DIY: Gift Book

I first made one of these a couple of weeks ago for someone who's birthday present was a membership and a day out so there was nothing to unwrap. Making a little book with photos and poems made an extra little keep-sake and was much more exciting than just being told what was going to happen.

I then decided to make one for my husband for his first Father's Day. It's just a little keepsake and was lovely to make and hopefully will be lovely to receive on Sunday!

Gather together lots of pretty bits of paper and card (I have a slight obsession with stationary and paper so I tend to buy things when I see them on sale or in discount stores and consequentially have boxes full of pretty paper!) Paul loves maps so I've put an old road map into my mix. Try to stick to a theme, or two to three colours.

 

Then create! I admit, I'm rubbish at planning and like to dive straight in and see where it takes me, but if you like instructions I have tried to take you through what I did...

 



 
1. Choose your front cover and fold lengthways into thirds. Make one third into a point.
2. Fold the paper as thus
3. Fold the point over and chop it off if it extends over the top... this creates pockets on the inside of the cover.
4. Fold in half and chop about an inch off the front side and fold the back cover over the front - hope that makes sense!

You now have the cover of your book... time to add pages!

 

5. Add extra pages - as many as you think you can fill! They can be all different pages or the same - I've only added one folded piece of paper which essentially adds four pages.

6. Once you have your desired number of pages fix in place. If you have a big enough stapler you can use this or stitch them together by doing a long running stitch along the spine.

7. Add envelopes (I cut this one down and put it back together with washi tape so it fitted the page), extra post its, pretty bits of paper - just use a glue stick.

 

 

8. Add the personal touches - photographs, poems, sentiments - if you have bought tickets slot them in a pocket, what a lovely surprise that would be for someone!

 

Then finish off with a label and a closing mechanism - here I've used a peg but you could use two buttons with tied string, poppers or even Velcro!

 

I want to make these for everyone - so watch out people I buy gifts for!

 

 

And Happy Father's Day for Sunday lovely Daddys!

 

Emily x