Tag Archives: scrap chipboard

Tiny Art Journal With Cover

Art, Paper Crafts, Tutorials, Upcycling, , , , , , , , , ,

Tools and Materials

Mini book envelope template
Paper cutter
Stapler
Scissors
Glue stick
Card stock
Scrap chipboard
Marker
Pen
Pencil
Assorted text weight paper
Craft knife
Cutting mat
Metal ruler
Needle and thread
Buttons
Twine
Needle tool or awl for poking holes for sewing (optional)
Circular hole punch (optional)

Instructions

Download and print out the mini book envelope template. Roughly cut it out and glue it to card stock with a glue stick. Cut it out along the edges. Now it’s durable for repeated use.

Glue the printed out template onto scrap cardstock for durability, then trim.

Get an assortment of text weight paper, like typing or copy paper, and cut it into 4 inch by 2 inch pieces.

Fold three or four of these 4 x 2 inch pieces in half.

Cut some assorted card stock also into 4 x 2 inch pieces. Fold one in half for a cover for each book you want to make, over the folded text weight pieces.

Staple each book at the spine.

If needed to make the pages and cover even, trim the fore edge of each book with a utility knife and ruler, or a paper cutter.

Now you can doodle, color and collage on the tiny book pages whenever you have a little time. You can freehand draw or use a stencil to help you get started.

I made a stencil out of some scrap chipboard of some of my favorite doodle shapes to trace and help jump start some doodle pages.
Doodling and collaging using my stencil shapes as a starting point.

To make an envelope for your book, trace the mini book envelope template onto the reverse side of some card stock.

Fold the envelope at the dotted line, then sew buttons on the flaps. If you want, you can cut some circles out of cardstock with a punch to set off the buttons. Tie a piece of twine to one of the buttons to make the envelope closure. You’re done!

Sew buttons to the top and bottom flaps so you can wind twine around them for a closure when the envelope is closed.
Tie twine to one of the buttons to make a wind around closure.

Here is a link to a similar project I made several years ago, this time with mini accordion books:

Finishing Touches For a Mini Accordion Books

Paper Crafting Fun With Tag Art

Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Tutorials, Upcycling, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Make your own decorated paper tags for a variety of craft projects! This is a good project for using up a lot of paper scraps.

Tools and Materials

Tag Art Template (scroll up and alt-click to download or get PDF – PDF Tag Art Template)
Ball point pen
Medium weight black marker
Black rubber stamping ink
Rubber stamps with sentiments
Light colored, light weight paper
Assorted paper scraps in a selected color scheme – I used neutrals in this demo
Clean scrap paper
Ruler
Bone folder or squeegee
Scissors
Glue sticks
Hole punch
String, twine, or embroidery floss

Instructions:

  1. Download my .jpeg graphic Tag Art Template above. If you prefer a PDF file here is a link – PDF Tag Art Template. Print it out onto cardstock if you can, or print it on regular paper and glue it to cardstock for stiffness and durability. Cut around the tags and punch the holes. Now you have a set of tag templates ready to use.
Here is a selection of tag templates I made for myself out of various scrap card stock and chipboard. Besides my pattern, other good sources of potential tag shapes are cookie cutters, commercial stencils, and tags from gifts you get than you can trace. There are also clear and colored plastic tags for sale where craft supplies are sold. Those could be traced and also used as the covers for tag books.

2. Trace the tag shapes onto assorted cardstock pieces. If you have scraps this is a good way to use some up. Cut out the tags close to the lines you drew, but a little outside. That will help you cut a clean edge later.

3. Pick out some light-colored paper that complements your chosen color scheme. Use a ruler as a straight edge to tear the paper into strips. Stamp greetings and sentiments onto the paper pieces with black stamping ink.

I stamped neutral pastel color strips of paper with assorted sentiments in black rubber stamping ink. Most of the stamps you see here are from my unmounted stamp set Assorted Greetings and Sentiments. You could use any sentiment stamps that you have around or tear words out of found papers or old cards.

4. Place the tags on your work surface with the outlined sides down on clean scrap paper. Glue a sentiment on the front of each tag. Fill in the rest of the tag with paper scraps. Tear them into narrow strips with the ruler if you need to.

Adding stamped sentiments and strips of decorative paper scraps to my cut out tags.

5. Trim the tags following the pen line on the back and punch out the holes.

6. Outline the tags with a black sharpie marker

What they call a Sharpie Fine Point I think of as a medium point marker because they make much finer ones. Any black marker will do if it gives you the kind of line you want around the edge. If you like, experiment on scrap cardstock or chipboard before you outline a finished tag.

7. Select two or three strands of string, twine or embroidery floss and thread through the holes with a lark’s head knot.

Once you have made the tags, what can you do with them?

  • Put one on the front of a greeting card.
  • Decorate a gift package.
  • Use as a bookmark.
  • Make a tag book.
  • Enhance a shadow box.
  • Incorporate into scrapbook or journal pages.
  • Make a decorative seasonal garland.
  • Make motivational notes for yourself.
  • Create decorative door hangers.
  • Label bottles or jars.

What else can you think of? Have fun with your tag art!