I recently learned a new book binding technique, and it’s so easy and fun that I’ve been going crazy making books! You start with a 12 x 12 piece of cardstock (I used Close to My Heart’s For Always Paper), trim it and score it for the spine.
Take a look:
I haven’t decided what to do with the book … give it away? Use it as a journal? So I left the label (cut using Spellbinders’ die label 8) blank.
Here are closer looks at the spine:
And some of the inside pages:
(The details: Paper, embellishments from Close To My Heart. I used three small Zots dots to adhere the metal piece, which is from the Mini Medley Accents set, as is the paper clip on the inside. The rose is from the Love Blooms set C1511 embossed in Stampendous! PEARLustre Moonstone.)
After finishing the book, I had a few scraps leftover — just enough for a card and a tag, which I’ll post tomorrow.
Thanks for coming by!
Filed under: books, die cuts, heat embossing, Not a card, Techniques | Tagged: book binding, books, Close To My Heart, die cuts |
Roberta is a writer by trade, a crafter by accident. She was a contributing writer with The Rubber Stamper Magazine since its inception and now holds the same position at Crafts 'n Things. Read more about her in the About Me column. 
Creative (Un)block 
I’ve been wanting to learn something like this. Thanks for posting. Great technique.
It was a lot easier than I thought! Thanks for stopping by, Alice! I loved your most recent card with the flowers.
I would love to know the size of the book and how you did the binding. Any chance of you sharing that info?
Hi Fran, Thanks for stopping by. I have given the book away, but I will find out the measurements and what the stitch is called. I made the book in a class that was given at the Paper Source, a while ago, but I will try to find similar instructions online. It may take me a while, but I’ll do my best!
Hi Fran,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you about the book I made. I made it at a workshop at the Paper Source, where we were shown this particular stitch. Here are some basics that I remember:
The stitch is called a variation of a long stitch — there are many ways to do this, as I found when doing a Google search!
To create the cover, we cut down a 12×12 double sided scrapbook paper so it measured 8.5″ x 11.5″.
The “spine” is about 3/4″. Windows were cut about 1″ from either end. The windows are about 1 1/2″ long.
The inside pages are 8 1/2 x 11″ copy paper folded in half and put together in bundles of three.
If you Google “bookbinding long stitch” you will find some good tutorials.
Hope that helps a little!
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck in your bookbinding!
Thank you so much for this info. And, thank you for taking time to search for the details. It has been a while since I’ve made a bound book, and look forward to making another. I’ll google, as you suggested, right away. Can’t wait to get started.
Sincerely,
Fran
My pleasure, Fran. Good luck with your bookmaking! It’s such fun!