Playing with Books

Happy new week everybody!

Today, I'd like to share with you a

lovely book that I discovered.

It's "Playing with Books" by Jason Thompson

who learned the art of bookbinding by accident.

He did not only fall in love with the process,

he fell in love with the person who taught him!

They are now married and own Rag & Bone

Bindery in Rhode Island.

In this book, instead of teaching us how to

make a book, he provides ideas on how

upcycle, deconstruct and re-imagine

books that we no longer want.

I've seen this flower on different blogs & I've always

wanted to make one. Well, this book provides the

instructions!

I found a blah book from a library sale.

It was a good thing it was old and

my small donation made me less

guilty to tear it up & use it to craft.

Go ahead and use a book you no longer

read or need.

Ready to make a Kusudama flower?

You'll need 5 book pages.

Cut each page into 6" x 6" squares.

Fold 1: Fold the square into a triangle.

Fold 2: Fold the two creased corners down to

create a smaller square.

Fold 3: Fold the two triangular flaps in half.

Fold 4: Open the flaps up, then re-fold them flat,

so that the inner crease you made in Fold 3 falls

to the outside.

Fold 5: Fold the tips upwards.

Fold 6: Fold the triangular flaps in half inward.

Fold 7: Make the ends meet & secure with glue.

Use a binder clip to hold the ends together

as the glue dries.

Repeat with the remaining 4 paper squares.

Once you have the 5 petals, glue the ends

together. Again, use a binder clip to hold

them in place while the glue dries.

TADA!

According to the book, Japanese Kusudama were

used like incense or potpurri to dispel evil spirits

or disease. These days, they are used as gifts or

decorations.

Attach a nice note and leave it on your partner or

roommate's bedside table. Or leave one on

a coworker's desk for her birthday.

I think that's thoughtful and TADA!