Project by Susan Persson Dumke.Susan creates a catch all travel scrapbook using a zigzag stitch and a plastic bag. Use one bag for each day of your trip and maybe additional bags for special events.
Materials:large self-sealing plastic bags (one per day)
ribbon
thread
wooden skewer
3 sheets 12" x 12" card stock
film strip
assorted paper scraps
sewing machine
Art Accentz Terrifically Tacky Tape
Xyron repositionable adhesive
1. Stack plastic bags on top of each other with open ends all facing the same direction, and hold together with paper clips.
2. Sew (zigzag stitch) closed ends together (figure A).
3. Lay skewer on top of stitching and sew over stick (figure B). This will strengthen the spine of the book.
4. Make a small spine by cutting a piece of card stock slightly taller than the width of the bag, about as wide as the bag is tall. (Bags will lay in the book perpendicular to the spine of the book.) Score spine in center of book and crease.
5. Cut one less piece of ribbon than the number of bags you are using. Cut each ribbon three times the width of the plastic bag.
6. Lay all ribbons on top of each other, stack and center them in the spine. Sew (zigzag stitch) ribbons into center of spine (figures C and D).
7. Place a strip of Terrifically Tacky Tape along zigzag stitching on back of plastic bags. Adhere on top of sewn ribbons in spine.
8. Attach additional paper to ends of spine to create full width of cover. Cut front and back to length, covering all bags.
9. Embellish cover. Susan sewed pieces of unexposed film strips to cover of book and used assorted paper scraps to accessorize the cover. Remember this is just a place to collect memorabilia, not a scrapbook album.
10. With bags lying perpendicular to the spine, fold over top bag. Move ribbons from top down over bag and tie (figure E); flip next bag over and tie next ribbon, repeating until all ribbons are tied.
Tips:
Label each bag ahead of time with the appropriate day/special event, if you know your travel plans.
Make journaling notes each day about your trip and place in appropriate bag; they will all be organized for you when you get home.
Make a bag book for every member of your family and merge together once you get home. It's a great way to see what each person picked up on vacation! You could even have little family challenges each day to find the most textured memento, the most original, the "where did you find that" memento, etc., thus creating an entirely new scrapbook theme.
Decorate the ends of ribbons with charms/beads, etc.
Use different sized bags for different trips and mini weekends. Make smaller books out of sandwich bags for kids.