Bird House Book Box

   I enjoy making books. I wish that I really didn't because once that I make them, I can't bring myself to put anything in them for fear of messing them up. This is a different kind of book. It's made to put artist trading cards or "ATC's" as they are commonly called into.

 I have a very special friend that has a way of sending me little boxes of treasures among other things. These treasures as I call them are all kind of different products to use in my art projects...most of them I could never afford. She also sends me ATC's that she has made. They are wonderful because this is a very talented lady. As a token of my gratitude I decided that I would make her a special book to put some of her favorite ATC's in.

 Finished Book Box

   NOW I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE A BOOK BOX OF YOUR OWN

   The first thing that I made was the book page insert. I cut 8 sheets of white card stock into  4 1/2"x4" pieces. I then scored them on the 4 1/2" side at 1/2". Then using double sided tape and being careful to not go beyond the 1/2" score line I put them together, by layering them one on top of the other. I then cut 2 pieces of card stock 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" once again I scored them on the 4 1/2" side. These will later be used to attach the cover. Using Scor Tape I attached one on both sides of the pages that were done.

I cut two pieces of  6 1/4"x4 1/4" cardboard for the cover. I scored the 6 1/4" at 1/2". I then covered it with card stock.

I used Scor Tape to attach the pages to the cover. I am generous with Scor Tape when putting a book together. I put a lot of time and usually love into any book that I make.

   I covered the inside of the bottom first leaving a tab on each side to slide over the seam where the two covers come together. Then I put the inside front cover in place. I thought that I should show you how much Scor Tape that I used. Now I had my book done I could design the box to fit the book.
   I came up with the idea of this book while putting my Halloween Tag book together. After it was done it didn't close. In fact it made me think of the roof of a house. This is the inspiration  that started this book box. If you want you could add more pages. This book is not designed to close. If you want a book to close you must design it with gussets for expansion.

THE TEMPLATE

 

 I started my box by designing a template. Then I traced it onto thin cardboard and cut it out with a craft knife. I then folded all the scored lines in. I attached the tab behind the peaked section. I used Scor Tape. You can use any good double sided tape that you want.

   I then picked out five coordinating heavy weight scrapbook papers. One for the outside of the house, one for the inside of the house, one for the book cover, one for the inside of the book cover, and one for the base that the box would eventually sit on.

Using Mod Podge I covered the outside of the box with the paper. Carefully flex the folds while still wet to stretch them a little so that they don't crack when dry. I then trimmed the edges to about 3/4" and folded them over the exposed cardboard edge.

      Then using my template I cut the paper for the interior of the box. I checked it for fit before attaching it with Mod Podge. I then cut a piece of cardboard 4 1/2"x3 3/4" for the inside bottom of the box. I checked it for size allowing for the thickness of the paper I would be covering it with. I then covered it and glued it into place.

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  I then used a gold leave pen and outlined all of the roses and buds. I cut a piece of  6 1/2"x5 1/2" foam core board to sit the box on. I covered it with scrapbook paper using Mod Podge to glue it down. Then I hot glued the box to it.

   Then I covered all of the edges with gold fabric trims gluing them in place with hot glue. Now it was time to decorate it. I decided to make it a birdhouse. So I cut out a circle for the outside of the opening and put a small black circle for the hole. Since the paper was wild roses I found wild roses to decorate it with, and a few other things. I guess you might say that I went a little over the top. I just couldn't help myself. This isn't flat and it doesn't have to fit it into a little envelope. This was fun. Embellish, embellish, and embellish!

Front

 Right Side

 Back

 Left Side

Book and Box

Birdhouse Book Box  Shown With ATC.

  Well I just hope that she loves her book as much as I loved making it for her. I really want to just once let her feel like I do when she sends me those little gifts. I want her to feel the same joy that I feel each time I use one of the things that she sends me.

Take Care

Kathy