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how to: sticker book

Remember the fantastic sticker book that my friend, Carey, made for Otis? Well, she’s been kind enough to work out some of the kinks, and together we worked on a tutorial for the new and improved sticker book (so SO much fun to craft together). It’s a really great present (Otis adored his) and as an added bonus, it’s actually a pretty easy project. Put your hands together for Carey!

materials:
cover stock for the cover of the sticker book, cut to 7.5″ x 12″
contrasting cover stock for the pocket
plain white paper, cut to 6.5″ x 11″
waxed paper
fabric to use as a press cloth (I used some extra flannel I had sitting around)
binder clip (optional)
ruler
x-acto knife
awl
bookbinder’s thread (although really thick, durable sewing thread might also work)
needle with a long, flat eye (like a tapestry or chenille needle)

to finish:
stamps
stickers

directions:
(I give you directions for a 7.5″h x 6″w book, but it’s pretty easy to adjust the measurements if you want to make changes – just cut the white paper 1″ shorter in width and length than the cover stock.)

1. Sew pocket onto cover, using long stitches when you sew. (This prevents weakening the paper by punching too many holes) Use an old needle for this job, because sharp needles are not required and the paper dulls them very quickly.

2. Layer your white paper between two sheets of wax paper. It doesn’t matter what size the wax paper is now because you’ll trim them later. Iron the pages on medium heat between press cloths. Ironing from the center towards the edges will help you get rid of bubbles that may form. I found that ironing both sides of the paper helped me get the smoothest results.

You may choose the number of pages that you’d like for your book. I used 4 sheets of paper to make an 8-page book.

3. Match up the corners of the white paper inside the sticker pages and fold them in half.

4. Stack the pages inside of each other, matching up the edges and keeping the pages as close to each other as possible. You may use binder clips to help hold them tightly together at the spine.

5. Trim all the pages at the same time so that they are straight and even. Make sure to leave at least 1/4″ of wax paper – it’s what’s holding the pages together.

6. Unfold your pages and lay them flat, making sure they stay lined up. Use an awl to punch 4 holes at the following measurements: 1″ from bottom of wax paper; 2 5/8″ from bottom; 1″ from top of wax paper; 2 5/8″ from top .

7. Fold your cover in half. I find it easier and more precise to use my awl to score the cover before folding.

8. Use the holes from your sticker pages as a guide for making holes in the spine of your cover, making sure that everything is centered.

9. Sew the cover and inside pages together, using the diagram below as a guide for how to sew. Make sure your stitches are taut, but not too tight.

The diagram above was taken from this book. His whole series on non-adhesive binding techniques is amazing.

10. When you finish sewing, tie a square knot and snip the thread, leaving an inch or so of thread so it doesn’t come unraveled.

11. Stamp the name of the gift recipient on the cover and insert some stickers.

12. Give your sticker book to some lucky kid and bask in the glow of all the accolades you will receive for your genius.

 

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Birthdays have not felt all that significant in recent years, and this one felt no different. I just turned 36, and this did not feel notable, either. But I just received an email from a dear friend, whom I’ve known since freshman year of college, and she pointed out that we met when we were 18. So I have known her for half of my life. Now I feel old. Really old. I’ll probably feel like some kind of grand gesture will be necessary soon. Maybe a drastic haircut? A cheesy tattoo?

 

226 + 227

Would it surprise you to hear that F’s out of town and my sewing machine’s busted?

 

a birthday present for a dear friend

7" x 15"

 

224

This collage surely does not depict the mood around our household, as we are preparing for my mother’s departure tomorrow. She’s been here since before Thanksgiving, and we are all, as usual, finding it hard to say goodbye. My mother usually starts feeling sad a week or two before her flight, sneaking in a cry here and there. Otis has also been feeling anxious, asking every morning and night whether Lao Lao will still be here after his “night sleep.” We have been trying to place her departure in the context of other happenings in his life. “After one night sleep, it’s a school day; after two night sleeps, Lao Lao leaves; after four night sleeps, Baba comes home (he’s away on business); after five night sleeps, Wu Yi Lao Lao comes back from Taiwan…” Hopefully this has been somewhat reassuring to him. I hate goodbyes.  They are such torture.

 

223

Thanks, by the way, for the comments on the selling of stuff. I have the feeling that I didn’t make myself entirely clear — what’s holding me back is not primarily the reluctance to start my own business, or even the production side of things, though those are not small issues. I think that the thing I struggle with lately, especially with Christmas just come and gone, is the excess of stuff. I’m striving to live with less, and believe that it’s generally a better way to live, and I’d like to reconcile these feelings with the desire to make stuff to sell.

I’m curious to know if you folks out there cut back this holiday season and why. I’ve never been a huge Christmas gift giver, which is the reason why I’ve always made candy (uh, until this year). And I really try to encourage family not to buy too many gifts. But as usual, we ended up with a mantle full of gifts, and I was as guilty as anyone in buying too many presents for loved ones (except for Fifth Aunt Grandma K, who takes the cake in this category, but only because she loves us too much). I tell myself that I should just let loose a little, it’s OK if Christmas is every bit the free-for-all that Halloween is, since that’s part of the fun of being a kid. Unfortunately, Otis didn’t get to eat all of his Halloween candy, either, but I SWEAR he forgot about it. I found myself saying rather crossly several times, “Christmas is NOT about presents! It is about spending time with the people you love!!!” How do you guys handle the holiday shopping season?

 

222

Do your kids have highly selective memories or is it just mine? His short term memory is so bad it’s almost a pathology. Talking about his day, as we do each night before he goes to sleep, can be excruciating. Otis can’t even remember what he ate 5 minutes ago, and eating is one of the great pleasures of his life! However, his long-term memory is amazing. He can remember minute details about the most important day of his life: the day he went to see Walking With The Dinosaurs. Just yesterday, he was talking with F about the dinosaurs, and he actually remembered a billboard that he saw before they parked the car. We just found out that it’s coming back to town, so it looks like we’ve found the perfect Christmas present. If your kid is a dinosaur fan, I’d highly recommend it. A bit pricey, but totally and completely memorable.

 

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220

Bee rolled over today for the first time.  I didn’t witness it, but when I went to get her after her nap, she was smiling as always, but on her back.