Small Books and Big Dreams
Books. Small books in particular bring me a great deal of joy. I absolutely love small books. These small treasures get me so excited and when I go to used book stores, I seek them out. It really doesn’t matter the topic. I check out how these books are bound and the type of paper the printer may have used. I flip through to see any unique images or fun graphics which has helped me create a small collection of tiny reads on prayers, gardening, spiritual teachings, old wives tales and bee lessons.
A collection of small books I have gathered over the years.
Other small books in my collection.
But it is even more exciting when I finish a small book myself. When I fill the pages with my marks and color, cut outs and small seeds of ideas. There is nothing like it! Just recently I finished a small visual journal and I wanted to share it with you.
Sketchbooks are another collection of books I find myself enjoying quite frequently. The visual journal I just finished was a sketchbook I purchased. But I also create my own books and small sketchbooks when I can to keep myself inspired and excited to open and mark in.
Did you know you can make your own book quite easily? It really doesn’t take all those book binding supplies, waxed linen and tutorial videos. Although, those kinds of books are exciting to create and are lovely to hold, that does not have to be the only option. All you need is some paper and a stapler.
But you may struggle with getting the center of the book to the correct alignment of the staples. Then a longer stapler is what you are looking for! I recently discovered this special kind of stapler that takes regular staples. This one product alone has given me the freedom I was looking for to make quick books and bind them the easiest way.
Book making is not a struggle with this longer stapler! Click here to see the amazon link for this stapler.
I have also shared this stapler with a student who was interested in making their own books.
One thing I see for myself over and over again is that art making does not always have to be super complicated and overly expensive.
I have tons of old papers I have drawn, written, scribbled, painted, or just generally marked on. Or parts of papers I used and have the other half waiting to be used, as well.
It is these papers that make fun little books for even more drawing, writing, painting and scribbling.
Here are some photos of a variety of different books I have recently made.
How to create a quick small book for yourself:
Gather 5 - 7 pieces of thin paper of your choice. Ideas for this paper could include: copy paper, index cards, newspaper, lined paper, graph paper or thin scrap booking paper.
Decide which piece of paper will be your outside cover.
The outside cover paper should be about a 1/8th - 1/4th of an inch larger than the inside papers.
Don’t worry if you forget this part, you can always trim the inside papers after the book has been made.
Cut the paper to your desired size book.
Fold the inside papers in half making the crease as sharp as possible. Using a bone folder may assist in this part, but certainly not necessary. Using your nails against the table can also work.
Fold the cover paper and crease also.
Place both the cover and the inside papers together and open to the center page. Now you are ready to align and staple.
If the papers move easily clip them together using a binder clip or paperclip. Next, align the center crease of the book to the stapler and staple. Depending on the size of the book, you can staple 1-3 times. One in the center and a staple on each side of center staple, if necessary.
Check the book after it is stapled and see if papers are peaking out. If so, trim with an x-acto knife or scissors.
All finished - enjoy your book!
Now you can add to your book anything you wish!
Ideas for your book:
Journaling (brain dumping can be a wonderful exercise to keep you attuned and creatively free)
Recipes from magazines you want to keep
Your own one of a kind address book
Pattern book - a place to hold any patterns you love from magazines
Quote book - a place to store your most favorite quotes
Small drawings - a place to keep your artwork sketches and ideas
Poetry - a place where you write your own poems
Color wheel journaling - a place where you work through the full spectrum of color in either colored pencils, crayons or magazine clippings.
Seed packets - a place where you keep the notes and details of the seeds you plant this spring.
Suns in the clouds and bookmarks to color:
The end of March came so quickly…but I was determined to get a post completed for this month. It’s important to me to write, draw and create content on this platform each month. Taking it one step at a time, with all the technical issues and lack of inspiration that may come my way. No excuses will work to excuse me from myself.
I will push through, I will create and share and let the rest fall where they may.
So, I shall reflect on lessons learned here and prepare for next month’s post. I am a work in progress.
In the meantime, I will celebrate small books and keep on doodling and drawing and making my own creative way.
Stay creative out there,
Hannah