Vacation Scrapbook

This is a little scrapbook I did over vacation.

I take art supplies wherever I go.  We drive to the cabin so I had a little more room.

This time it was my painting field kit, an assortment of papers, and a smallish container of gesso.

I also had some extra blank books.  Through the year I make hundreds of  paper bag books and file folder books for school.   This scrapbook uses the paper bag book.

You can find full directions on how to make these books in my previous posts.



Paper Bag Book Tutorial

File Folder Book Tutorial

On a rainy day at the cabin I spent some time applying a coat of gesso to the pages of the scrapbook.


I wasn't sure what medium I would be using for all the pages so I just primed them all. That way I was ready for anything!

On some of the pages I added some torn book pages, crumpled tissue, and old newspaper to the gesso while it was still wet.

This was all random.  Then when I started to create a page I would then take this texture into account.

I put wax paper in the pockets to stop them from being painted shut.

The gesso dries fairly fast, I would go do something else for a while and then come back and paint the next set of pages.

So my cover page is painted in watercolour. There is some crumpled tissue on this page which gave texture to the grass.

I added a figure cut from a magazine but I could have also used one of my own photos.


I used a Sharpie Pen for detail.  I am absolutely smitten by these Sharpie pens.  They are still permanent and seem to last longer than the Sharpie fine markers.  Nice fine lines.

First inside page is a painting of the Cabin.  Text added from magazines and the computer.

The computer text I added when I got home but I used my summer reading material on site.

The flap from the bottom of the paper bag shows a little map of the inside of the cabin.


Built in "lift the flaps" are another great feature of paper bag books.

Most of my books have this spinner feature.


For my vacation scrapbook I used it for my usual question.

Spin the wheel.......yes!  the beach.

The next 2 pages were about some day trips.





I added a photo and some sand.

The titles were made at home.  I painted some paper with dashes of paint, warm colours for one, cool colours for another.


Let dry.

Using a stamp pad I stamped some letters.  I also stencilled some letters using a brush and that same stamp pad.

I used the next bottom of the bag flap to remember all that great food.....

More photos.

The last page of the book has a frame cut out.  At school I tend to use it as a puppet theatre.


It can hold a number of photos....

and makes a great pocket to hold any tickets, brochures,  or other things you have collected on your travels.

Finally I painted my back cover in acrylic.


That's it, a great keepsake to remember your summer.




See you next time.

"Out to Lunch" Books

I was kicking around some unique book ideas this fall and here are a few  I came up with.





Now I know it's not the healthiest example but what kid doesn't like french fries once and a while!

When you pull the fries out you have the pages of your book connected by a chain.

This is a sandwich book, which could easily be a hamburger, taco, or even a wrap (that could be a scroll book).

Let's start with the french fry book.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- corrugated cardboard
- yellow and red liquid tempera or acrylic
- disk tempera paint
- container template
- cardstock or manila tag
- yellow and white paper
- printed text from the computer or hand written
- glue
- ball and chain connector (you can find these at the Hardware store)

PROCEDURE:

Using the template trace the container shape onto a piece of manila tag or cardstock.


Cut out.

Using disk tempera paint some yellow stripes on the inside of the container shape.

Paint the other side red.






Set aside to dry

Take your corrugated cardboard and cut into long rectangles.  Make them all slightly different lengths.

Paint both sides with the yellow liquid tempera or acrylic.

Set aside to dry.

Type out your story/poem on the computer or hand letter.

Paint with yellow disk tempera.

Cut your sentences out and glue onto the fries.

Poke a hole in the bottom of each fry with an awl.  Thread a chain thru the fries in the order of the story or poem.

I collect these ball and chains.  It seems every new pair of pants, shirt, etc seems to have one of these to attach the brand tag.  It is very easy to recycle these.

Attach a label to the front of your container.  This is your title.

Crease the fold lines with a bone folder or ruler.

Put some glue on the side seams.  Fold the container together.

Your container should look like this.

Place your fries chain side first into the container.

The sandwich book is made up of pages that represent the layers.


You need a piece of paper for each layer.

Cut a double page for the layer.  You can see my lettuce page here.  It is one large page folded.

Your double page doesn't necessarily have to have the same shape on both sides.  I could have cut a lettuce slice on one side and then a cheese slice on the other.  Just maintain that fold so you can staple it all together.

Put all the layers together and then staple, glue, or even sew along the middle fold.

Here is another of these layered books I have made with Grade 3 that shows the layers of the earth.

and last year I showed you this heart book that is a similar layered book.







Hope you enjoy the book projects and I'll see you next time.

How to make an Art Calendar

I have lots of art calendars.  I get one every year to keep the inspiration going.  (This year it's the Metropolitan)

It occurred to me that it would be great to make your own so I created one that showcases some of my favourite projects.

It's a desktop one that stands up on it's own and once you know how to make one you can easily adapt this project for a keepsake book or journal (i.e Mother's  Day).

I added a small calendar to each page for this year.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- 2 pieces of corrugated cardboard, the size you want for the calendar
- paint 
- coloured cardstock
- binder rings, chain, wire, or even ribbon/string
- artwork for the different months, same size as the cardboard
- glue
- hole punch
- piece of wide ribbon
- printable calendar

PROCEDURE:

I'm going to walk you thru how to make the covers and how to get it to stand up first.   You then can add the pages/months.
Cut 2 pieces of corrugated cardboard the size you want for your calendar or book.  These will be the front and back cover of your calendar.

I like to prime them with white paint or gesso.





Prime both sides. Set aside to dry.

Now you have different options for binding your calendar.

Binder rings are nice but can be a bit pricey especially if you are doing a whole class.  Another great option are shower curtain rings.  I can get a set of 12 for $1.00 at the Dollar Store.

You can also just use wire, ribbon or string.

I'm going to use binder rings for this calendar.

I mark with a pencil where I want the holes to go on one of the primed pieces of cardboard.

Punch with a single hole puncher.

Place this piece of cardboard on top of the second piece and mark with pencil where the holes are.  Punch them on the second piece.

You can now attach the rings.

To make the stand I cut a piece of wide ribbon slightly longer than the width of the calendar when it is standing.

On the back of the front cover glue the end of the ribbon to the middle of the bottom.



You can use tacky glue or hot glue.

Glue the other end to the bottom of the other piece of cardboard.

 Now have a calendar/book that will stand up.


If you want you can get fancy and do 2 pieces of ribbon on either end as an alternate way.


You can now add your pages as well as artwork for the front and back cover.  Punch holes in each new page.

Each piece of artwork is mounted on a piece of coloured card stock that is the same size as my cardboard covers.

You can add the names of the months with stamps, hand lettered, stencilled, or using computer text.  I used my cricut.

I found a printable calendar online.  I cut each month out and added them to my artwork pages.




That's it.

I hope everyone had a great holiday break.  I know I did.  I start a new residency today and I'm looking forward to working with my new crop of students!



It's going to be a week of clay projects, some old , some new.  You'll get to see the finished results in a few weeks.