Folio and Mini Book with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts blog.  Today I am sharing this super cool Folio & Mini Book.  This is so much fun to decorate, and not so overwhelming like a larger mini album.  I am using paper from the Kaisercraft Keepsake 12"x12" paper collection but, of course, use what you have.

To cover the folio outside, cut paper slightly smaller than the size of each section and distress edges of each piece with Frayed Burlap distress ink.  You can use the following measurements for leaving a slight border, or adjust them to your preferences.

Folio cover outside

Beginning from the flap at left, use the following measurements for each section.

Section 1 - Trace around flap section and trim inside traced lines.

Section 2 - 3/4" x 8-3/4"

Section 3 - 6-1/4" x 8-3/4"

Section 4 - 1/2" x 8-3/4"

Section 5 - 6-1/4" x 8-3/4"

Section 6 - 1/2" x 8-3/4"

Section 7 - 3-1/4" x 8-3/4" - make pocket with scrap to measure 3-1/4" by 5-1/2", fold down 1" along top edge and cut a decorative scallop design.  Add two decorative brads to hold folded piece down.

Section 8 - place strips of 3/8" wide double-sided adhesive to tabs at top and bottom, as shown in photo

To cover the folio inside, cut paper slightly smaller than the size of each section and distress edges of each piece with Frayed Burlap distress ink.  You can use the following measurements for leaving a slight border, or adjust them to your preferences.

Folio cover inside

Beginning from the flap at left, use the following measurements for each section.

Section 1 - Leave blank.  It will not show when glued to the inside.

Section 2 - Leave blank.  It will not show when to the glued inside.

Section 3 - 6-1/4" x 8-3/4"

Section 4 - 1/2" x 8-3/4"

Section 5 - 6-1/4" x 8-3/4"

Section 6 - 1/2" x 8-3/4"

Section 7 -  Trace around flap section and trim inside traced lines.

Cut a strip of print paper to  and glue to center of belly band.

Belly Band (the color is really green but looks brown in photo)

Adhere belly band to right side of folio, as shown.  Flip sections 1 and 2 over and adhere tabs to make pocket.  (see photo of Folio cover inside above) 

To make the tag, cut a scrap piece of flower print paper to 2-3/8" x 6", trim top at an angle, punch hole and insert ribbon through hole.  (See photo of Folio finished with mini books inside at bottom of post.)

To cover both mini books - Cut two pieces of print paper  6-1/8" x 8-3/8" for outsides.

Mini Book 1 outside

Mini Book 1 inside

Mini Book 2 outside

Mini Book 2 inside

For Mini Book 1 - cut flaps from different print papers using the following measurements as shown in photo below.

Flap sections for Mini Book 1

• Flap 1 - 5-3/4" x 4-3/8" - score at 1" along top edge - punch along top edge above score line with decorative edger punch (white punch in picture) - use corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 2 - 5-3/4" x 4-3/8" - score at 3/8" along top edge - use corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 3 - 5-3/4" x 5-3/8" - score at 3/8" along top edge- use corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 4 - 5-3/4" x 6" = score at 3/8" along top edge- use corner punch on both bottom corners

Turn flaps over, adhere double-sided sticky tape to the paper just above the scored line on each flap.

Reverse side of flaps for Mini Book 1

Adhere first flap to inside of Mini Book 1, as shown, aligning the score line at 1-1/4" mark down from top of book.

Adhere the second flap just below the first flap, as shown, by flipping the first flap upward and butting the top of the second flap right against the folded, scored line.

Repeat the process for the third flap.

Repeat the process for the fourth flap.

Repeat the process for adding the flaps to the right side of the mini book, as shown.

Mini Book 1 Inside with flaps

To embellish the cover of Mini Book 1, take one of the small Journaling Blocks and trace around the solid portion onto scrap print paper (see Fig. 1 for Mini Book 2 below).  Insert pencil tip into the tiny holes to mark the lines.  Cut out paper piece just inside the pencil lines.

