Saturday, November 20, 2010

Bookend Cozy Instructions- Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida


Welcome back, y'all!  If you didn't get a chance yesterday, please scroll down to my last post and leave a comment for a chance to win a Grand Calibur and other wonderful prizes!

Yesterday I promised that I would post instructions for the Bookend Cozy that I created for the Spellbinders' Holiday Hoppin' Blog Hop.  Well, here they are!

I decided that since my sweet mom gave me her old bookends to use, I would cover one for her sewing room.   I will probably go back and 'tweak' it a little....it should have buttons and seam binding on it, right?  ha.  But I wanted to get this finished in time to post for you.

First I cut out all of the elements for my project.  I had purchased an old sewing pattern, so that seemed perfect to use as my background paper!  It was creased and brown, but I like it that way (vintage, right?  ha!).


Of course it needed stability, so I began with a piece of soft gray cardstock with the largest of the LF-190 Grand Labels Four die templates.  As you can see, I also cut a portion of the larger template with plain cream cardstock to use as the back of the cozy (sleeve). Use the next size (second to largest) die template



to cut the pattern instruction paper.  Then use the smallest die template to cut the actual pattern.  Now, the pattern paper is extremely thin, so I ran a piece of the grey cardstock through my Xyron 5" sticker maker and slapped the pattern onto it before I cut it.  See how nicely it cut?

I used another die template from S4-298 Antiquities - the crown! - and another piece of F-013 Premium Craft Foil -purple! - just for fun.  I may or may not leave it on the project once I fuss with some buttons.

 

Now begin your assembly.  Score your large template so that it will 'sit' on your bookend, yet still cover it.  I scored mine three inches from the bottom, but yours may vary depending upon your bookend.

Attach the top portion of your patterned paper piece with adhesive (I used a tape runner).  Now, apply adhesive to the bottom piece, but make sure it is standing at a 90 degree angle (straight up) before you smooth it down.  If you adhere it totally flat, it will wrinkle and buckle when you fold it.

Place this on top of your back cover piece and draw a line along the bottom.  Cut along the line; now your back cover piece will exactly fit onto the back of the front piece (clear as mud?  ha).

This part is crucial - put your adhesive ONLY AROUND THE EDGES - top and sides only - so that your cozy will slip over the top of the booked!  You can see in the photo how I have placed the tape just around the edges.  Now, I suggest that you use a strong red-line tape.

Decide where you want to place your smallest pattern piece and score it accordingly.  Adhere it like you did the paper (top first, fold, then adhere the bottom).

Embellish!  I added a pretty bow as well as the crown topped with a white pearl.  I may go back and remove the crown and add a few buttons.  We shall see!








Here's how the back looks after I've slipped the cozy over the bookend.

My original idea was to put a photo in the center - think of all of the possibilities!  Kitchen Bookend Cozies for Grandma with photos of her baking cookies with her grandbabies.  Who couldn't use bookends for their cookbooks?  'Nuff said.

I hope this was instructional for you.  Most of all, thank you so much for all of the sweet, precious comments on yesterday's post.  It's so rewarding to feel that you have inspired someone to create!   I hope you become a follower of my blog (see the column to the right) and let me share more ideas with you!

Now, send me photos of your cozies so I can share them!  Oh, I can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy,

15 comments:

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Very clever Deb! I love the bookend cozy and you have wonderful ideas for other types! I must have a ton of these . . .

Hugs!

jennifer mitten said...

Wow - I love this - what a great idea for a gift for a seamstress!

Vikki Jo said...

Awesome idea! How how cool to use a pattern for this, I have to show this to my mom.. she has patterns I can talk her out of I bet!
Thank you for the 'tutorial' it's so easy to follow!!

GunnyMom said...

Awesome idea and design. I am a seamstress also. I could never cut up my old patterns, but would have copies made instead. Great recycle idea for old metal office supplies.

~Tammy~ said...

This is really clever!

Diana said...

What a great creative idea!! I'm going to get working on one right now :) Thanks

Barb said...

Deborah,

Such creativity and so inspirational; my husband will be so happy if I recycle some of my hundreds of old patterns! Great idea.

Pam said...

OMG, this is such a cool idea....love it!!!! I have a number of those old bookends and hate the looks of them...well now I know what to do with them! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!

spatch said...

Cute idea. Works for me.

Suzanne said...

What a great idea! Love it.

Lisa said...

I love your idea & designs! I always thought those book ends were so unsightly--now I'm going to have to buy me some cheap ones just to make this design! TFS!

Lynne said...

What a wonderful idea. I have some of those sitting around. Now I know what to do with them!

Anonymous said...

this is so cool. I have never thought about repurposing bookends like this before. Just too cool. I love it.

Brook said...

Very inventive idea! Love it!

Star Ark Creativity said...

I love how you took the old book holder and was able to creat something beautiful out of it. I like when people that old thing and make them pretty again.