Compass Travel Journal

Materials:

large sheet of handmade paper
chipboard
matte board or other lighter weight board
small compass
3 aluminum screw posts (purchased from hardware store)
blank or graphic paper for inside of journal
found objects such as old love letters, maps, photographs, ticket stubs, etc.
fun paper for journal page dividers
acid-free glue
paintbrush
brayer
bone folder
elastic
scrap piece of wood
drill
spade drill bit
7/32" drill bit
3 binder clips
wax paper
craft knife
ruler
pen
thread and needle
screwdriver
safety glasses

1. Gather and lay out materials on a clean work surface.

2. Cut the chipboard for the book in the following measurements:

• Cover: Two pieces cut 7-3/4" x 7-1/4"
  
• Binding Strip: Two pieces cut 1-1/4" x 7-3/4"
  
• Front Compass Cover: Cut one piece of the thinner board 7-3/4" x 7-1/4"
  
• Front Binding Strip: One piece 7-3/4" x 1-1/4"
  
• Glue the thinner board to one piece of the chipboard to create the front cover.
  
• The back cover will be only one thickness of chipboard.

3. Cut handmade paper into two 9" x 17" pieces. The cover paper should be soft and fold without tearing.

4. Lay out the back cover paper and place the thin binding strip piece of chipboard to the left of the cover piece. The thin strip should be 3 inches in from the left, leave a 1/4-inch gap, and then place main board leaving 5 inches on the right side.

6. Fold paper along the edges of the chipboard. Cut away corners of the paper to allow for a flat fold when glued together.

7. Fold and glue top and bottom first. Then fold and glue outside flaps beginning at the left side (figure B). Press the bone folder down the gap created between the cover and the binding strip (figure C). It is important that all edges be firmly glued in place.

8. Drill a hole in the cover chipboard lower right corner 1-1/4 inch from edge with a spade drill bit on scrap wood. The size of the hole and drill bit will depend on compass size you will be inlaying.

9. Glue a small piece of cover paper on the thinner board where the compass will be glued. Adhere the cover chipboard and binding strip to the thinner board (figure D).

10. Repeat steps 4-7.

12. Wrap the two covers separately in wax paper and place under heavy objects (stack of books) for 24 hours to dry.