Color outer edges of journal block with Alabaster ink pad to lighten the chipboard, let ink dry.  Color the outer edges and leaves with Olive Pastel, add some Rose Coral to the flowers and berries sections.  Let inks dry.

Adhere the journal block to the front of Mini Book 1.  Add a few embellishments from the paper collection to the journal block, as shown.

Mini Book 1 Outside front cover

Mini Book 1 Inside with flaps and additional trims

For Mini Book 2 - cut flaps from different print papers using the following measurements as shown below the photo.  This book is thinner, so you will need less flaps.

Flap sections for Mini Book 2

• Flap 1 - 5-3/4" x 7-1/4" - score at 1" along top edge - punch along top edge above score line with decorative edger punch (white punch in picture) - use rounded corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 2 - 5-3/4" x 6-3/4" - score at 3/8" along top edge - use rounded corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 3 - 5-3/4" x 7-1/4" - score at 1" along top edge- punch along top edge above score line with decorative edger punch (white punch in picture) - use rounded corner punch on both bottom corners
• Flap 4 - 5-3/4" x 6-3/4" - score at 3/8" along top edge- use rounded corner punch on both bottom corners

Turn flaps over, adhere double-sided sticky tape to the paper just above the scored line on each flap.

Reverse side of flap sections for Mini Book 2

Adhere flaps 1 and 3 to inside of Mini Book 2, as shown, aligning the scored line 1-1/4" down from top of book.

Adhere flaps 2 and 4  just below flaps 1 and 3, as shown, by folding the flaps upward and butting the top of the second flaps right against the folded, scored line of the first flaps.

Mini Book 2 inside with flaps and trim at top

To embellish the cover of Mini Book 2, take one of the small Journaling Blocks and trace around the solid portion onto scrap print paper.  Insert pencil tip into the tiny holes to mark the lines, as shown below.  Cut out paper piece just inside the pencil lines.

Fig. 1

Color outer edges of journal block with Alabaster ink pad, dabbing the ink pad several times to achieve the depth of white color you are looking for.    Use the Rose Coral ink pad to edge the paper, then glue it to the center of the journal block.

Adhere the journal block to the front of Mini Book 2.  Add a few embellishments from the paper collection to the journal block, as shown.

Mini Book 2 front cover

To finish embellishing the Folio cover, cut one of the filmstrips apart in a jagged fashion.  Ink it with Charcoal chalk ink and adhere to a scrap paper with your chosen caption inside the frame, as shown.  I also inked the edges of the paper that shows through the filmstrip edges.  Cut away excess paper in a jagged fashion, also.

Adhere to edge of folio tab, as shown.  

Ink a piece of chickenwire with Chestnut Roan chalk ink.  

Fussy cut camera and flowers from second piece of patterned paper and adhere over same images with foam tape.  Weave a piece of pink film strip from the patterned paper collection through the chickenwire and adhere to the top portion of the front cover.  A second piece of the pink film strip was also adhered near the camera at the bottom.  Click on picture for a closer look.

Finished Folio Outside

Cut one of the fastener tabs in half and adhere beneath front flap to keep folio closed.

Tombow Fastener Tabs

Folio finished with mini books inside

Supplies used:

GSL Folio & Mini Book
GSL Botanical Journaling Blocks Small (contact store)
GSL Filmstrips 1 Shape Set
GSL Chickenwire Large
Kaisercraft Keepsake 12"x12" paper collection
Distress Ink Pads
  Frayed Burlap
Colorbox Chalk Ink Pads
  Rose Coral
  Charcoal
  Chestnut Roan
  Olive Pastel
  Alabaster
Decorative Punches
  Martha Stewart Doily Lace edger punch
  Fiskars corner rounder
  Fiskars deco corner punch
Ribbons and trims
Scor-tape (3/8" wide) (1/2" wide)

I hope you enjoyed today's project and are inspired to use up some of those pretty papers you own and turn them into one of these fabulous Folio and Mini Books.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week!

Barbara

Rusty Steampunk Altered Notebook Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Barbara here again with another fun project using Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  I found this inexpensive little hardback notebook in the $1.50 bin of my local craft store.  I am always making notes of things I want to create, or things I want (need) to do, and so, a notebook with a hard cover is the perfect substrate to add layers chipboard embellishments.

