Some of my favorite places to look for inspiration are non-profit or more “home-spun” web sites. I find clues and even instructions for projects that can be embellished and created with our paper art supplies. Here’s a link to a page that describes how to make a little book from a paper bag: http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/artist_book/make_a_book.html The pages end up measuring about 4” by 6” when you start with a 12’ by 18’ sheet of paper.
I adapted these instructions to make a paper bag book as the “entertainment” for a birthday party with 10 girls ages 10-13. They had a blast using punches, stamps, inks, and other items to decorate their books. This photo above is the front cover and one page spread from the sample book I made using the exact pattern. For a cover, I cut cardstock large enough to cover the pages when folded and secured it with double stick tape. You could also stitch the book into a cover.
As I explained to the party guests, you can make this book with any paper rectangle including copy paper and notebook paper. Just don’t tell them I taught you when you get caught folding in Biology class! To prove my point I used a sheet of 8.5” by 11” patterned paper to make a smaller book and used scallop top tags as a cover. You don’t have to have a folded cover for this book you can bind it with coils, wire, or try the Rollabind™ like I used. This project was featured at Annette’s recent super bowl stamp and scrap gathering with a very positive reception for the ..errr…over 13 crowd.
