Tiny Book Workshop – Program Outline

What’s better than your favourite book? A tiny version of your favourite book! This fun step-by-step workshop is a great way to get teens excited about books, and excited to engage with the library. The turnout wasn’t huge, but the few who came had a great time! I had many adults of all ages ask about this program, and I think it would work well as an adult workshop as well.

While promoting this event I included my e-mail so teens could request certain covers. A quick Google image search brought up the back covers of most books. But in the case that you can’t find one, a photo of the author or a generic looking book cover could work.

Materials

Cardstock of many colours printed with this template
Paper – could be regular white paper or pages from discarded novels
Glue sticks
Scissors
Mod Podge – Matte Finish
Needles
Spools of white sewing thread
Tiny book covers (1.5″ tall) printed on regular white paper (Front Cover Images and Tiny Back Cover Images)

Optional Materials – to turn books into jewelry:

Jump Rings (small metal rings to connect books to jewelry)
1/8 inch hole punch (smaller would also work)
Key chain pieces
Necklace cords
Necklace chains
Earring pieces

Instructions

Choose a book and carefully cut out the front and back covers
Choose a colour for the spine of the book and cut out one template around the outside lines
Glue the front cover on the right side of the template, and the back cover on the left side
Brush a generous amount of Mod Podge onto the front and back cover. This will seal the image and give the book a sturdier feel. Set aside to dry.
Take a stack of 4 – 9 sheets of paper, and cut them out into rectangles that are approximately 5cm by 4 cm. Fold in half.
Thread a needle, and poke it through the middle fold line of the papers near the top. Pull the thread through, and use the needle to poke another hole near the bottom of the middle line. Sew back and forth through the two holes 3 or 4 times to secure the binding.
Cut the thread and tie both ends together in a close knot. Trim the excess.
Once the Mod Podge is dry, fold the tabs on the template in towards the middle.
If attaching book to jewelry: use the small hole puncher to punch a hole in the card stock. The hole should be on the spine, very near to the top of the book.
Glue the front and back pages of your sewn booklet to the backside of the cardstock.
Glue the tabs in on top of the front and back pages. The rest of the booklet pages should be sticking straight up, unglued.
Open a jump ring and hook it through the punched hole on the spine. Also hook it through a necklace cord, chain, earrings, or keychain.
Use your fingers or pliers to close the jump ring.