How to make a sketchbook out of two

How to Make a Sketchbook out of Two 9” x 12” Canvas Boards

by Mrs. E.

MATERIALS

• Two canvas boards measuring 9” x 12”• Acrylic paint, brushes, pallet, water• Optional media: stamps, beads, glitter, printing ink, tissue paper,

hand towels, handmade or decorated papers, plastic wrap• X-acto knife and metal ruler• 10-18 pieces of 9” x 12” drawing paper, newsprint, watercolor

paper, construction paper, pastel paper, canvas• Tacky glue• Heavy books• Nail, hammer or drill• Heavy sewing thread or hemp and needle

Prepare Your Canvas Board

You can select any method you like to prepare your canvas board. In the past we have created abstract expressionist paintings, multi-media techniques, and printmaking to create our covers. Today we are going to use watered down acrylic paint and plastic wrap to create an “crystal” like texture. You will need plastic wrap to complete this part.

Create a wash over the surface of your canvas and cover it with plastic wrap while it’s wet. Let it dry completely before removing the plastic wrap. Review: Plastic Wrap Process

Add Additional Surface Treatments

This is a leaf carved out of extra rubber block printing material.

The leaf was printed in gold acrylic paint over the surface of both canvas boards.

Scoring the Cover

Determine which end of your canvas board will be sewn together and use an X-acto knife to score about 1 inch from the edge. Do not cut all the way through.

Gently crack the board so your canvas will bend at one end.

Assemble The SketchbookYou will need Tacky Glue and at least 15 sheets of drawing or painting papers to put inside. Tip: I always keep my tacky glue upside down in an old coffee mug to keep the glue in the tip of the applicator.

Begin adding a thick layer of tacky glue to the end you’ve selected to bind on the BACK COVER. Slowly layer one sheet of paper at a time adding a new bead of glue to each paper until you add the scored cover.

Let your sketchbook dry overnight! I stack heavy old books on top of the glued end. This will hold your book together when you drill

the holes.

Slip a piece of construction paper under the front and back cover of your sketchbook and draw a line. Trim on the line. This will

cover the inside of the sketchbook cover. You can decorate the inside cover as you wish.

Putting in The HolesOn the cover of the glued end place a dot one each apart from each other.

Place a board under your sketchbook and hammer a hole at each one inch mark.

You will need a heavy string and sturdy sewing needle.

Sew your book one direction leaving a few inches of string at the end. When you reach the end turn around and sew back the other direction. You will end at the same place you began. Use the few inches of you string you left hanging when you began to tie off and finish. Tie a good knot and put a dab of glue on it to secure it.

Cover the BindingI used some metallic tissue paper to cover the bound end of my sketchbook. You can use any type of material you want to cover this area.

I tore and wadded up the tissue paper and then pieced it together over the bound edge. At this time you may add other decorative elements to your sketchbook.

Finishing Touches

A bead clasp was added to the edge by adding 2 more nailed holes and 1 nailed hole on the back cover.

The threads were put through the 2 holes on the front cover and knotted.

Adding the Bead ClaspMake sure you tie a secure knot on the inside of the cover.

The clasp was made using a hand knitting technique and securing one end with a bead and tying a large knot on the inside of the back cover.

Glue the inside cover sheet on covering the knot from the clasp for the front and back cover.

Now you are ready to start sketching!