Paper Bag Book
For this you will need an even number of small bags - brown lunch bags are just the right size - however, I have used white ones!
The first thing to do is to use something to press the folds flat, tape the bottom of the bag so it lays down.
After all of them are done, I used 8, use some double sided tape and tape down along the sides - you don't have to do this but I do so that later the book lays flatter.
Then take the bag and fold the bottom up and using your 'something' to flatten the folds, do that! Set two of them aside because you will be using them a little differently later.
Now join each set of two bags together like this. If you also used 8 bags, you will have 6 bags joined in this fashion and 2 bags sitting aside.
Then, take each set of 2 bags that are joined together and join them all to each other like this, I use lots of tape!
This is how your book should look when each set of two is joined to each other.
Now take one of the bags you put aside and keeping the flap part to the outside of the book (you will use this flap to put a cover on), tape the larger side onto the front of the book and repeat with the other bag onto the back.
It should look like this... see how the flaps are sticking out! This is so you can add a chipboard or cardstock cover, whatever you like. (I use chipboard). But that comes later so don't do it yet!
This is also when I use a punch for my envelope sections, I find it easier than when the book is all put together, now you can decorate your inner pages. Put aside the paper you will want to use for the front and back of your book until you add the cover.
Here is what some of mine are like...
I played around a bit with the little flaps, one I covered on both sides with paper to use as a journaling place or just a small photo or embellishment and the other I used some tape inside and some brads at the edge and made a tag pocket. Inside the envelope part (where the punched out bit is) I will add some cardstock for more photos. After this inside section is done, it's time to work on your cover. If you are using chipboard, cut it 1/4" larger that the total size of your paper bag book then cover both sides and clean up the edges.
Now, add a good bunch of tape to that small flap and lining up your cover so that there is an equal amount of overlap all around, affix the cover piece to the taped flap... like so,
Do the same on the other side - Here is how it looks now:
At this point I punched two holes at the front and two at the back and added brads to hold the flap and cover together more securely then using the paper left for the inside here, I covered the ends of the brads.
Here is the basic book all done, I just have to decorate the cover and add more to the inside.
If anyone notices something missing in my steps, let me know!!
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May 15th 2012, 9:06 am
