Wednesday 9 September 2009

Book binding and double entendre abound.

I've been spending lots of time lately making mini-books and, as with anything I do for too long, I start to get bored. So, I've been looking into different ways to bind them and to add interest to the ones I've already made using the straightforward book-ring method. Such as this:

My friend 'Hannah Banana' happens to love flamingos. Really love them. Really really love them. In fact - have a look here - for documentary evidence of this fact! See what I mean? So I was delighted when upon opening my Gauche Alchemy 'Pink Parts' Mixed Media Colour Kit I discovered the perfect item to add to my album cover .....a pink flamingo cocktail stirrer:

I attached it to my cover by stitching its legs to a 7Gypsies pouch which, in turn, I adhered with a strong double sided tape. [The postal mark stamp was from Studio Calico ].

I want this album to reflect both Hannah's and my love for colours and patterns so I used green book-rings rather than the usual silver. Despite this I still wanted to add interest to that slightly empty look of plain bookrings. I've often tied ribbon around them in the past, but thought I'd try something a bit different on this.

So [now, if i get through this next sentence without making some indelicate double entrendre well, I'll deserve a medal ...here goes...] I again turned to my 'Pink Parts' to bring an element of fun to the project. [Stop it!]

All of the plastic beads and charms came from the kit and simply slid onto the rings. I love little plasticy things like these - that little pink safety pin fair makes me swoon in its wonderfulness. I find it all so reminiscent of an 80s childhood. In fact, I remember using lots of similar bits and bobs on a layout last year, beneath which someone left the comment: 'I wish I'd saved all the little bits of plastic crap I had as a kid'. I believe that's what one would call a 'backhanded compliment' no?

I punched the holes using my Big Bite [no, I'm not bragging, despite my party trick some years ago of being able to fit my fist in my mouth...don't ask ...please!!!] the Crop-a-dile Big Bite is a strong hole-punching tool which pucnched easily through my double layered chipbard cover.

To decorate around my punched holes I first stamped, with a Fancy Pants doodled flower design, over the hole then heat embossed using a neon embossing powder in 'Hot Pink'. And if you know Hannah ....you know that no other colour could be more appropriate! Lastly I added some eyelets to give a more 'finished' finish ...if you see what I mean?

I didn't have enough of the papers I chose for my front cover to do the back as weel, so I chose ones whose colour ways matched while the patterns clashed:


The overall effect reminds me of a patchwork quilt and that can never ever be a bad thing.

If you'd like to see some of the pages inside my album then have a look here, here and here.

If you have any other examples of interesting ways to bind mini-books, please do share.

And ....if you have any backhanded compliments about my work then feel free to leave me a comment below. I have a broad mind and, luckily, I have the shoulders to match!

Soon enough,

Julie :)

6 comments:

  1. love,love the beads on the rings ..perfect.

    I have to see the fist in mouth and our next gathering!

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  2. What a great idea to decorate the book rings. I'm getting bored using the ribbons but I'm not sure if I have any "little plastic crap", will have to check

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  3. Reading your blog never fails to brighten my day! I've used my real name tonight so you can see my blog ... but only if you want to!
    Roo

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  4. So many great things here, I hardly know where to begin! I love the patterns, those funky ring holes (got to try that - simple but such an impact!), and of course, your marvelous use of the Pink Parts kit! :) We've got three more color kits coming your way, dahlink - you're going to have a ton of fun. :)

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  5. I love the detail of the embossed punched holes -nice touch. See, nothing backhanded about that and I can't think of any appropriate double entrendres so I'll leave it at that!

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  6. Such a glorious mix of colours and patterns! And I think I recognise that pink paisley paper.. I have a piece of it (from you) on my desk right now! (must do something with it..) S x x

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