A Little Canvas Book

I love making little books... I have been eyeing the printed canvas at Robin's Nest for awhile.  In the back of my mind thinking it would make a great little book!

Supplies:

Robin's Nest Canvas Swirl Border

Robins Nest Black and White Swirl Glitter boarder Cardstock

Robins Nest Rub-on Time Flies

Chip Board 

Tacky Glue

Glue Stick

Ribbon

Gesso

Gel medium

Embellishments: Chipboard, stamps, etc.

For my book I used the Robin's Nest Canvas Swirl Border, any of the canvas 12 x 12 sheets will work for this project.

Cut the canvas into three - four inch wide strips, then fold each strip into thirds, pressing them together to get a nice fold. The book will be 4 inches by 4 inches. 

What is great about using the canvas is you can sew it.  Sew the three sections together to make one long piece. 

At one end sew the right sides together (I did a straight stitch), then the other end the wrong sides   together (I did a zigzag.)  See pictured above!

Pictured here is the long piece of canvas sewn together.

The canvas stacks nicely when folded.

Cut two pieces of chipboard 4 2/16 square, paint the edges with gesso. 

I used a 4x4 piece of  Robins Nest Black and White Swirl Glitter boarder Cardstock for the back of the book... using a glue stick adhere to one piece of card stock

Cut the first panel from the canvas strip.  This will be the front of the book.  Adhere it with tacky glue to the second piece of chipboard.

Lay the chip board with the inside up, adhere the ribbon across the middle with double sided tape, leaving about a 1/2 inch gap for the book.

With tacky glue, adhere the pages that will be the spine of the book.  This will keep the book from popping out when you open it.

Adhere the covers to the book with tacky glue.

Let dry,  I used clothespins to keep it tight while drying.  

Here is the book before any embellishments were added! 

Above you can see how the pages are glued tight in the center.

This is the 1/2 inch spine that we created when laying down the ribbon on the cover.

On the cover I wanted to add a rub-on, the design was too busy so I painted a light coat of gesso.  Then I used the Robins Nest Rub-on Time Flies.

I am really happy with the way the cover turned out!

On the first pages I added some used postage stamps with gel medium.

 Then I embossed a feather from Gina Designs and attached it with tacky glue.  Be sure to allow plenty of drying time between pages when using gel medium.... if not they will stick together.

I have more pages to complete...

 Here are some final shots of my book.