Project by Sylvia R. Alotta from Wesmont, Ill.
Sylvia has her Master's degree in bookbinding and works for a company as a bookbinder, but she enjoys preserving this traditional art form so much that she also creates her own bound items in her off time. This bound picture frame can function as the perfect wedding gift, as it displays the invitation and leaves a spot for a wedding photo. It's one gift that will last for generations to come!
Materials:
silk in 3 complementary colors/textures
Ten boku-zen iron-on backing from Japan
.098 book board
PVA glue
craft knife or scalpel
ruler
bone folder
scissors
iron
weights
Steps:
1. Cut a template of the invitation. Cut book board so that the invitation will have a nice border around it. Cut a second piece to match the first piece of book board. Cut two pieces of book board that resemble a picture frame (with an open hole in the center).
2. Cut fabrics to fit appropriate boards, leaving a 1-inch turn-in.
3. Use iron to back fabric with Ten boku-zen for stiffness and to keep the fabric from absorbing the glue.
4. Begin assembly: Apply light coating of PVA glue to the two pieces of book board. Align the pieces on the fabric so that they are flush. Glue down main color of fabric. Use a bone folder to burnish and shape.
5. Miter all corners by clipping fabric corner two book board thicknesses from the edge of the book board. Repeat for all corners of fabric and glue down all edges.
6. Using contrasting fabric, glue down a strip of fabric along the spine area.
7. Using a third color of fabric, glue over entire piece of one of the picture frame-shaped pieces of book board. This will become the left interior panel of the book board. Use bone folder to crease the fabric inside the hole. This will be where the invitation sits.
8. Using contrasting fabric and glue, cover the second picture frame-shaped piece of book board. This will be the right interior panel of the folio.
9. Mark an X in the center of this covered frame (use a ruler). Clip excess and fold back edges of fabric. Glue down excess fabric to the back side of the covered frame.
10. Glue both covered interior panels to the uncovered outer folio cover. Make sure to only glue down three sides of the right interior panel to allow for the photo to be inserted from the other (fourth) side.
11. Weigh down glued pieces to ensure good coverage while drying.
E-mail: Sylviaalotta@earthlink.net
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