Vintage Keepsake Book

Sally White is in love with books. When she's not reading books, writing books or editing books, she loves to make faux vintage books that hold photos and ephemera. To make her vintage keepsake book, she guts an old hardcover book and embellishes it with decorative papers, copper mesh pockets, rubber stamping, gesso, paint, embossed wallpaper, ribbons and eyelets.

Materials:

waxed paper to cover work surface
small hardcover book (library discard or thrift store find)
craft knife
decorative papers for outside and inside of book
white glue
sponge brush
cardstock in coordinating colors for pages and signatures
one plain, regular size brown lunch sack
sheet of clear acetate
rubber stamps and inkpads
assorted paints (acrylic, fabric, and interference)
gesso
copper mesh
liver of sulfur (available at art supply stores)
old credit card
metal ruler
scissors
eyelets
eyelet punch tool and eyelet setter
glue stick
photo corners
ribbon
waxed bookbinders thread
embossed wallpaper scraps
lace bits
assorted stickers and charms
assorted photos
ephemera:
- cards
- old letters
- telegrams
- sheet music
- ticket stubs
duct tape

2. Cut a piece of decorative paper at least 1/2 inch larger on all sides than the outside of the opened book.

3. Cut a piece of decorative paper approximately 1/8 inch smaller than the inside of the opened book.

4. Using a sponge brush, completely cover the outside of the book board with a thin layer of white glue. Then cover the paper with a thin layer of glue. Working quickly before the glue dries, cover the outside of the book with decorative paper. When folding the edges, miter the corners for a smooth fit. Smooth the paper and remove air bubbles with an old credit card.

6. Gently fold the book cover back and forth a few times so that the paper fits snugly against the spine. Smooth any wrinkles using the credit card. Set aside book cover to dry.

7. To make the signatures, fold two 3-inch wide strips of card stock approximately 1/8 inch shorter than the height of the book itself. For a vintage look, tear the strips, rather than cut them. Decorate the strips with rubber stamps and gesso or acrylic paint lightly scraped on with the credit card (figure D). Fold in half lengthwise. Set aside.

8. To age the copper mesh for making the pockets, take the mesh outside and lightly spray with a mixture of liver of sulfur and water (figure E). Several light misting are better than one big splat, which will turn the mesh black. Allow mesh to dry.

9. Cut two pieces of aged mesh to make pockets. For a vintage look, eyeball the measurements, making each pocket slightly different in size. The pocket should fit inside the book, but allow enough overlap so that the rough edges can be turned under and secured with eyelets. Using a metal ruler, begin at the bottom of the piece of mesh and turn up approximately one-sixteenth of an inch. Carefully press the folded lip down so that it is flat. Continue around the three other sides, taking care not to cut fingers on the rough mesh.

10. Going back around the mesh, use the metal ruler to fold over three of the four sides approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch (eyeball measurements). Do not fold over the top edge of the pocket. When the two sides and bottom are folded, smooth. On the two bottom corners, snip out excess copper mesh that was formed by folding the pieces over. Trimming will allow the edges to lie flat and will enable the eyelet punch and setter to penetrate the mesh.

11. Cut two pieces of clear acetate just slightly smaller than the insides edges of the copper mesh pockets. Slip acetate under the three folded lips.