I haven’t actually set anything outside in the pots yet because frost is still a possibility here in Wisconsin. But this is why my plants don’t always thrive. I had to shoot through the window and screen so he wasn’t scared off.
Monthly Archives: April 2023
Book Cloth
Today I made some book cloth to use on junk journal covers. It’s very easy to create colorful covers with do-it-yourself book cloth. I had been planning to make for a few months and finally decides to do it.
Anyone can make their own book cloth using fabric, tissue paper and a fabric bonding agent. What I used was a fat quarter bundle from Joann Fabric and Crafts, a product called Heat ‘n’ Bond, also from Joann’s, and white tissue paper from the No-longer Dollar Store.
For those who don’t sew, a fat quarter is the equivalent of a quarter yard of fabric. However, it is very different from a regular quarter yard. A quarter yard of fabric will be a nine-inch wide strip cut across the width of the fabric. A fat quarter is a yard of fabric cut lengthwise and crosswise to form four rectangles around 18 by 22 inches or slightly more depending on whether the fabric is 32 inches wide or 44/45 inches wide. Individual fat quarters can be bought or they may be bundled with coordinating colors or patterns.
Heat ‘n’Bond can be bought by the yard off the bolt or prepackaged. The light hold works well since you will only be bonding the fabric to the tissue paper. The book cloth will either be glued to the cover or sewn around the edges. The tissue paper keeps the glue from seeping through the fabric.
You will also need an iron and ironing board, scissors, and a ruler. You don’t have to prewash the fabric. Set the iron according to the recommended setting for the type of Heat ‘n’ Bond you have. Cut the Heat ‘n’ Bond to the size of the fabric piece. Press any wrinkles out of the fabric before placing the bonding sheet down on the wrong side of the fabric. I usually iron in a circular motion, ironing out from the center of the piece. Check the edges to make sure the adhesive is on the fabric and not stuck on the backing paper.
Once you’re certain the adhesive is in place on the fabric, remove the backing sheet by lifting a corner and gently pull up across the sheet. If the iron missed spots, press the area and check again. The fabric should still be warm when you pull up the backing sheet. Lay a sheet of tissue paper on top and iron until the tissue paper is adhered to the fabric. Trim the edges even with the bonded area. Et, voila! Book cloth.
The completed puppet
The completed puppet:
Junk Journal prep
More signatures are ready for the junk journals I’m working on. Thirty new signatures are waiting to be added. The journals are various sizes and will have up to five signatures depending on the width of the spine. Each signature will be trimmed to fit the journal covers. The covers are made of box board – trimmed boxes from frozen pizzas, crackers, tissues, and other boxed products, covered in scrapbook paper or fabric or both. The spines are reinforced with muslin that extends into the hinges.
The signatures are made up of various papers dyed with coffee or gel frosting colors, or magazine pages, maps, drawing paper, lined papers of various colors, and other types of paper. They will be embellished with borders and pockets, stamps, and stencils and collaged pieces.
Thursday, April 6th
Today I worked on a puppet I’m making for my sister. I’m building the face. It’s a hybrid sock puppet made from fleece instead of a sock. She requested a new one since her youngest grandson appropriated the original. I made the old one pictured below 20 years ago.
She has seen better days. The new one has the legs lightly stuffed and to shape will have a tail. The head will be shaped a bit better with some batting to give it more structure. The facial features will be similar. I should be done with it by Monday so I can ship it out.
I’ll post a photo of the completed puppet soon.
Hello Again
I’m back. Busier than ever. Since last we met, I’ve joined a makerspace here in Madison, called the Bodgery. I’m the Craft Area Captain. What that means is I’m in charge of a large room filled with almost everything a crafter needs – sewing machines, knitting machines, a heat press, bookbinding supplies, yarn, fabric and even more stuff. I teach members how to use the equipment in the Craft Area, as well as bookbinding, knitting , sewing and papercrafts. I’ll be posting the projects I’m working on as well as a few pictures of classes with the participants’ permission.
Right now, I’m working on some junk journals. Here are two made from return envelopes covered in tissue paper. The inside pages are various papers including magazine pages and scrap papers.
A Gingersnap is not always a cookie.
I’ve taken in my son’s cat. He left her with me when he moved to an apartment with a (now former) friend. Her name is Gingersnap, called Ginny or Gin-Gin, and she used to be feral.
She’s about nine years old, dislikes other cats, but tolerates dogs. She’s not cuddly. Oh no. She’d rather bite the hand that feeds her right up to the elbow. Her favorite game to play is “grab the ankles and trip the one who feeds me.” She hates the fact that I won’t allow her to go outside.
She does like her cat tree by the window. She can watch the side and back yards from her perch. She also guards the door and greets everyone who comes in. She especially likes meeting the dog I sit on Tuesdays and Fridays. He’s afraid of cats and she loves to get in his face.
She’s so special that I’m working on a mini book about her titled A Gingersnap Is Not Always A Cookie.
Sillytoes Crafts 