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!