This is my finished "Bright Ideas" notebook, hence, the light bulb, which suggests that there just might be some good ideas hiding inside this little book.  And, as you can see, it is rusty and very Steampunk!  So scroll down for more information on l how I made this rusty, crusty and dusty cover using Andy Skinner's rust technique with and a few added products for even more crustiness.

Cut two pieces of paper to measure 4-3/4" x 7-1/8" for this particular book.  If your book is a different size, cut the paper slightly smaller than the front of the book, without covering the spine.   Adhere the paper to the front and back of the book.

I cut the gears texture sheet apart, leaving the top and left edges straight to line up against the edge of the book.  The bottom edges were cut more randomly between the gear shapes. 

Adhere this piece to  the top of the book, a shown.

Arrange and adhere the chipboard pieces to your liking.  I layered some of the gears, clock hands, and propellers for added depth and dimension.

Paint front and back of book with a wash of white gesso.  Remove some of the gesso from the script paper with a damp paper towel if you want to see more of the print show through.  Place a piece of paper between the book covers and the pages to protect them during this process. Let gesso dry.

front cover

back cover

Spread splotches of texture sand paste randomly over the chipboard and open areas of the book cover.  Let dry.

front cover

Turn book over and spread modeling  paste through gears stencil.  Let dry.

back cover

Let modeling paste dry.  This is how your back cover will look.

back cover

Paint front and back covers with a wash of Paynes Grey + water.  In the photo of the front, you can see the gritty texture left by the texture sand paste.

front cover

The back cover shows the stenciled gears and the texture sand paste I added after painting.  I simply used my finger to apply a very thin, random coat over the background.  Let paste dry.

back cover

Paint both front and back cover with a wash of Quinacridone Gold and let each side dry.  Then paint both sides again with the Quinacridone Gold direct from bottle for a deeper tone.  Let dry.

front cover

back cover

Add highlights by painting covers with Translucent Yellow Iron Oxide, concentrating on the sanded sections.  This adds a really subtle color variation.  

front cover

back cover

Next, add splotches of Titan Buff randomly over covers by applying with finger and very little paint.  Let dry.

Apply Cobalt Teal Hue in the same fashion as previously done with Titan Buff.  Let dry.

Now apply a wash of the Quinacridone Gold + water over the entire cover, front and back. This will tone down the colors and make them look more grungy.

Apply small amounts of Rusty with finger, just hitting high spots and edges very randomly.

Highlight high spots and edges with Rose Quartz Treasure Gold.  Use sparingly and apply with your finger.

Shade chipboard pieces with a slightly watered down Paynes Grey, allowing the paint to collect in the nooks and crannies.  Glue metal letters "Bright Ideas" along the left edge of front cover, as shown.

Repeat shading process on back cover with slightly watered down Paynes Grey, allowing the paint to collect in the nooks and crannies.

Finish off inside covers by adhereing print scrapbook paper of your choice to the inside, as shown.

Supplies Used:

GSL Steampunk Lightbulb Set
GSL Texture Sheet Gears 6x6
GSL Steampunk Shape Set
GSL Gears Shape Set
GSL Propellers
Hardback note book (5"x7")
7Gypsies print papers
White gesso (Liquitex)
Mixed Media Adhesive (Derivan) (or any white glue or gel medium)
Light Molding Paste (Golden)
Texture Sand Paste (DecoArt)
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Paints 
  Quinacridone Gold
  Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
  Paynes Grey
  Titan Buff
  Cobalt Teal Hue
Rust Effect Paint (Viva Décor)
Rose Quartz Treasure Gold metallic wax
Metal Embellishments (from my stash)

I hope you enjoyed my remake of a fairly non-descript notebook into something  you just might want to record your "Bright Ideas" for posterity.  Of course, if Steampunk is not your thing, I would suggest that you check out the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts online shop to see the wonderful selection of chipboard in just about any theme you can imagine.  Make it your own!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Barbara