bulk depending upon the type and amount of stitching.  This is a very flexible structure and allows for expansion.  Try to avoid knots if possible.

Adding a Cover - optional

1.   Cut cardboard to desired size for cover.  Calculate the cover size by measuring the width of the page plus 1/8 and measuring the height of the page plus ¼ “.  This will give you the dimensions of the cover plus 1/8 border around the edge as a foredge (except at the spine where there can’t be any overlap).  In this case, the largest page is 6” x 6” so the cover will be 6 1/8 “x 6 ¼ “. 

2.      Cover the cardboard with decorative paper (Eco prints/gelli prints if you wish) and attach to the first and last page.

 

  

Explosion Book

 

Video: Explosion Book Materials

Materials Needed

• ·         Paper

o   3 pieces of 12” x 12” paper in a complementary colour for your specialty papers

o   10 pieces of eco-dyed/gelli print/specialty paper that are 5.5” x 5.5” (this assumes a 1/4” border for a smaller border cut the paper 6” x 6”)

o   2 pieces of eco-dyed/gelli print/specialty paper for the cover decoration that are at least 7” x 7”

• ·         2 pieces of cardboard that are 6.125” x 6.125” (6 1/8” x 6 1/8”)
• ·         Adhesive
• ·         Cutting mat, knife, scissors
• ·         Ribbon

 

Video: Step 1 - Building the Base

Assembly

1.    Take a piece of 12” x 12” paper and fold it in half in both directions. Pick up one corner and fold it diagonally in one direction only.  This should leave you with two 6” squares and two areas that are divided into triangles.

2.    Manipulate the valley folds so that the triangles will fold into the center.

3.    Repeat this with the remaining pieces of background paper.

 

 

4.   To attach the papers together, put glue on one of the square sections and overlap with the square section of the second paper.  Since the triangle on the first sheet opened up into the center, for effect, I like to have the triangles of the second sheet of paper open down away from the center, rather than up.  This is accomplished very simply by turning the paper over.

 

 

 

 5.      I then have the triangles on the third piece of paper open up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.    Place your completed book under weight until dry.  Allowing the book some time under weight will allow the folds to be compressed.

 

Video: Step 2: Adding Decorative Paper

Decoration

1.    Once the base of your book is prepared, you are now able to create your decoration from your eco-dyed papers. Please note that the directions that follow are assuming that you have precut your eco-papers to 5.5” squares.

 

2.    The following directions assume a 1/4 “ border around your eco print paper. If you want more of a border you will need to adjust the dimensions.  If you want less of a border, you will have pre-cut the paper to 6” x 6” and trim paper now to your desired border size.

 

3.    You will need to adjust the dimensions for the triangles. Reserve 4 of the 5.5” squares for the full square sections of the book.  Fold the remaining six sections on the diagonal (to make a triangle) and mark 1/8” from the fold line.   Draw a line parallel to the fold. Trim along this line.  You will now have two triangular pieces of eco print paper that should fit the space in your book with the border that you need.  You will now have ¼“between the two triangular parts of your square – 1/8” on each side of the fold line.  You can always do it by eye and get the borders approximately even. You will need 12 triangular pieces.

 

4.    Decide where you are going to place your decorative pieces and glue in place.  Make sure that none of the pieces lie on a fold line or interfere with the smooth folding of the book.

 

Video: Step 3 - Making the Covers

Covers

1.    Use your 7” x 7” decorative paper to wrap your cardboard covers.  I frequently find it easier to apply glue to my cardboard and then place that on my decorative paper.  I then cut my corners on the diagonal leaving a few mm distance at each corner.

 

 

 

2.     Apply adhesive to opposing edges and turn in.  You can use your bone folder or thumb nail to tuck in the small edge of paper at the corner to make sure that the corner is covered.

 

 

 

 

 

3.      Repeat on the remaining sides.

4.    Before attaching the covers to the book, attach a ribbon closure along the middle of the back cover.

5.    The covers can be attached by applying adhesive to the front and back of the folded Explosion book.  The square section will be attached directly to the cover.  It is better to apply adhesive to the square and not the cover, because the cover is slightly larger than the square.  You want to try and center the square within the cover area.