For all you flush mount album makers, I just updated the album jig tutorial to reflect some recent changes in the design. Such as a bigger base and deeper sides. You can download a copy from the guides page.

A little gift. Enjoy!

What you’ll need:

2 pieces chip board, illustration board or Davey binders board
2 pieces fabric or paper for covers
Ribbon
Heavyweight watercolor or printmakers paper (90-140lb) I like Stonehenge paper. It comes in several colors
Scrap paper for gluing on
PVA
Brush for gluing
Ruler
Craft knife
Scissors
Triangle

(read more…)

Good morning readers. 

It’s sunny and chilly again here in Va. Beach. I’m not ready for the heat so chilly is good. It def. makes for better sleeping weather.

When I get some time I am planning on going back through all the old posts and culling out all the various useful links I have presented and putting them on their own page in an easily searchable table.

A site of note this morning… Hugh Sparks has written a really nice little beginner tutorial on printing and binding your own small book. From the site: I like to make small hardbound books I can carry around so I’m always ready to entertain myself when I get stuck in meetings or family holidays. The following photo essay is only an overview of the process. I am by no means a teacher of bookbinding. This record exists mainly so I can remember how to do it next time

Hugh’s fun sense of humor and chatty writing style make the tutorial an entertaining read. His tutorial walks the reader through how to print, trim and coallate the text for your book as well as all the steps for binding. Of course blank pages could be substituted for the printed pages.

What I like about this tutorial is that there are lots of photos to go along with the descriptions and that he shows you how to use everyday items to get the job done without the need to buy any expensive equipment. He also shows a neat little trimming trick for your book block by improvising a plough out of a woodworking clamp and a sharpened chisel for the cutter.

Each step is written clearly which makes this an easy tutorial to follow.

I give this tutorial .

I hope everyone has a great day.

As promised I have a new tutorial for you today.

The tutorial is for a simple sewing cradle made out of craft plywood that you can purchase at most craft and hobby stores. I made this in less than 2 hours which included cutting the pieces and waiting for the glue to set. The cost of materials was approx. $9.00 with tax.

You can download the tutorial here. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file.

Enjoy!

Ps…There’s still time to sign up for this weeks prize drawing on Friday.