Large Journal - Book Box Mash Up

 

When your mind seems to always be thinking of ... hmm, what can I do to make this just a bit different!  What I love about Eileen's dies are the way they can be really versatile with a little rethinking.  The scoreboard dies especially lend themselves to many ideas because they can cut so many different types of materials. 

To make this stationary box, I combined the large full size journal with the components of the book box. It wasn't enough to just make it from mat board, it seems an idea struck to give it a "faux" wood look, but maybe see if a form of "real" wood could be used.  Then inspiration struck again ... why not combine a small amount of woodburning onto the wood veneer. 

****My inspiration for this box came from a project I created many years ago that I will share at the end of this post.****

Inside box finished with decorative paper and a fabric bottom.

• The process for combining each of the dies to create this type of box is not difficult but takes a little manipulation to  create two longer sides with the original box pieces. 
• By using the black mat board to construct the large journal and side strips for the box make a good foundation to work from. 
• Cut the full size large journal from black mat board, the front and back covers.
• Cut two of the longer sides pieces from the book box die (the piece that measures 6 1/4" long) from black mat board.
• Cut four of the shorter side pieces (the piece that measures 5" long) from black mat board.
• Two of the short side pieces will need to be connected to each other to form one long side of the box portion. 
• The same process will need to be repeated for the other longer side before connecting them to the other side pieces.  NOTE: These two connected sides should measure about 8 1/4".
• Lay the two pieces together, mark them to the 8 1/4" measurement and cut away the unneeded section.  
• Join them with masking tape on both sides of the mat board to hold together. If desired a little glue could be added between the cut before taping together.  
• These two longer sides may a little unsteady.  To help stabalize the box, cut a bottom from mat board to approximately 8 1/8" x 5 7/8".
• I covered this base with a piece of batting  (cut to exact size) and then black fabric. The fabric covered bottom is then glued into the box frame. 
• If desired, glue a cord of choice around the inside edge. 

• Decorative paper covers the inner covers, spine and inner box sides. 
• Cut two outside cover panels, a spine and side pieces from the thin wood veneer. Cut the covers and spine with the large journal die and Big Shot. 
• Cut sides with a metal ruler and X-acto knife on a cutting mat.  NOTE: Cut two 8 1/4" x 1 1/8"; cut two 6" x 1 1/8". 

• Stamp the images lightly onto the wood covers. 
• With wood burning tool, trace over stamped design. 
• Lightly mark dashes with a ruler and pencil on side pieces and around designs on the top and bottom. Wood burn the dashes. 
• Adhere the  covers, spine and side pieces of wood to the mat board. I used a combination of double-sided adhesive and glue (Beacon 3-in-1).  
• Place a heavy book on top and set aside to dry well.
• Lightly shaded all the edges with ink. Allow to dry.
• The finished stationary box can be coated with a clear matte varnish.
• Add a closure of choice if desired.

Bottom view of box with woodburned design

This wooden lap desk was the inspiration for the project above. This  lap desk was made about 20 years ago for a submission to a magazine. 

• Six different cards are created using sets of blank cards with matching envelopes.
• Decorative patterned papers with coordinating solid card stock are used or the face of each card.
• Die-cut the solid card stock with the snail mail thinlit.
• Trim the the printed papers about 1/4” larger on all sides for the first layer on the cards.
• Add a strip of ribbon if desired onto each die-cut piece of card stock. 
• Layer print paper then solid paper onto card front with adhesive tape.  
• Continue to decorate with die-cut felt flowers and paper leaves.
• Finish with a die-cut salutation. 

Materials

Full size journal #665589

Book box #665873

Black mat board

Thin wood veneer sheet

Decorative paper

Black fabric/batting

Cording

Wood burning tool

Double sided adhesive

Glue

Eileen Hull Designs Stamp images/ink

Masking tape

Button/black elastic

Cropadile/paper brads

Cards (6):

Snail Mail thinlit #665869

Various flower, leaves, salutation dies

Card / envelope sets 4 x 6

Decorative papers

Solid card stock

Felt

Glue

Ribbon

Fabric, Felt and Fiber Make

 A challenge was given for the projects on the blog this month ... using fabric, felt and fibers for a make!  My final result is here and I incorporated all I could in various ways.

The book began with the combining the materials with Eileen Hull's new Book Box die, but without the box pieces.  I felt that i would combine various fabrics for each layer of the book.  I will explain the process and the material chosen for the book.  NOTE: All materials used were sewable materials. The use of my sewing machine was part of the making process.  A list will be provided at the end of the post with the products used. 

