This is a flexigon book. It's made from a single sheet of paper
(any size square) that is folded, cut, glued, and decorated.
To write in it or look at it you need to "fold and open" it to
reveal each of the four faces. It's fun to make and even
more fun to receive. It folds up small, so you can put in an
envelope to send as a card, put pictures on it to make it a
mini memory/photo album, or use it as a note pad to carry
with you.
You'll need:
One piece of square paper of whatever type you like. It's
a good idea to make a plain (non-glossy copy paper) one
to start. I am using 8" x 8"card stock for my sample.
adhesive (glue stick, double-sided tape, etc.,
depending on your paper type)
scissors
bone folder or Scor-pal
Instructions:
First (picture 1), fold your square into 16 equal squares.
If you don't have a scoring tool (like a Scor-pal), fold
your paper in half, open it, then fold the edges to the
center. Open paper again, and turn it 90 degrees right
or left, and repeat the folds. This will give you 16 equal
sections. Next,(picture 2) carefully cut out the four
center squares, making a window in your paper.
With a pencil (I've used removable paper letters), write the letters
A-D in the squares noted in the picture below. Fold the top row of
squares (that includes A) down so that A covers B. Glue (only) those
two squares, being careful to keep glue from other sections.
Next, fold the bottom row (including C) up so that C covers D.
Carefully
glue C to D. Your paper should look like the one below the glue stick.
Without picking up or turning your flexigon, write the letters E-F
in the squares noted in the picture below. Fold and glue E to F and
G to H. This will give you a blank "face" with folds and a slit.
Use a pencil again (or post-it notes) to mark this face #1.
If you fold back the sides so that the slit is facing up, you'll
notice that the flexigon adjusts to show you a new blank
face. You may have to coax the slit edges a bit by pulling
them gently apart, but, if your folds are well creased,
the transitions will be smooth.
On this new face, mark a #2. Again fold the edges back,
with the slit facing up to reveal a third blank face. Mark
this with a #3. Repeat this flip one more time to reveal
the fourth face, and label it #4. If you keep repeating
the motions, you'll cycle through all four faces of the
flexigon and get practice working it at the same time.
Now it's time to start with #1 and remove the post-its
or pencil marks so you can decorate the square. Just flip
and decorate as you go, then have fun sharing your flexigon.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Accordion Book (mini)
Since I like to share how to make things with paper, I'm starting with a simple, fun book that is easy to adapt to materials you have on hand. You can use recycled cereal or other product boxes for the covers instead of covering chip board with decorative papers. You might use magazine pages for the inside papers. Have fun, and recycle whenever possible.
For this book I am using:
5-7 square papers (2.75 inches) for the inside pages - Use any odd number.
2 chipboard squares (1.5 inches)
2 decorative papers (2.75 inches) for the covers
thin bead elastic (about 5 inches max.)
ball chain (small) about 4-5"
beads (or other embellishments)
For this book I am using:
5-7 square papers (2.75 inches) for the inside pages - Use any odd number.
2 chipboard squares (1.5 inches)
2 decorative papers (2.75 inches) for the covers
thin bead elastic (about 5 inches max.)
ball chain (small) about 4-5"
beads (or other embellishments)
These are the papers I'm using. |
Cover the chipboard pieces (one side of each) with glue, and place glue side down on wrong side of cover papers (step 7 shows only one glued so far). |
Trim the corners (but not right against the chipboard). Add glue to the tabs and fold in on the board, pinching at the corners (step 8) and smoothing down. |
Squeeze your chain of papers together, add glue to the end pieces, and sandwich them between the covers. Add clips (or rubber bands, etc.) until the glue is dry (time depends on your choice of glue). |
String whatever beads you want onto a thin piece of elastic (about 4-5 inches max.) Thread through the parallel holes and tie on the inside. Add the ball chain to the hole on the corner. |
Close the book, and pull the elastic piece around to the other side of the book to keep it closed tight. |
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