Craft Project

LINE THE RULER UP along the faintly drawn pencil line in the middle of the paper and drag a blunt, hard edged object like a credit card down the middle of the cover. (pic 3) This is called scoring the paper and it will make the card stock easier to fold. Fold the cover in half along the scored line. OPTIONAL: Use decorative scissors to cut around the edge of the folded cover. We used scalloped edge scissors to make the cover look like an old postcard.

MAKE A SMALL LOOP at the front of the book with the end of the band that you pushed through from the back. Now slip your stick through the loop made by the end of the band. Then repeat with the other hole, attaching the band to the other end of the stick.

TAKE THE SIX PIECES OF A3 PAPER and fold them in half on the short edge of the paper. NOTE: If you used decorative scissors to trim the edge of the cover, now trim the top, bottom and right side edges of the inside pages so they will fit inside the cover. Use regular scissors or for a very neat edge, a parent can use a ruler and a sharp craft knife to trim the pages on each edge all at once.

NOW YOUR SUMMER JOURNAL IS READY TO FILL NOTE: Although these instructions are for an A4 book, A5 books can easily be made by using A4 card stock and paper instead of A3.

USING THE TWO-HOLE PUNCH , pull out the measuring edge and set it for an A3 measurement which will centre the holes on your paper. Put the folded edge of the cover in the hole punch, lining it up with the A3 measuring edge and punch the holes in it. Repeat this step with each of the six lighter weight pieces of paper. TRIM YOUR STICK to fit the front of the book, it doesn’t have go all the way to the top and bottom edges but will need to extend longer than the centred holes. PUT THE MIDDLE PAGES INSIDE the cover and line up the holes. Push an elastic band or thin hair band through one of the holes from the back of the book. You may need to use the point of a stick to help push the elastic through the hole.

28 The Green Parent

This simple method of book binding can be applied to many different book projects. Here are a few ideas: l Make a stash of blank books to use for sketching. l Write a story. Help children put their ideas into words, illustrate the story and bind it all into a book. l Make an alphabet book for a younger child (add an extra interior page which will create a 28 page book,) draw simple pictures to go with each letter and let them colour them in; ruled lines could also be included for children to practice writing their letters. l Make a gift book. Use decorative or special handmade papers and create a photograph album for granny and granddad or a blank journal for a friend.

There are many methods of book binding and most require very simple supplies. To learn about the various methods and for inspiration read The Book Book by Sophie Benini Pietromarchi , and also How To Make Books by Esther K Smith, Lindsay Stadig and David Zimmerman . n
Self Suf ficiency

SPE CIAL FEA TUR E

Grow YOUR OWN Get children involved in the garden 41

GO WILD How to forage for your dinner 38

Chicken Shed My family and other animals 44

PAGES O F I DEAS, INSPIRATI ON&STOR IES

PLUS ENERGY EFFICIENCY 30 | WILD GREENS 34 | MAKING JAM 35

Self Suf ficiency Special | The Green Parent 29