DIY Network

Mini Gift Books From "Scrapbooking" episode SCB-502

Project by Marah Johnson.

Marah creates mini gift books from matchbooks and gum boxes.

Scroll down for step-by-step project instructions.

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	Matchbook Mini Book
	Figure A
	PDF Click for matchbook art papers.
	Figure B
	Figure C

Matchbook Mini Book

1. Take a matchbook and tear out all the matches (figure A). This can be one that reminds you of a special time you had or just one from the grocery store.

2. Measure a piece of card stock 1-5/8 inches wide on the 11-inch length of a piece of card stock.

3. Tuck the bottom behind the match stubs and measure to the edge of the book (approximately 1-3/8 inches). At that mark, measure 3/8 inch from the bottom and cut from the mark to the right edge of the paper.

Note: You can also print and use the sample Marah provided in the PDF file at the right.

4. Begin folding accordion-style over and back until you have used up all the paper (figure B). If you fold at the 1-3/8-inch mark along the entire length, you should come out even at the end, though the "book" will open from the left.

5. Add photos and poems, phrases and glitter to remind you of a special time or just to give as a gift of friendship. You can also cover the matchbook with patterned paper (figure C), unless it is a matchbook from the place that will spark the memories of that special time.

6. If you have a patterned paper that you would like to use instead of card stock, simply measure your paper at 3-5/8" x 11" and fold it over to 1-7/8 inches. Continue as above with the long cut at 3/8 inch from the bottom.

Matchbox Books

Matchbox Book

1. Take a match box and measure the interior. Remember that the paper will need to be a bit smaller than the actual measurement so that it will fit when folded up. A standard matchbox will use paper measuring 1-7/8 inches wide and 11 or 12 inches long.

2. Measure from the left end 1-1/8 inches and score it to fold. Continue the accordion fold to the end of the paper.

3. Add photos and embellishments to the "book" and set aside.

4. To cover the matchbox, measure a piece of patterned paper 4-1/2" x 2-1/8". You may need to adjust those measurements slightly to fit your box, but generally that is a good place to start. Adhere one end of the paper and tack it down in the middle of one of the flat sides of the box. As you fold the paper around, crease it at each corner. You can also adhere at each crease when you fold the paper around. To make it nice at the end, fold a bit of the paper under to give a clean edge.

5. For the interior box, cut a thin stripe 3/8" x 7" for the outside edge and adhere the same way you did the exterior box.

6. For the inside of the interior box, measure and cut a piece of paper 2-5/8" x 1-7/8" and cut out the corners 3/8 inch from each edge. Adhere the edges. It is not necessary to adhere the bottom. You can also cover the inside with paper that has longer pieces coming out from the center, so that you can cover the inside edges and outside edges with the same paper (using folds). The only problem with this is that some boxes fit pretty snug already and it could make it too big to slide in and out of the box with ease.

Hint: You can make a book from one-sided patterned paper if you double the width of the paper and fold it to the above size. For example, if you have paper that you’d like to use other than card stock, simply measure a piece that is 3-5/8" x 11" or 12 inches and fold it in half to 1-7/8" x 11" or 12 inches.

	Mint Box Book

Mint Box Book

An Altoids box is the perfect size for school pictures and can be a great keepsake box for the photos and little tidbits about what the child remembers from each year, i.e. their teachers, favorite subjects, best friends...

1. For a 3-3/4 x 2-3/8 box, cut paper 4" x 3-1/2", which will fold to 2" x 3-1/2". You will need to have seven pieces that size.

2. Fold all seven pieces and round off all four corners so the book will fit in the box.

3. Cut 12 pieces of card stock 2" x 3-1/2" and round the edges as you did on the book pages.

4. Trace each photo on the back of the card stock.

5. Cut two parallel lines between the perpendicular lines you just traced to form "photo corners" that your photos will slip through to hold in place. Turn over the paper and the photos and slip them into place.

6. Adhere the photo page to the back side of each page (the plain side). You can add your child’s name and the year on that page, and on the facing page, they can add other things they might recall from that year.

7. To decorate the top of the box: Paint the box top and when it dries, add stickers. Or, cut paper to adhere to the top of the box and add the child's names using stamps or stickers.

This project can be a great gift for a grandparent or for a best friend. If you cut all the pages for the photos at the same time, you can just keep them in the box until it is time to add another photo.

GUESTS :

Marah Johnson
Fiber Mark
Website: www.scrapbook.fibermark.com