gigi's tip/technique

make mine a mini please :)

i create a lot of mini books...they are super handy because both sets of grandparents live pretty far away from us, they are quick and easy AND they help use up all of that excess product that collects on my desk after i've created layouts & such...

there are a million and one ways to create a minibook & there are so many great products on the market already ready-made for you too....but i find myself going back to the same formula time & time again to make many of mine...i've also used this formula to create little felt needle books too with great results...

gather your supplies...you'll need something for your cover, some inside pages & something to bind it all together with.

for your cover you can use chipboard, a bingo card as you'll see below, double sided patterned paper, felt, stiff fabric, a piece of cardstock...the choices are endless...same with inside pages :)

for your inside pages, cut them each 1/4" smaller all around then your cover piece...so if your cover is 5"x7", your inside pages are going to be 4 3/4" x 6 3/4"...

fold all your pieces in half in half and then stack together

pierce center of your "spine" with a darning needle in 2 places...thread embroidery floss, or twine or ribbon (again...endless choices here :) to create your binding...


tie off & viola!  you are done!!

this little plain cardstock one will be given to one of my little ones so she can create her own little "field journal" for her "hike" in the backyard today...these would be cute to make for your kids for a trip to the zoo so they can draw or write their faves of the day as they stroll through the exhibits (& then later you can pilfer it for your scrapbook...lol!)
you could also make one with some favorite family photos & give to your little one to occupy him in target too...or vacation journals for your kids (again, perfect to steal later for your scrapbook...lol)...or maybe the month's sight words for your kindergartner...again...endless possibilities here  :)

here are some examples of how i used this formula:

* this little minibook has some of my fave pictures i found of my littlest, kate, when she was 2...i used a bingo card for my cover

* this little book i made for my dad so he can hold it while in the hospital & going through tough therapy appointments..i thought it would help to have some smiles in hand :)
(for this one, i sewed a bit of felt riboon on for the spine rather than tying off some thread)

* and this one i made back in july 2007 with some of my favorite family photos of the moment, i used the same formula & repurposed a starbucks gift card holder....i also added a bit of printed transparency to this one, just to jazz it up...this little mini was the perfect size for my purse when i travelled to my first CHA & missed my "team":)

these little books would be the perfect little gift for your summer visitors too...you could whip one up for them so when it is time to say goodbye, they would have a little treasure of some of the fun times they had while visiting...

you also could create one & instead of photos, add important phone #s, addresses & information & stash in your glove compartment or have on hand for your babysitter...

happy creating!!!

xoxo

gi

Comments

[Julie]

This is FAB Gi!!!! I love it!! :):):):)

[Kelli P.]

I love mini books too! I love the ideas you gave me with this post, thanks! One of my first mini books, is similar, but slightly different. I got the idea from off of Two Peas. I made it for my husband for Father's Day, just pics of him and our daughter. I bound it with floss. Here is link to my gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=14129

[Revlie]

Gi!!! you are my hero, did i tell you that before? ah well, you ARE!

[keandra]

thanx for the great tips!!!

[Beth Perry]

Great idea! I love it!

[Samantha S]

Gigi~you are so good, thanks for the ideas

[Petrina McDonald]

this is so good!!! Thank you G :)

[aurelie/titoune]

seems easy to create thanks for the tip I think I'm gonna try this one

[Laura - BoxerBratsScraps]

I love this book! I am a boxer mom, and when I saw the boxer dog picture I was hooked. What a great idea. I think I will make a mini boxer dog brag book for my babies.