Mini Books

I have been making mini books as accessories for my dolls, specifically my latest, The Scholar.  I received many inquiries on how to make the book so I have put together a short tutorial.  These books are of various sizes.  The covers are fabric scraps, the pages cut from one sheet of 9" x 12" construction paper.  I further enhanced the books the Scholar is holding with labels, stamps, and stickers. 

 Here is the brief tutorial:

Create the signatures:  This book measures approximately 1 3/4" x 2 1/8" finished.  I cut a sheet of 9" x 12" construction paper into 18  3" x 2" Pieces.  Fold each piece in half as shown to form 2" x 1 1/2" pages.  

Stack the signatures matching the folds.

Clamp all the signatures together and spread glue over the folds.  Set aside to dry.

NOTE:  The pics of the covers shown below are for a different size book.  The pages for this green book were cut 3" x 2 1/2".  Measurements for the covers are 1 5/8" x 2 5/8".  The spine is 1/2" x 2 5/8". The cover chipboard for the purple book was cut 1 5/8" x 2 1/8", spine 1/2" x 2 1/8".  The chipboard for the covers is abut 1/8" larger than the folded signature.

Arrange the chipboard pieces as shown on a piece of fabric of your choice preferably a cotton quilt type fabric..     The spaces between the covers and the spine should be 2 chipboard widths thick-about 1/8".  Glue them to the fabric.  You can also use fusible web.

Clip the corners as shown and apply glue to the fabric at the corners.  Fold the corners over the chipboard.

Glue the fabric to the chipboard as shown.  This is the inside of the book.

Outside of the book. 

Add more glue to the spine of the book block.

Center the book block on the spine and hold in place until it is stable then stand up the book and allow the glue to dry.

Cut a piece of end paper the width of the pages and long enough to go from the cover edge to the end of the first page.  For the end papers I used printed typing paper I created from scanning Gelli Plate prints.  I also used thin mulberry paper.  Use a thin paper to avoid bulk so you will not have a problem closing the book.  Apply glue to the inside cover and the first page.  Carefully set the end paper over the cover leaving a small reveal around the top, bottom and outer edge.  Smooth it into the spine and then onto the page.matching the side edges.  Trim any excess end paper.

Repeat for other cover.

Finished book!

The orange book and the black with stars book are the same size.- 1 3/4" x 2 1/4" finished.  The remaining two are also the same size 2 1/2" x 1 3/4" though the green is slightly longer.  I designed the books around the size of the pages I could get from a single sheet of construction paper with the least amount of waste.  They are perfect for doll accessories!