Commonplace Books
You'll need these materials:
Kraft Paper blank journal, 8.5" x 5.5", or composition book;
mulberry paper, 8.5"x12", 3 or 4 sheets, or construction/tissue/wrapping paper or fabric to cover
brush
3 sheets of wax paper,
a container or paper plate for the Mod Podge big enough to accommodate the brush
scissors
Directions are below.
Overview:
You will use two sheets of paper set "portrait" (or, "hamburger"), one for the front and a second for the back, so that you can have enough paper to fold over the edges and create a more stable cover. You may also choose to use a third for embellishment and a fourth for interior endpapers, especially if you get glue on the interior covers.
Directions (based on the ones in the picture but explained a bit differently):
Cover your work surface with a piece of waxed paper large enough to hold the open book, with a bit of room to spare.
Cut two pieces of wax paper to fit inside the front and back covers of the book; they will help make sure you don't glue the book shut. Place them between the cover and the interior pages of the book.
Pour a bit of Mod Podge onto a plate or into a cup.
Place the book on the first sheet of mulberry paper, set "portrait" or "hamburger"; you should have paper remaining on all four sides of the cover. Fold the paper around the book and crease.
Use that fold as a guide to make similar creases on the second sheet of paper. This step will help you align the sheets so that your "margins" are more uniform
Apply glue to the exterior front cover of the booklet, and place the glued cover onto the first sheet of mulberry paper.
Apply glue to the back cover of the booklet; fold the first sheet of mulberry paper onto that back cover to create a "spine."
Apply glue over that "spine," and place the back cover onto the second sheet of mulberry paper.
Apply glue to the "spine" of the second sheet and adhere it to the book.
If you want to embellish the exterior cover with an additional sheet of mulberry paper, follow the process you used for the first two sheets, and add the third sheet to the cover of your choice.
Use the scissors to cut a slit in the mulberry paper along the "spine."
For the interior covers: apply glue to the mulberry paper for the long side margin; fold the corners to mitre them if you want to; adhere the paper to the book. Repeat these steps for the top and bottom margins; repeat all the steps once more for the back cover.
If you haven't already done so, place a narrow sheeet of wax paper between the cover and the pages of the book so that the cover doesn't stick to the interior pages.
If you want to add interior end papers, fold a sheet of mulberry paper in half along the short side; cut. Use the cut edge on the interior edge, and the pre-cut edge either to fold onto the exterior of the book or to pre-fold and adhere. Glue the whole sheet into the booklet.
If you want a more durable finish for your book, coat the exterior with Mod Podge.
Wash your brush and leave the project to dry; you can use the wax paper to wrap your book at the end of class to transport it if it's still tacky.
