Love To Stitch Mini Book Tutorial – Part 1

Welcome to part one of my Love To Stitch Mini Book Tutorial series.

I’ve got a mini-book for Creative Expressions to share with you and as I’m working with the Umount Vintage Sewing A5 Stamp Plate I thought I might go for a sewing theme – it seemed logical!

And, well, sewing does hold a special place in my heart.

My mum is a stitcher, both her mum and dad were stitchers, it is just in my blood.

I’m altering this mini book over the next few weeks and sharing the steps of this stitching-dedicated journal with you guys. 

What You Will Need:

Eco-Green Crafts Board Book 4″ x4″

Umount Vintage Sewing A5 Stamp Plate

Eco Green Acrylic Paints – Sand, Tide Pool

Ranger Archival Ink Pad – Olive, Jet Black

Acetate

Baker’s Twine – Red

Large Polka Mask – can use the That Special Touch Mask

Gesso

StazOn ink pad – Blazing Red, Jet Black

Old book pages

Scallop border die

Tools – Sponge, brushes

Golden Soft gel

Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Glue

Marker pen for writing on acetate

Before I start I thought I would give you a closer look at the Eco-Green Crafts Board Book:

The book is made up of six pages, so that is 12 surfaces to alter plus the spine. Each page is made of layers of paper to a thickness of 3 mm.

So the 4″ by 4″ book is around 3.5 cm thick and stands freely, which makes it nice and easy to photograph! (Yes, that is a jar of Marmite in the background, I’m working in the kitchen again).

Step One – Preparing the surface


I started by glueing torn pieces of old book pages over the spine and part of the back and front of the cover.  I also covered a strip of spare card too. Then let the glue dry completely.

Step Two – Some Gesso Texture

I then applied a layer of gesso to the cover, spine and sides of the book, only a light covering to blend the book page collage into the surface. Then once this layer was dry I added a thick layer of gesso through the large Polka Dot mask and let it dry completely, you can also use texture paste if you like.

Step Three – Adding Colour

Next stage is to add a bit of colour, I added a layer of the Sand Eco-Green Crafts acrylic paint with a piece of kitchen sponge and let it dry before adding the Tide Pool paint to the outer edges. I also covered the strip of card too.

Step Four – Adding Depth

Once all the paint is dry I then brushed the Ranger Archival Olive ink pad over the edges and the gesso texture of the mini book and the strip of card too.

Step Five – And Now The Stamping Part

First up, I stamped the row of dressmaker dummies with the lettering background on acetate with StazOn and cut it out to stick as the background on the front cover. I then cut a piece of white card with a scallop edge die and layered it with the old book page strip, wrapped with Baker’s twine, and stuck them to the front.

I stamped the sewing machine, buttons and sentiment, cut them out and stuck them to the front cover then finished with a touch of stitching stamped over the acetate background with StazOn and finished with a marker pen that writes on acetate.

Thanks for popping by and see you next time for Part Two!

Kim

Related Articles:

Love To Stitch Mini Book Tutorial – Part 2


Kim Dellow

Kim Dellow is an artist–designer–film-maker living the creative life in London, UK. She's a freelance creative for the craft industry and others, and she loves to share her art-ventures on her blog.

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Miss Marple

    Hi Kim! Congratiulations!!! You have won my give away! – Irma

  2. Gorgeous Kim, love how you covered the book with text paper and added texture and stamping into acetate. Wonderful layers. Cannot wait to see more. Love your step by steps, so professional . Tracy x

  3. PetraB

    This is lovely, fab use of the stamps.

  4. froebelsternchen Susi

    great step by step Kim and a fantastic look – special the bookpaper makes it so beautiful!

  5. Netty

    Gosh that is a substantial book Kim and thank you for the step by step, Annette x

  6. misteejay

    Super project – love all the texture and interest. Can't wait to see part 2.

    Toni xx

  7. Irene

    This is so much fun, what a lovely project Kim and fab tutorial.
    I look forward to part 2!!!!

    xx Irene

  8. Traceyr

    oo this is looking good Kim. 🙂

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