Hole punching and eyelet setting into the book covers.

Measuring with the sewing jig for proper hole placement in the covers.

Today I glued the paste paper covers to the bookboards. These are a couple pictures of one of the bookboards, beginning and end of the glueing process.

Today I finished painting the 2nd and 3rd layers of the paste papers I started yesterday.

Next, I paint the first layer of paste paint onto the paper and press stamp images into the paint. I love the look of this method, because I then wipe off the paint (after it has dried a bit), and it leaves a print of the image on the paper. The rest of the paper retains a lighter shade of the color of the image. I call it a 'ghost' print. Hmmm, maybe there's a more technical term? Feel free to let me know! In this picture the painted surface is actually the 2nd layer of paint because I wasn't happy with the 1st layer. I love the forgiving nature of making paste paper designs!

I mix the paste, usually from Elmer's Art Paste or pure Methyl Cellulose - so clear and smooth - and no cooking! I've tried other methods (cooking methods) of paste making, but this is my favorite. Then I choose the colors and ribbons. If I choose the ribbon first that I want to sew into the book, then I can mix the paste paint colors to match. I use Golden's and Liquitex Acrylic paints (heavy body and/or fluid) to paint my covers.

Posting pictures of my bookmaking process...

I start by cutting the Arches Printmaking Paper (40"X25") into enough pieces to make covers and endpapers for 3 books, with a little left over to save for text paper or smaller covers.

Made this small brag book yesterday

This little book is perfect for 3.5"X5" photos - it's about 4.5"X6" in size. With 20 pages large enough to hold one photo per page, it has spacers to allow for the extra photos with no 'bulge'. Tie it up with the ribbon closure and throw it in your purse to share when you're out! The charm on the spine says "believe". I just loved making this little size! Think I'll be making more of these.

Here is a book I made in April 2006 as a commission. The purchaser wanted this book as a gift for a baby shower. She put memoribilia from the shower and letters from each of the guests to the mother-to-be on the pages. The size is 14.25" X 12" and has 12 pages of Fabriano Artistico 90lb hot press paper (luxurious - I just love touching and writing on this paper!). Spacers (extra paper added to the spine) allow the book to not bulge, even when full of photos, etc. I can make one like this for you, built to your specifications! Just let me know color, # of pages, and any embellishments you want.

6" X 6" mini albums

Both of these books have spacers incorporated into the pages. This keeps the album from bulging when photos and decorative paper are added to the pages. The green and red one is a Christmas album or brag book and the multicolored one reminds me of tie dye. Both of these just added to my etsy store.

Just listed on ebay and etsy!

I just listed my first 2 books on ebay! The first is an album I made with 40 pages of natural white Fabriano Artistico (yummy!) 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. The second book is a beach book that has 112 pages of 70 lb. white drawing paper. It also has a neat little suprise of a seashell image transfer on the inside front cover. It's been slightly distressed with white oil pastels (and sprayed with fixitive!). Looks like it's been washed with a bit of that salty sea air! Similar to the book in the last post, but with a couple more decorative touches and different paper. Both books are 6" X 9". The book I listed on etsy is similar to the beach books, except the inside paper is 40 pages of 140 lb. student grade white watercolor paper. Perfect for scrapbooking! Just click on the My Ebay and My Etsy links to the right to view more pictures and additional descriptions!

Beach Book

This one is another gift book for someone that I love that loves the beach. It has 112 pages of Arches Text Wove paper - all hand torn.

New Books

These are being given as teacher's gifts - they are 40 pages of blank white, medium quality, watercolor paper. The paste papers are my own designs and so fun to make. Be on the lookout for new books that I will be listing on etsy.com soon! I'll post those books here when they are ready.

Pictures coming soon!

I rejoice in the gift of making these books for you! Life is to be celebrated! One way we do that is to record our life stories – or the life stories of someone else who is special. Life Stories Handmade Books & Albums was born from a love of life, creating, and celebrating all of who we are. I am a perfectionist at heart and, at one time in my journaling and scrapbooking life, I was so concerned with creating the perfect layout and filling the pages of my albums and journals chronologically that I became discouraged. I quitting creating visually, which only left me with lots of pent up creativity! Eventually, I realized that life is sometimes chaotic, disorganized and full of imperfection. I began to appreciate and celebrate that part of me (and of those around me!). These handbound albums were born from my love of books, stories, and life, and the desire to have a special place to record that imperfect life in a joyful and creative way. I use my books as an art & life journal, practicing new and familiar techniques & recording special and ordinary life moments. Whatever art you create – scrapbook layouts, watercolor or acrylic paintings, calligraphy, collage, rubber stamping, or a combination thereof, you are journaling your life in a special way. Enjoy the process of creating, allow yourself to “play” in these books, and savor each page as you look back on them!