Celebrate Make a Book Day!

• 05/06/2025
• 14:22
• maureen

There’s something magical about holding a handmade book — every fold, every stitch, and every page tells a story even before the words do. Make a Book Day invites you to dive into the creative world of book arts, where imagination meets craftsmanship. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just discovering your love for handmade treasures, this day is all about exploring, learning, creating, and binding a beautiful book of your own.

If you’re ready to start your bookbinding journey, one title I absolutely love and recommend is Adventures in Bookbinding: Handcrafting Mixed-Media Books. It’s not just a collection of ideas — it’s a guide packed with inspiration, step-by-step instructions, and all the essential tools you’ll need to create your own masterpiece.

From the very beginning, this book sets you up for success. The introduction gives you a fun and fascinating look at the anatomy of a book — you’ll learn terms like head, tail, spine, hinges, and signatures. Plus, you’ll find a handy list of must-have tools to start your bookbinding adventure.

This book walks you through the basic techniques of bookbinding in a clear, encouraging way. Even if you’ve never sewn a page or folded a piece of handmade paper before, you’ll feel confident and excited to dive in.

One of the things I adore about this book is its emphasis on mixed media — incorporating bits of ephemera (like ticket stubs, vintage postcards, or fabric scraps) and embellishments to turn simple books into stunning, one-of-a-kind works of art. It encourages you to make each creation truly personal.

Let books become your passion — not just the reading of them, but the making of them! This book walks you through each project with clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions, making it perfect for both crafters and total novices.

Here are a few helpful hints to get you started:

• Start simple: Choose a basic binding technique first to build your confidence. For me, it was using a Coptic stitch to bind my book.
  
• Gather your materials ahead of time: This is the biggest time saver and keeps you on task! Keep these items together in a tote or storage bin if that helps.

• Mix and match: Don’t be afraid to combine fabrics, papers, buttons, and found objects. I try to “go green” in the creation of my books, and I utilize a mix of materials that are either bound for the landfill, salvaged, or secondhand. Some may call this concept junk journaling.
  
• Be patient: Bookbinding is both an art and a practice — enjoy the process as much as the product.
• Use YouTube: Sometimes a video, along with the book, is the best way to learn something new. For example, I viewed an awesome video by LorriMarie Jenkins on how to coptic stitch a small book!
  

All you need is a spark of creativity and a willingness to play!

Let’s Stitch It All Together

Whether you’re binding your first handmade journal or crafting a whimsical book filled with memories, Make a Book Day is your invitation to create something that’s uniquely yours. 

Featured here are some amazing books created by one of my talented friends who took up the craft during the pandemic! 

She even shared a quote with us and explained what the book arts mean to her:

“I love it. It’s a creative outlet that got me through the pandemic, and I’ve grown with every book and creation. Being able to make something with my hands and then stitch together a book filled with love and art truly fulfills me.”

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of flipping through pages you stitched together, filled with imagination, ideas, and art. So gather your paper, your glue, your favorite bits of ephemera — and get ready to craft a story that’s as much about the making as it is about the words themselves.

Remember: there are no mistakes in book arts, only happy accidents that add to the charm. So dive in, play around, and most importantly — have fun!

More Books to Spark Your Creativity:

• Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing, and Inventive Thinking by Emily K. Neuburger
  A colorful, playful guide packed with creative prompts and art projects to ignite your imagination. Perfect if you want to fill your handmade books with vibrant life!
  
• The Art of the Fold: How to Make Innovative Books and Paper Structures by Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol
  A must-have for those who want to explore the sculptural side of bookbinding with beautiful, dynamic structures.
  
• Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden
  (This is my second go-to for bookbinding!) A fantastic, comprehensive resource that covers a wide range of techniques and projects, from simple pamphlets to complex accordion books.
  

Ready to Bind Your Own Story?

We’d love to see your creations!
Share a photo of your handmade book or journal and tag us on Facebook or Instagram— whether it’s stitched with simple folds or layered with mixed-media magic, we can’t wait to celebrate your creativity.