Paper Bag Book

This can be filed under the most clever creations I've ever seen from my friends at Captured Moments in Rotterdam, NY.  This is a flip book for pictures, made out of two PAPER BAGS!!  Who comes up with something like this?  Tara and Tiffany are so creative.

The crazy thing is...this is so simple to make.  You start by stamping the edges of your paper bags.  Layer two bags on top of each other, facing opposite directions.  Fold them in half.  Punch three holes in the fold and tie them together with ribbon.

You'll want to cut blocks of designed paper for each page of the book.  Another thing I love about Tara and Tiffany is that they are not afraid to use bold patterns and mix them together.  Ink your edges.  You can place photos or notes on these pages.  The girls chose to use titles to inspire a theme for your pictures.

The bottom of your bag with half a fold.  You can use that for something fun and unique...a clever pocket.  If you prefer to cover it, simply glue the fold closed and adhere your patterned paper over the top of the fold.

The tops of the bags offer pockets for pull-out pictures.  Throw a block of patterned paper inside and attach some fiber to the edge to give your book some texture.  This makes the book interactive...some pages flip, others pull out.

Embellish your cover and enjoy.  I think I had more fun with this project than any of the other make-n-takes I've brought home.  Mostly, I was impressed by the originality of the idea.  You can find more work by Tara and Tiffany at www.capturedmomentstore.com

Crazy Accordion Book

This is a puzzling twist on your traditional brag book.  I've been on a kick showing you some of the make-n-takes Crafty Girl and I brought home after our scrapbooking retreats over the years.  I have a box full of them.  I really should fill them and give them away as gifts.  That little task is on a long to-do list, stored in the back of my brain.  First, I need to show you how to make one.  I can't be the only person with a box full of little books taking up room in my crafting area.

Here's what I could make of this handmade treat:  Start with a full piece of paper and envision a sharp-edged spiral.  Ultimately, you'll need 16 squares.  That's four rows across and four rows from top to bottom.  Once you've made your folds, it will be easier to figure out where to cut.

Fold it up in different directions, so the squares come together in a flat book.  You can use a thick card stock as your front and back covers.  Before you adhere the card stock, fold your favorite paper design over the top of it.  You can fold the paper around the edges and cover the center with the front and back pages of your spiral book.

Embellish the cover and hold it all together with a cute ribbon.  Fill it with pictures for a gift.  You can either use 16 different photos or one large photo that fits together like a puzzle when the book is opened.  I recommend starting with a traditional flip book.  But, if you've made a million of those and would like to try something different, this is one idea that was shared with us.  Go for it!!

Tiny Accordion Book

Why do cute lockets, keychains, and picture frames always come in sizes that are impossible to fill?  Because tiny is just cute.  Simple.  How can I find a picture of my cute niece the size of a quarter?  We always find a way to figure it out and the results are sweet when we open our necklace to reveal the teeny face of someone who we can't get enough of.

If a locket isn't big enough to show off your whole family, make your own tiny brag book.  This is another credit to the girls from Captured Moments in Rotterdam, NY.  They taught Crafty Girl and I how to make accordion books.  We've loved making them ever since.  Start with a strip of paper that you  fold in typical "accordion" style.  You'll need two small pieces of chip board to put on each end of your book...the back and front covers.  Cut pretty paper for your front cover and fold the edges around to the inside.  You'll cover the inside with the end of your accordion strip.

Repeat the process for the other end of the book.  But, put a piece of ribbon on the inside of the back cover, before you adhere that end of the accordion strip.  That will wrap around your front cover to keep it closed.  You can either tie the ribbon or attach a tiny metal clasp.  Throw a few cute flowers on the cover or any small embellishment.  Done!!  Giving credit where credit is due...check out more of the Captured Moments creativity on their website, www.capturedmomentsstore.com.  This is shaping up to be sort of a Captured Moments make-n-take tribute month.  Monday we'll show you a twist on this type of book that they came up with.  Plus, I'll bring you one of my favorite CM creations soon...a paper bag book!!  Keep checking in.  Until then, give this to a friend empty and let them fill it OR fill it with pictures of a special occasion.  I like to keep one in my purse to look at when I need a tiny smile.

Book of Love

It is that time of year...Valentine's Day is approaching.  You all know gifts from the heart are the best.  But, time seems to escape us.  I'll admit right away that this idea is time-consuming.  It takes careful thought and consideration.  But, anyone would love to get this.

Write a book of poems.  You aren't a writer?  Who cares. Just write what you feel.  Grab a couple pieces of cardboard...cover them with a fabric or textured paper.  These will be your front and back cover.

Connect them with small hinges at the top, middle, and bottom.  Use brads with cute shapes to hold the hinges on each cover.  Now, you have to connect your pages to the book.  Cut several long sheets of paper to size so they can be folded in the middle.

In the center, connect the pages with strategically placed eyelets.

Two vertical eyelets at the top about an inch apart...same deal in the middle...same at the bottom.  These should correspond with your hinges.

Then feed a thin piece of wire through each section and wrap the wire around the hinge, holding the pages in place.  You can cover the pages inside the book with cute backgrounds.  Then, embellish each page, matching the theme of your poem.