Little Tales Mini Book Tutorial

 

Supplies:

- 12 x 12 kraft cardstock

- Nursery Rhyme Cards (Pretty Little Studio)

- Cording, Embroidery Thread (6 strands) or other binding thread

- Acrylic Paint

- Cardstock Alphabet Stickers (Studio Calico)

- Wood Grain Alphabet (American Crafts)

- Embellishments (Sassafras)

- Black Marker, Awl, Double Stick Tape, Paper Cutter, Scissors

Step 1: Cut the cardstock into the following pieces: 1- 4 1/16”x 7 1/16”, 4- 4 1/16” x 3 1/2

Step 2: Use your awl or scoring blade to make the following score lines: for the 4 1/16” x 7 1/16” score directly down the center of the long side to make the cover of the book, and then score 1/2” to each side of the center score line. Score the 4 1/16” x 3 1/2” pieces along the short edge 1/2” from the edge. Fold along the score lines of each of the four pages. These score lines will enable the book pages to turn.

 

Step 3: Assemble the pages between the cover, do you see the score lines faintly shown on the front of the book in the photo below? If the book does not line up properly use the paper cutter to make any adjustments needed.

Step 4: Decorate the front cover however you like and paint the spine with the acrylic paint. I like a messy look for the paint and just used my fingers!

Step 5: Once the paint has dried re-assemble the book. Use your awl to punch 9 evenly spaced holes down the cover of the book about 1/8” from the score line. Don’t let the inner pages shift or the book will not align properly. I found it useful to punch the center hole, then the outer two holes first to help me gauge the alignment, of course you could always use a ruler but it would not be as much fun!

Step 6: I used the Japanese stitch to bind my book with embroidery thread, if you have never done this then check out all the amazing video tutorials available online to help you along.

Step 7: Select your nursery rhymes. The Pretty Little Studio pack comes with five boy cards and five girl cards which are the perfect number for the little books.

Step 8: Assemble the photos that will tell your story. I chose to print in various sizes and used black & white photos to help unify the story book.

Step 9: Use the double stick tape to attach the nursery rhymes and photos and decorate to your hearts content!

Step 10: This last step is the most important, make sure that you take the time to write a lovely little story for the special little person in your life!

Thanks for taking the time to read my tutorial, I would love to see what you are inspired to create!

Milano, Italia: El Duomo!

Two weeks ago I took my first trip to Italia + my first trip as a tour escort in training! Have I mentioned I am training to be a tour escort? I am super-excited travel is one of my favorite things to discuss and I will soon have busloads of people to talk “at” now (just kidding lol).

On the rooftop of the El Duomo.

Highlights of my Milan trip:

- Meeting a great group of ladies to spend the day with.

- Having an Italian waiter “shush” us because we were too loud.

- Listening to a street musician playing themes from the Godfather.

- Spinning on the bulls… ahem… man parts for good luck (hey it’s in all the guidebooks!).

- Drinking wine, lemoncello and caipirinhas (which was super strong).

- The El Duomo!

If you get the chance to go to Milan you have to visit the El Duomo. According to my sources (super-secret cannot be shared, just kidding google it!) this Milan cathedral is the 4th largest cathedral in the world. You are probably thinking okay, big cathedral maybe I will check it out if I make it to Milan…this is where I say… they let you climb the roof! Now you may be thinking like I was before visiting the cathedral that there are lot’s of big buildings and churches with tiny staircases that let you climb and climb and climb to take pictures of the city skyline, but this cathedral let you walk the entire roof (except for portions under construction of course).

You are right next to the gothic architecture, the gargoyles and can walk across the stone shingles. The experience was so surreal I had to stop in awe and simply stare up, down to the right and to the left. Everywhere I looked were details so unique and intricate it would take hours to see even a portion of the detail and artistry. 


I and a brand new girlfriend (we met on the trip, our husbands had both skipped out!) spent close to an hour exploring and I still do not feel like I saw everything. I cannot wait to go back, maybe bring a picnic lunch this time or simply recline against the stone shingle peak and rest and reflect in the sunshine. This was such an appreciated experience. If you would like to visit I would highly recommend this spot, they even have an elevator if your tired tourist feet do not feel like climbing the stairs.

More Milan Pictures to Come this Week!

Little Tales Mini Book For Max

My little nephew Max is growing so big! During our visit to the States a few weeks ago I learned first hand how much he loves to be read too, and how he loves to hold his little board books. I was able to see how before a page is read he recognizes the picture, associates what it means and begins to laugh. I love how at six months has has already discovered what his five aunts and mommy already know… that books are important.

To record my thoughts I wanted to give little Max his own little book about…well books.

Journaling: This book belongs to Max D., Nursery Rhyme: Little Boy Blue

Journaling: Books Can: make you Laugh…, Nursery Rhyme: Simple Simon

Journaling: help you to Sleep…, Nursery Rhyme: Baa Baa Black Sheep

Journaling: and fill you with wonder…, Nursery Rhyme: Jack Be Nimble

The last page has my personal note to baby Max, about how happy I am that he is learning to love books and that it will hopefully be something he can share with not only his mommy and aunts but his entire family. I let him know how much I love him, how I cannot wait to see him grow even bigger and of course how is Aunt Kate will always love him. I am so excited to send this little book to the States so that my sister can read baby Max his nursery rhymes and the little story just about him.

I am currently drafting up the tutorial to be posted later this week and of course if you would like the cute little nursery cards then head on over to visit the Pretty Little Studio!

An Anniversary + Party (of course)

I am having a hard time believing that Mr. C. and I have been married for 4 years today…it seems only yesterday I was writing my wedding vows and my littlest sister was saying I should just let him know that, he was my Prince Charming, and I loved him. In the thoughts of a 9 year old, what else needed to be said?

Photo Credit { Vince Verna Photography }

Here we are 4 years later and I could never have imagined how much fun and blessings we would have in our first years of marriage. I know that they say after the 3rd year of marriage you are no longer a newlywed but I cannot imagine this newlywed feeling ever going away. Of course we have the rough days and sometimes rough week but Mr. C. always seems to know what to say and how to say it, sometimes without words, to make me feel like a girl still in the midst of falling in love with the best man ever.

In closing, tonight we party…more details to come on the big party event soon!

Prague, Our City of Love

I. Love. Prague.

Mr. C. and I first visited this city in 2009 and after our visit last Monday have once again agreed that it is one of our favorite cities in the world. I love the way the streets wind, the wide open spaces, the multiple bridges and the way the cityscape is not broken up by one ugly concrete block building but is instead romantic rooftop after romantic roof top.


When visiting make sure you take time to walk the Karlovy (Charles) Bridge and visit Wenceslas Square. If you don’t know much of the history in the Czech Republic over the last 70 years I would recommend a visit to the small, campy but informative communist museum. I would also make sure to visit the Old Town Square and peek into the various churches. The main train station in New Town, while old is also worth a view for the fantastic, crumbling architecture as well as the hidden Wallenstein Garden on the senate grounds near the castle.


Mr. C. and I saw so many things that were unchanged since our last visit, but were amazed at how much had changed via the drive of the city residents to improve their surroundings. If you live in Europe, or are taking a trip to Europe make sure you plan a day or two in this wonderful, relaxing city.

(What a pretty picture, except for the part of my dress that should not be showing *sigh* lol).