Miniature Book Stand and Open Book

 Hello Mini Friends!  I decided that my apothecary needed an old-style book stand and possibly an open book.  I say possibly because I've never made an open book and for some reason couldn't wrap my head around how exactly to do it.  I watched a tutorial or two but was still intimidated.  After my stand was finished, I decided to just jump in and try it.  

I am pleased with the way they turned out!  Let me show you!

I'll show you the process of making the stand first.  I used a dollhouse wooden spindle, chip board four beads and a piece of lace.

These are the cut pieces of chip board.  I layered to pieces for each part for depth and strength.

I sanded the edges with my fingernail file.

Just to help the spindle stay in place I added some pieces to make a frame underneath the top.

I cut the edge off of a piece of lace and also used a piece of embroidery string to go around the bottom of the spindle to clean it up a bit.

She needed a little wear and tear so i scuffed her up a bit.

For the book, I browsed the internet for some book pages that I liked.  I figure I only needed the top pages that were going to show.  I printed some in different sizes and then sprayed them with a clear coat to seal the ink.

I cut two strips of copy paper and then cut them down to size to match the book pages.

I stacked the pieces and folded them all in half.

I used my ice pick to make two holes then used a needle and thread to bind the pages together just like when making a life-sized book.

Next, I let my sewn pages take a good dip in some leftover coffee.

Then while the pages are wet, I used my tweezers to curve and wrinkle the pages.

Next, I let the book dry overnight.  This is the hardest part lol... waiting.

The next morning, she looked like this and is dry and kind of crispy.

I went over the edges with a little dark brown paint to age both the book pages and the colored top pages.  I did cut the apart and trim them before I glued them on top.

I also added a bookmark made of three strands of DMC floss or cross stitch thread.

This is what the back looks like.  I originally made a book cover but didn't like how stiff it made this book look.  I might try something like this again and make it with a cover.

And here she is!  I actually made a second book for this tutorial.  I didn't take any pictures the first time because I wasn't sure my method would work.  

The final measurements are 3 1/4 inches tall by 1 1/2 inches wide.

I think she turned out lovely!  What do you think??

Thanks for visiting!

XOXO ~Laurie

Miniature Book Tutorial

Good morning all!! Today I am sharing how I make books for my dollhouse projects.  A lot of people make really realistic looking books with specific jackets that seriously look like miniature versions of life-sized books.  And while these are great and awesome, it's not really my style.  I've tried to make them like that and have never been truly happy with the results of what I made.  So... I came up with my own simple book making version.  Although I am sure I am not the only one who does it this way.

I plagued myself some years ago by acquiring a packet of legal sized paper for my printer.  I say "plagued myself" because how often do you truly need legal sized paper.  Since then I won't allow myself to buy regular sized copy paper until this batch is gone.  Yet somehow each time I get out a little bit of paper to use the pack seems to have grown.  So it forces me to print regular sized documents on legal sized paper.  When I'm done I always snip off the three-ish inches left at the bottom of the page... and you know I just can't seem to throw this slack away.  So I use it for various projects when I need it, such as making tiny books!  :)  Here's how I do it...

I simply water down some paint.  Usually browns, tans and I sometimes add a bit of yellow.  I brush it onto both sides of the paper and place them on cooling racks in my kitchen to let them dry.  They naturally tend to curl up a bit.  Once they dry I get out my paper slicer and slice them into strips.  Then I stack them together and cut the strips into lengths of about an inch or whatever size I feel like making the books.  I then stack a wad of the cut pieces, straighten them up and trim if necessary.  I will take a skinnier strip of paper for binding and use my handy wood glue on the straight end and glue the binding strip to the stack.  I let that dry by clamping with a clothespin and leaving it alone.  Then I trim the binding.  And there are your book pages.  

You can cover them however you wish.  My favorite way to cover my books is with fabric.  Especially vintage fabric with tiny prints!  I recently acquired a new (to me) batch of old fabric at a local quilting store.  Quilting stores always have cheap scraps and for miniatures scraps is all you need.  I cut a piece and glue it on to the outside of my book pages then trim the edges.  And then I am left with the prettiest little books!  You can also add binding labels or labels to stick on the front or whatever you wish!  Here are one thousand pictures of how I do it :)

Ahhhhh... a picture of my messy work station with a handy bowl of paint water left over.

Seriously, the equivalent here is about six to eight books from two 4 x 8 pieces of leftover paper. 

This fabric stash is seriously dreamy.