altered fabric book

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Kendra McCracken

I love small hand-crafted books. A lot of times I have something in mind I'd like to create but I don't really have enough subject material to fill an entire book. When that happens, I go ahead and enjoy focusing completely on the appearance of the book and keep in mind that the insides can be considered in-progress.

I made this book almost completely out of fabric. The pages have quilt batting sandwiched between them, giving them some durability, as well as adding a homey, comfortable feeling to the book. I decided I would use it to store quotes and other inspirational pieces that encourage me when I need to do some self-examination.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

I started by creating the interior pages of the book. Using the 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter and the 3. 5" x 18.5" Acrylic ruler, I cut 10" x 7" rectangles from contrasting fabrics (2 per spread), and quilt batting (1 per spread.) I sandwiched the quilt batting between 2 rectangles of fabric (wrong sides together), pinned the layers together, and zig-zag stitched around the perimeter of each spread.
The cover is reinforced with chipboard cut to 10.5" x 7.5". Using the 28mm Perforating Blade, I scored a 1" spine 5" from each edge of the chipboard cover.
Next I cut my cover fabric (muslin) 1/2" longer and wider than the chipboard cover for a finished size of 11" x 8". Using fusible web (Wonder Under) and following the directions on the package, I adhered the fabric to the chipboard cover.
The Heart Shape Template was used to trace a heart onto the front cover. I planned ahead for a wide strip of crocheted trim at the top so my heart is not centered top to bottom.

Using the Fingertip Craft Knife, I cut through all layers of muslin and chipboard around the heart shape. I left a small section on each side of the heart uncut to create "hinges" for the doors of the heart to open and close. I then added some hand stitching to the edges of the heart using a large needle and embroidery floss.

Using letter stamps, an acrylic block and High Density Pigment Ink in Chocoholic, I stamped the word "open" on a strip of muslin and adhered this to the doors of the heart.

Beads were hand stitched around the perimeter of the front cover. The book cover was then embellished with strips of vintage trims, fabric, and buttons. I cut one of the trims long enough to create a tie to hold the book closed. I also layered squares and hearts cut from patterned paper using Fiskars Hand Punches.
These were adhered to the fabric strip between the buttons.

I embellished the first page of the book, arranging the elements so they could double as part of the message on the front cover when the doors on the heart are opened.

The final step to creating the book is to use your favorite binding method to attach  the pages to the cover. I folded each spread in half and stitched it to the spine.

Since the pages are fabric and quilted, pieces I add to the book will be either pinned, stapled, or stitched in place, adding to the handcrafted look of the book.

Supplies:

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_stampblockset.aspx 

Fiskars# 01-000068  Stamp Block Set
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_basic-font.aspx

Fiskars# 12-89188897 Basic Font
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_ink-chocoholic.aspx 

Fiskars # 01-003514 High-Density Pigment Ink : Chocoholic
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-hearts-1-wvicto.aspx 

Fiskars # 48557097  ShapeTemplate™ Tool - Hearts-1 w/Victorian Border
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx 

Fiskars# 12-97937097 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_35-x-185-acrylic-ruler.aspx 

Fiskars # 12-87287097 3.5 x 18.5 Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_fingertip-craft-knife.aspx

Fiskars # 12-63057097  Fingertip Craft Knife
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_28mm-perforating-rotary-blade-blad.aspx

Fiskars# 12-99047097  28mm Perforating Rotary Blade - Blade Style F
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_hand-punch-316-square.aspx

Fiskars# 23587097 Hand Punch - 3/16" Square
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_hand-punch-18-heart.aspx 

Fiskars # 23597097 Hand Punch - 1/8" Heart

Other: Beads, fabric, quilt batting, buttons,thread