Thursday 22 August 2013

Through the looking glass?

Hello everyone and a big thank you for all the lovely comments you've been leaving lately.  I was really pleased to hear that some followers are having a go at folding books and I wanted to share my latest creation with you.  This one uses an easier fold which gives a bit more room to add the stamped elements and with this one, I didn't even need to fold the whole book!  Here's the finished book looking down on it to show you the folds and the 3D effect.



I'll show you some more pictures of the book shortly but first of all here are the folds.  If you're new to book folding and want to try it, get a hardback book that's all text (pictures don't work so well), choose one where you like the colour of the pages as well as the size of the print and a reasonable number of pages to keep it sturdy - this one was numbered up to 500 which meant 250 pages to play with.  Opening the book at the centre, fold one page in towards the spine, then the next page gets folded up from the bottom as shown.




Then the same page gets folded down from the top like so:


Thats it!  Just keep making these folds on alternate pages until you get as far as you want to go through the book then turn it round and do the other side the same.  Press all your folds down so you get nice sharp creases and keep that point in the same place all the time - just keep closing the book every now and then to make sure you're keeping on track with the pattern.

Once I'd folded quite a few and was pleased with the 3D pattern in the middle, I decided to cut two niches in the remaining pages on the right hand side.  I did that using two large punches, one square and one round, cutting a few pages at a time and lining the punch up with the top and bottom lines of text on the pages - take your time doing this as its a bit tricky to keep the edges in line.  Once I'd done that, I glued those pages together with glue stick to make them nice and solid, then put the frames around the niches.  I could then fasten my little "Eat me" and "Drink me" bottles inside.




Then the fun bit started with all the images being added to the folds.  This time, as well as the tabs on the sides of the figures, I used a couple of Tim Holtz memo pins which worked really well.

I really  liked the White Rabbit stamp here and just wish I was a bit braver to stamp directly onto the pages - perhaps next time!!


Here's a final pic of my book - hope you like it.  The next one will be a Christmas theme - I'm really fancying doing A Christmas Carol........




Hope you are looking forward to the Bank Holiday this weekend, looks like the weather is going to be good for a nice finale to the summer.  Margie x

11 comments:

  1. Hi Margie, this is a stunning creation, made all the more special I think, by your cutting out those niches and adding those wonderful little bottles. You are so clever with your decorating, everything is so perfectly placed to add interest. Just fabulous! Hugs, Anne x

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  2. Margie you are the queen of folding books. Another stunner and what a clever idea with the cut out niches. Those embellies compliment the whole ensemble perfectly.

    Crafty hugs from Shirl x x x

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  3. Hello Margie - this is spectacular and love your niches for the bottles - inspired! Was interested to see you've folded your pages slightly differently to the tutorial for this folded book. I think it makes more sense as you get a neater (and stronger) point. I actually sat and made one of these last night......am thinking they might be a tad obsessive! lol

    Karen x

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  4. Oh my goodness, Margie!! This is so beautiful! I love altered books and your folding and embellishments are fabulous!! I love the niches you made and everything about this book. Absolutely fabulous!!

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  5. Margie
    I really wish to create such a piece myself, you have inspired me and so many others - it looks such fun and even the folding would be so therapeutic of an evening!
    I am making a promise to myself that if I cannot manage between now and the end of this year (I haven't even made a decent start on Christmas!) then I will set aside time in early 2014.
    Adore this so much.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  6. Wow, Margie - I think I love this one even more than the first... I'm always a sucker for an Alice image, of course (as long as it's Tenniel, and not Disney), and the embedded vial is such a brilliant touch. Amazing creation!
    Alison x

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  7. WOW! This is wonderful. I love Alice in Wonderland. I am in awe!
    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comment.

    Dianne.

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  8. WOW! This is wonderful. I love Alice in Wonderland. I am in awe!
    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comment.

    Dianne.

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  9. Totally gorgeous Margie. I'm in awe of your folded books! A totally new technique to me and I am really intrigued by it. I might just try it! Sarah xx

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  10. Hello from Tucson, Arizona. I love your book. Wow! Did you glue your niche pages together? What did you do with the extra pages on the left?

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  11. Your book is so stunning, an absolute treasure Maggie :-) I read the whole post, and learned a lot about something I never before even considered doing... might have to try this one day :-D

    Love&Light
    Gunnvor Karita :-)

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