Cut three pieces of watercolor paper  (4 ¾" x 6 ½" or 12cm  x 16,5 cm) and fold in half.  (I often take one large piece of paper and cut it in four pieces.) On the vertical edge, measure out where to cut four notches and make a mark. Use the first fold as a template for the remaining pages. Cut out notches individually.  (See also instructions in Artitude Zine issue Summer 2002.)

Decide on a book theme and choose collage images accordingly. Paint washes on all sides of watercolor paper (see each page section above). Try also regular watercolors, acrylics etc. Let dry or blow dry with a heat gun.

Cover. Painted with burnt umber dye-na-flow and walnut ink. Cut out collage images. Layer Mini Mix collage sheet images on German vintage text and measure to fit behind German Gold Round Frames. Cut out inside of markings and glue behind frames. Stamp on bricks (Green Pepper Press). Cut out 2 Vintage Cigar Strips (3 1/32" x 2 1/16" or 8cm x 5,5cm), cut in half and glue on. Layer Vintage Ledger Page behind German Gold Oval Frame and measure. Cut out slightly smaller and glue behind frame. Cut off bottom piece (¾" or 2cm). Cut Vintage Ledger Page in half and along inside of German Gold Oval Frame to create opening doors. Layer small strips of carpet tape onto doorframe and attach to bottom of page. Glue in collage image. Stamp “welcome” on opened doors. Glue on Vintage Cigar Strips and windows. Select a decorative piece from a cigar label. Cut out and glue on top. Glue  Brass Key Charm on front of left side of closed door. Cut notches into Vintage Cigar Strips where necessary.

Pages 2/3. Painted with burnt umber dye-na-flow, brass Lumiere and walnut ink. Stamp background (Judi Kins) with black ink and swirl (PrintWorks) with crimson ink on both pages. Cut out I Am an Artist collage images and text and glue on. Cut off German Gold Large Renaissance Border. Glue on as frame and trim where necessary.

Pages 4/5. Glue on decorative silk paper. Cut out collage, butterfly and flower images. Glue onto page. Cut off German Gold Small Flower Border. Glue on as frame and trim where necessary. Cut of individual flowers from border and attach to page. Stamp on text. Cut notches into decorative paper where necessary.

Pages 6/7. Painted with walnut ink. Stamp leaf background (Stampin’ Up!) with crimson ink on paper. Tear out pieces of sheet music. Age with copper Brilliance pad. Cut out and attach collage images. Cut off German Gold Lace Border. Glue on as frame and trim where necessary. Attach brass and copper heishis.

Pages 8/9.  Painted with cerulean blue dye-na-flow and walnut ink. Cut out collage and butterfly images. Tear off strips of Vintage Ledger Paper and glue on sides. Stamp on text.

Pages 10/11. Painted with chartreuse dye-na-flow and walnut ink. Cut out collage images. Tear out piece of Vintage Ledger Page and age with walnut ink. Layer under one collage image. Glue on both collage pieces. Cut off German Gold Lace Border. Glue on as frame and trim where necessary. Stamp on text. Attach plastic watch crystal. Glue on Optometrist Lens with Diamond Glaze. Print “true love” on transparency sheet and attach to top of lens with Diamond Glaze.

For Back. Cut out decorative paper. Cut out image from Hold Me transparency sheet. Layer onto decorative paper and punch holes into four corners (1/16"). Attach transparency to page with Aged Copper Mini Brads. Trim edges if necessary. Cut off 2 Vintage Cigar Strips (3 1/32' x 2 1/16" or 8cm x 5,5cm), cut in half and glue on. Cut out typewriter collage key and attach as shown. Cut notches into Vintage Cigar Strips where necessary

Seal all pages with a watered down layer of soft matte gel (I use Golden) and let dry.

Measure and cut down skewers to size.

Assemble and layer your pages. You will need 4 wooden skewers. Next, thread one piece of skewer through the 1st, 3rd and 5th flap. The 2nd and 4th flap are automatically pushed to the back of the skewer. Add in the next signature by threading the skewer through the 1st flap of signature #2 then the 2nd flap of signature #1, 3rd flap of signature #2, 4^th flap of signature #2 and finally flap 5 of section #1.  Once again you will have flaps 2 and 4 pushed backward.  Continue in the same fashion until you have the desired number of signatures.

Stamp Diva rubber stamps on round tag with blue chalk pad. Stamp Fly Over the Moon images on mini tag with red chalk pad.  Print text “Book of Pleasures” on transparency sheet and glue onto  Brass Shipping Tag with Diamond Glaze.

Finishing. Secure your book by threading some yarn. Start on the second skewer and then weave the thread around each skewer, over, and then under the next one and when you get back...repeat threading at least 3 rows. Tie off tightly and thread beads, charms, tags and any other embellishment to the end of the thread.

Secure the threaded binding by adding a drop of glue on both ends.

If desired, finish off the edges by using sand paper or an emery board. Paint top with nail polish, acrylics etc.
 

Please feel free to print these instructions for easy reference. (Use Landscape Layout when printing this page).