I started out the year with the intention of using up as much of my supply stash as I could, so it’s only fitting that this Mini Book Garland was our final project for 2024!
Last month, Handmade Book Club members were given instructions on how to craft a delightful mini-book garland using leftover scraps from previous projects. The design included a pamphlet stitch type binding, with a convenient T-strap for easy assembly. For my example, I incorporated ledger paper and some gorgeous heat-pressed papers I received from one of our club members, Dee Stoddard.
Members were encouraged to personalize their garlands with embellishments such as decorative brads, beads, and ribbons. These charming mini books could be used as festive decorations or unique favors for special occasions.
See What the Members Made
I was so excited to see what club members would do with their Mini Book Garland projects, and they did not disappoint!
Leanne used card stock, scrapbook papers, and stickers for her Mini Book Garland. Karen used small leftover pieces of paper for the signatures and scrapbook paper for her covers. I absolutely adore their festive book-filled trees!
Gina used heavy scrapbook paper for her mini book covers and closures. For the signatures, she used a mix of drawing paper and lightweight printed Christmas papers.
Jeneia created her minis with various scrap covers. Karen’s garland was made from Sari ribbon scraps. She used handmade paper and her own nature-printed papers for the covers, and holiday scrapbook paper for the T-straps.
Dale incorporated family photos in her gorgeous garland. I’m absolutely smitten with Gloria’s clever use of her favorite book covers!
I vote that Christen’s bright and cheerful garland be displayed all year long!
Dorothy made over 50 minibooks as a countdown-to-Christmas calendar. Wow!
Beth found a perfect use for this gorgeous swirly handmade paper.
Dena’s garland featured watercolor paper covers, sketch paper signatures and beads.
If club members wanted to expand on this project, I encouraged them to make mini books using different bindings from the archives.
Cathie used a variety of offcuts from other projects to create this incredibly adorable mini bookshelf! Alice’s created her mini using a single-needle coptic binding.
Zurn certainly knocked this on out of the park!
Donna used bindings from the Holiday Bows project, a single-needle coptic stitch, a long cross stitch, and a long-stitch link-stitch, as well as the Equals binding. Diana’s assortments of mini books are adorably nestled into a small storage box that she repurposed into a mini bookshelf!
Our December Guest Artist
In addition to the book project each month, we also get to learn techniques from special guest artists. In December, we welcomed mixed media and textile artist, Brooke Henry. Brooke demonstrated how to add dimension to journal pages using folding techniques to create balanced and smooth pages.
The Handmade Book Club grew out of my love for teaching and community. Having spent more than 10 years teaching in-person classes, I decided to reach a wider audience in 2019 and founded the online Handmade Book Club.
The Handmade Book Club is a community of bookmakers from around the world. Each month, I teach a new bookbinding project to the club members. In addition to making books, we love learning about ways to fill our handmade journals. That’s why we have guest artists and speakers join us every month! Club members also have access to a robust selection of past projects within the archives.
Whether you’re an experienced bookmaker or a complete novice, the Handmade Book Club is a community for you. You can try out a free book project here.
This looks like LOTS of Fun. I can’t wait to get started.