Live Inspired Accordion Book

Live Inspired Accordion Book by Iris Rodriguez

Hello Makers!

I am not a big book maker. I’ve made like a few, but they have been very simple and whimsical. This little accordion book is easy and fun to make. Add motivational phrases or words, or affirmations. Not into the words, then add pictures of your children, relatives. This book is made using the white Makin’s Clay, Mini Geo Cutters and whimsy.

Materials:

Makin's Clay® – White

Makin's®– Mini Geo Cutters
Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint-Peony Pink, Warm White, Orange Canyon
Alphabet Stamps
Scrapbooking paper
Quote/phrase computer print out
Glue

Making the Book Cover

Condition the clay using Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®, roll out a sheet of white  clay to the second 2^ththickest setting.

Ensure that the sheet is big enough for the front and back covers of the book.

Stamp a phrase, word, sentiment using a rubber or clay alphabet stamps.

Using the Makin’s® Mini Geo cutter set, stamp images by lightly pressing the cutters into the clay and not cutting through. Cut the book to a desired size; center on the phrase/word. You can also cut the clay after it dries with scissors.

On the second sheet (back cover) stamp images with the Mini Geo cutters, ensure to fill the sheet to the intended book cover size. The clay shrinks a little when dry, recommend cutting the back cover after it dries. 

Allow the book covers to dry for 24 hours. Cut the back cover to desired size.

 Sponge on acrylic paint.

Color in the stamped images and letters with a fine permanent marker. Seal the book covers with polymer clay sealer or polyurethane.

 

Making the Book Pages

Select scrapbooking/designer paper. A single 12x12 inch sheet works well. Or you can paint/stamp a background onto a sheet of watercolor paper. 

Cut a long strips of scrapbooking paper slightly smaller than the book cover, about 1/16 to 1/8 inch smaller. 

Fold the strip in an accordion fashion. Fold the width about 1/16 to 1/8 inch smaller than the cover. Glue strips to lengthen the pages.

Glue one end of the pages onto the front cover. 

Glue the opposite end to the back cover. 

Print or stamp an inspirational phrase unto white cardstock or copy paper, then cut out the words/phrases. Ensure the phrases will fit across the page. 

Glue the phrases with a glue stick; keeps the paper from warping. Vary the grouping and angle of word/phrases on each page to give it variety and whimsy.

 

Now you’re done! Go forth and gift this book to someone who needs inspiration today.

Mini Clay Book

Design Team Member Bea Grob recently shared this tiny clay book she created with Makin's Clay®. This would also make a fun and unique pendant!

Be used foiled and stamps sheets of white Makin's Clay® for the pages of her book.  The cover is made with black Makin's Clay®, using a lion's head mold from her collection, enhanced with a bit of acrylic paint.

  

 

 

Steampunk Dress Form Mini Book

Design Team Member Patricia Krauchune recently shared this fun polymer clay mini book with a Steampunk theme.  Patricia used one of the Makin's® LARGE floral texture sheets to texture her book covers. 

Mini Book Pendant by Patricia Krauchune

Mini Book Pendant

Designed by Patricia Krauchune

I love "Makin®" small books, especially ones you can wear! Follow along and I will show you how easy it can be using Makin's Clay®

Supply List:

Makin's Clay® Blue and Red 
Craft knife
Needle
Waxed dental floss
Small piece of chain 
Card stock

Recommended Makin’s® Tools:

Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® 

Awl
Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen 
Chipboard
Soft leather
Key charm
Beacon's™ Tacky Glue
Makin's® Clay Mixing Ruler™
Makin's® cutting mat

Eyelet
Keyhole escutcheon
Jump rings
E 6000®
Tyvek mailing envelope 
Bone folder

Instructions:

Push a small piece of blue clay into hole "E" and red clay into hole "G" in the Makin's® Clay Mixing Ruler™. Remove clay and mix until uniform in color. Do this two times. Run the mixed pieces of clay on the #1 setting of the Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®. Set aside to dry overnight. 

Make a template from chipboard measuring 1 1/2" x 1" and cut covers from clay using your craft knife. 

This is what your covers should look like. Make another template from chipboard a little smaller than both covers placed side by side. Using your template, cut 12 pages:  (folios) from a Tyvek mailing envelope. Fold the folios in half and crease with a bone folder. 

Clip the 12 folios together. Make a template from cardstock the size of a folio. Use an awl to pierce three holes in the template's center crease, one hole in the middle, and a hole in the top and bottom a little away from the edge.


Clip the template to the stack of folios and using the awl pierce the folios in the holes you made in the template. See the diagram at the bottom to stitch together, with waxed dental floss, the 12 folios. You now have what is called a signature.


Using the Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen gild the edges of the covers.








When the gold leafing is dry, glue the signature to the book covers using Beacon's™ Tacky Glue. Cut  a small piece of soft leather to become the book's spine. Attach an eyelet to the top middle of the leather.
 
I gilded the edges of the leather with the gold leafing. Put a jump ring through the eyelet and attachthesmallpieceofchain. UseE6000 to glue the leather to the covers. At this point I attached a small key charm to the chain and glued a keyhole escutcheon to the cover with E6000. Your book pendant is now ready to wear!