I collected pieces from a variety of materials, such as green canvas, cotton prints, seersucker fabric, organza remnants, felt scraps, cotton candlewicking thread and vintage tatted trim. 

In the explanation for creating this project I will not include some visual steps but will describe the  process the best I can. Photos will be included for the purpose of layout and assembling the book.  ***Always read through the post and the steps given.***

The base for the book covers and spine begins with using a heavyweight interfacing cut with the book box die. These three pieces will become the base of the book. NOTE: A heavy canvas or a product like Kraftex can also be used. These type  of materials will make the book flexible and not as stiff as matboard and sewable. NOTE: If a sewing machine is not available the book can be constructed with by glueing with the correct type of glues for fabric.

Layout of covers and spine

Inside view of the stitched covers and spine

Outside view of the covers and green canvas spine stiched together 

• Cut a spine piece from the green canvas. 
• Layer the green canvas on top of the spine cut from the heavy interfacing. As in the photos, place the the pieces together to form the two covers and spine. They are overlapped about 1/4" and sticthed together with a zig-zag stick using a sewing machine. 

To create the outside fabic cover panels:

A light colored cotton print was used as the background for the "faux" quilt squares that are part of the front and  back covers. 

• The fabric is fused with a interfacing before die-cutting the two front panels. NOTE: Use a sewable fusible interfacing. This is a must any sewing by machine is to be done.  ***Some fusible interfacing can gum up the sewing machine needles causing problems.***   
• Die cut two covers from the fused fabric. 
• Do note remove the paper backing from the interfacing at this point.

To create the "faux" quilt squares: 

• Use six cotton fabric prints for the squares. 
• Fuse each fabric with the same type of interfacing before cutting the squares. 
• Die-cut four squares from each of the six fabrics. (Total of 24 squares) NOTE: I used the second largest square shape from Tim Holtz Stacked tiles, squares thinlit die set.  
• Arrange the square shapes onto the front and back covers, over the fabric background.
•  Space them as evenly as possible before pressing them in place with an iron. NOTE: There is approximately a 1/4" space between the squares and arond the outer edges. ***This measurement can be adjusted to fit all 12 squares on each of the cover faces, to your liking.***   
• Remove the paper backing from the squares. 
• Press them onto the background fabric. 
• Repeat for other cover. 
• The paper backing can now be removed from the pieces.
• With iron, press these onto the front and back inner layers of the book.
• Stitch by machine, using a straight stitch, between the fused squares, both vertical and horizontal on both covers.

 

Layout of front view, but before stitching it in place. 

This is an optional step:

NOTE: For the front cover some simple hand-stitching was added to the squares. Using candlewicking thread, (embrodiery floss can also be used) a large X design was stitched from corner to corner. The center was tacked down with two small stitched next to the center of the X.  ***This step should be done before stitching the panel down onto the heavy layer of the interfacing. Carefully remove the backing paper after the X stitches are added and pressed onto the front cover. 

Adding inside lining fabric:

Inside fabric lining for covers and spine

• Fuse a second fabric for lining the inside covers and spine of the book, using a fusible interfacing.  
• Cut two covers and one spine from this fused fabric.  
• Remove the paper backing from all three pieces. 
• Fuse them into place on the inside of the book. Begin with the spine piece and then the two cover pieces. NOTE: If desired, after ironing the fabric in place, the three layers could be stitched by sewing machine  around the outer edges of the covers by straight stitch or small zig-zag stitch to hold in place.      

Making embellishments for cover decor:

• Cut leaves from green felt.
• Cut flower centers from gold card stock.
• Cut several layers from organza fabric with thinlits dies.
• Create flowers from the organza cuts and add paper flower center.

Adding pocket folder and notebooks:

• Make folder inserts from decorative card stock, with or without side pockets.
• Cut 12 x 12 paper in half, score down center, score and fold over both sides to form narrow side pockets.
• Use purchased notebooks and cover the outside covers with coordinating papers OR create you own writing notebooks with signature covers.

Materials 

Eileen Hull book box die

Sizzix Big Shot machine

Tim Holtz stacked tile squares, thinlits 

Eileen Hull leaves die

Sizzix flower dies, thinlits 

Sizzix flower center dies, thinlits

Cotton fabrics, variety colors and prints

Canvas fabric

Coordinating cotton fabric

Felt, green

Organza fabric, pink, blue

Gold card stock 

Heavy weight interfacing, sewable

Fusible and sewable interfacing

Off-white candlewicking thread 

Embroidery needle

White decorative flowers

Vintage tatting trim

Fabric glue

Sewing machine

Iron

Cording

Decorative papers

Small note books

Glue

Double-sided tape