Christmas Book

Materials and Equipment:

• a large garbage bag or several sheets of newspaper
• craft glue
• glue spreader or foam brush (choose a larger size if making a larger book)
• a lid from a used plastic container (such as a yogurt container)
• ribbon
• a blank canvas-covered book (available at craft or art supply centers)
• several pieces of decorative paper (slightly larger than the cover of your book)
• a piece of corrugated cardboard (slightly larger than the cover of your book)
• a beautiful Christmas card or embellished placard (smaller than the size of your book)
• a ruler or straight edge
• scissors or Xacto knife cutting tool
• a thick piece of cardboard or plywood as a cutting surface

Instructions:

1. Before you start, clear the table and cover it with newspaper or a large garbage bag to avoid getting glue on the table.
2. Place all your supplies on the table in front of you. The first step in this project is to decorate the cover of the book. Before cutting your papers, layer them over the cover to get a sense of which papers you want to use in your cover design. I like to place corrugated cardboard on the cover first to provide a backdrop with three-dimensional visual interest. Next, I layer one or two other lighter pieces of patterned paper over the cardboard. Then I add an embellished placard from a craft store or a pretty Christmas card I received last year and couldn't bear to throw away. (Refer to photo.)
3. Once you have decided on your design, cut the paper and cardboard (if you are using it) to the sizes you need.
4. Pour a small puddle of glue onto the plastic container lid.
5. Spread a thin layer of glue on the back of the piece of paper that will be undermost in your design. Press the paper firmly over the cover of the book, smoothing out any wrinkles as you go. Allow this layer to dry completely.
6. Repeat step five for each piece of paper you have incorporated into your design.
7. Glue or stick on the embellishment of your choice. Allow to dry.
8. Repeat your paper design on the back of the book or simply glue on a sheet of paper that matches one that you used on the front. Allow to dry. You can also opt to leave the back uncovered.
9. Tie a festive ribbon around the book and start scribbling that holiday gift list!