Free Downloads Making Mini Books: Big Ideas For 30+ Little Projects
Everyone loves handmade books--and these adorable mini volumes are generally easier to craft than their larger counterparts! Some even require only folding and stapling. This charming collection includes beautiful leather-clad journals, block print notepads, accordion-fold mini-zines, and others that feature interior pockets, unique closures, colorful stitching, and eye-catching bindings. An invaluable illustrated stitch guide provides the essential info for every binding.
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Lark Crafts (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1454702001
ISBN-13: 978-1454702009
Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 8.8 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #409,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #75 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Papercrafts, Stamping & Stenciling > Book Making & Binding
There are good and bad things about this book. It's fun to look at with pretty pictures, nice photographs and a few good ideas to get you started. HOWEVER... most of the projects are the same mini book done over and over again with a new cover and different and more complicated stitching in the binding (why?). One mini book cover is done with seed packets, one with a butterfly picture, one with a deck of cards--that kind of thing. It's very repetitive in this regard. So although it boasts 30 mini book ideas, you won't get nearly that many ORIGINAL ideas. Still, that's not the bad part about this book. The worst thing is they don't have photographs of many of the important assembly steps. It's like trying to do origami with missing diagrams. Instead, they've typed out the how-to instructions, and some of them are far too bare and vague to follow without a visual reference, which makes them impossible to construct. Very frustrating. I really wish they would have taken the time to TEST this book by handing it to a novice before publishing it. They would have quickly discovered these shortcomings and been able to fix them with better descriptive writing and photographs. The other issue is the vocabulary used. They assume that novices will know what a "signature" and a "mull" are (among other terms). Would it have hurt them to put a simple glossary/diagram in the back of the book?
Have you ever wanted to make your own book? Not write a book, but actually make one? I've always been intrigued by the process of bookmaking, so I couldn't wait to read more about it in Making Mini Books. The book has a wide range of ideas and materials to work with and it goes from the easiest to hardest projects. I focused on the books at the front, although the later ones are just gorgeous and I would love to work up to those! Twenty two expert bookmakers contributed to Making Mini Books and I really appreciated each of their unique designs.I had never considered that I could transform a matchbook into a tiny stapled volume, complete with lovely covers. The Lil' Rainbow book is filled with pages the color of the rainbow and when it's elastic band is taken off, it unfolds into a rainbow shape! Many of the books require stitching, but Making Mini Books includes detailed steps to walk you through completion of your miniscule masterpiece.
Unless you have a basic knowledge and experience of bookbinding do not get this book. The instructions are minimal at best and, in some cases, almost nonexistent. Yes, the pictures are enticing and cute. BUT! For example, the Petite Fold book on page 93 is charming.However there is no way that a button that size can be used without stretching the leather completely out of shape. The sewing instructions consist of two diagrams on page 132 that are so minimal as to be almost worthless. I belong to a bookbinding group and their consensus matches mine. Lark Books should be taken to task for publishing a book that is frustrating and disappointing.
This book has the potential to fill many dull evenings with a fast and fun hobby. What cute ideas for little books for friends and family to enjoy as gifts. Thats my use for them anyway. I love making my own handmade gifts for relatives for Christmas and birthdays. Its a lot more personal and they tend to appreciate the gifts a lot more than something picked up at the last minute at the big box store. They always love the things I make for them and tell me they want more. So these kinds of books that tell how to make things are my mainstays. I'm always on the look-out for new and more creative ideas. The mini books here are so fast and easy to make and you don't have to do them exactly like the ones in the book. You can use the instructions and make your own mini books for many purposes. Try one or try them all. You'll not be disappointed.
I shouldn't criticize the book too harshly because it is well done and well presented. And might be exactly what some people are looking for. I found the books mostly rather advanced and difficult, requiring materials most people don't have on hand. And they weren't as "mini" as I'd thought they'd be.
Wow! Let me say, I have TONS of books related to book making. TONS. I bought this book simply because I buy every book on bookmaking hoping to find new ideas. I found this one to be a pleasant surprise! LOTS of fresh, new, fun ideas here. You can apply any of them to a larger scale book if desired. I found lots of inspiration here and great instructions. Thanks so much!
I just love, love, love looking at the different projects in this book. It's great how simple, everyday items can be transformed into an artistic looking book cover. I want to try just about every idea...there's the card deck mini book, a bingo playing card mini book, book covers using maps, books using an old hardback cover from a children's book, leather bound books, and many more. Can't wait to practice the different stitching that's covered in the appendix. The only thing that would make this better for me is some more photos to accompany the illustrated instructions. I find it easier to me to follow if I had actual photos as reference in addition to the illustrated images showing arrows to where to sew (could just be me, I'm not good at reading textual information and prefer to see images and watch video). This doesn't rate it down for me, though, because I feel the authors did a good job explaining the techniques and the layout is very nice. I feel like I could whip out a simple leather covered little notebook quickly by just looking at the image and pamphlet stitch, which can easily be done with just 3 holes and stitched quickly. My favorite stitch is the coptic stitch, though. Having seen many books bound like this in stores, I'm eager to try it out as it allows for thick books that can be opened out fairly flat (it's hard to draw in a book that won't lay flat!). If you're a beginner (which I am), this book is not daunting and has many projects you can start with. I think there are also a lot of inspirational designs that more experienced book binders can make use of.
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