Saturday, July 17, 2010

Piano Hinge Book Tutorial and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

One of my favorite books to make is this piano hinge type which is made with two ceramic tiles for the covers. If you’ve arrived here from Gingersnap Creations, read on to see how to make the book. If you’ve arrived from elsewhere, the first part of this tutorial where I show you how to make the tiles for the covers can be found at the post HERE on Gingersnap Creations. Supplies you’ll need include two ceramic tiles, cardstock for the pages, 5 bamboo skewers, waxed linen thread, a pencil, scissors, a bone folder, wire cutters, liquid glue like Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive, heavy liquid glue like the Ultimate, and a glue stick like UHU.

For the book covers you’ll need to make 2 tiles. You can make them both the same or just alcohol ink the back tile to coordinate with the front and don’t add stamping. I would recommend that you add a piece of tissue paper to the back tile regardless of whether you choose to stamp it or not. As discussed in the first tutorial, the tissue paper can change the ink color just a bit, so by adding it to both covers they’ll match.


My tiles are 4 1/4" square and I’ve made a template for that size that you can download and print out on cardstock to use. Click HERE for the pdf. It’s easy to create a template for any size tile. The height needs to be the same as your tile, and for the width, take the size of your tile, double it, and add ½". For my tiles that means my page size is 4 1/4" x 9". You will need to cut 4 pages this size. Next make a spine template. Mine is 4 1/4" x 1 1/2" and I folded it in half and then scored lines 1/4" on either side of the center line. I then divided it into 5 sections each of about 3/4" to 7/8" and cut a V notch at each mark. The point of the V touches the 1/4" score line. (If this is confusing, it will all make sense when you look at the downloadable template and cut out the spine template.) To create a spine template for any size tile just divide it into equal sections (or as close as you can get them - you'll notice mine aren't exactly even) so that you will have an odd number of tabs and an even number of V notches.

Score all 4 pages at 4 1/4", 4 ½", and 4 3/4". (Basically, score at the middle and 1/4" on either side of the middle.) Fold each page in half.

Place your spine template over each page and mark the notches with a pencil. Cut out all the notches making sure that the point of each V reaches the 1/4" score line.

As shown in the picture, fold each tab in, then make each page have tabs 1,3 and 5 out, while tabs 2 and 4 remain folded in. By folding all the tab hinges in and then out, it makes it easier to weave the bamboo skewers. Stack the 4 pages together so that they all match.

Now for weaving the piano hinge with the bamboo skewers! Hold the pages together as in the picture. I’m right handed, so I’ll be placing the skewer from the right to the left, and I’ll number the tabs 1, 3 and 5 from right to left. For page 1, place the skewer through tabs 1 and 5.

With the second skewer, place it through tab 1 of the second page, then tab 3 of the first page, and finally tab 5 of the second page. This locks the two pages together.

Continue weaving the sticks in the same pattern until all pages are attached. The fifth skewer goes through only tab 3 of the fourth page.

Next you’ll need to cut off the pointy ends of the skewers. I find that it’s much easier to weave the skewers when they have pointy ends, so I cut mine off after weaving. You do need to be careful when cutting - the ends can fly! Adjust the skewers so the non-pointy ends extend about 3/4" - 1" beyond the pages. Place a pencil mark on the other ends also about 3/4" - 1" from the pages and cut off the excess.
To hold the skewers in place, I use waxed linen thread. Hold a 2-3" tail piece with your left thumb against the pages and starting from the second or third skewer from the left, wrap it under and over back and forth until you have at least 3 rows. Tie the thread in a double knot and cut the ends leaving them long for now. Repeat for the other side.

At this point I like to glue together the six inner pages using a glue stick giving me three sturdier pages - I like to create lumpy pages! Mark an X on the outside of the first and last pages so that you don’t glue them to each other - I am speaking from experience here! You certainly can choose to skip this step giving your book more pages.

Using liquid glue, add it over the top of the woven waxed linen thread including the knot. Set aside to dry. If you’ve glued your pages together, it’s helpful to place a heavy book on your pages while all the glue dries. Set aside to dry.


Once your inside pages are dry, clip the excess thread close to the knot and now you’re ready to attach the tile covers. Use a heavy thick glue and spread it out evenly onto the back of the tile.


Place your front cover tile in the direction you want your image (always double check - it’s easy to put things upside down!!) and lay your page down onto the tile with the X marked side down.

Press the page into the glued tile well - especially near the spine.

Flip the book over and again press firmly against the spine. Attach the back cover the same way, then place it under a heavy book while the glue dries and your book is done!


As you can see, I have made many of these books - I love the weight of them in my hand and the sound the ceramic tiles make when they close against each other! I hope you’ll try making one, and I would love to see pictures of books that you make - post a picture on your blog and let me know about it. So how about a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!! How would you like to win the book I made as the tutorial sample? Leave a comment on this post making sure I have a way to contact you either by a link to your blog or an email address and I’ll pick a winner in a random draw next week on Saturday July 24th. Good luck :-)

19 comments:

Lovey said...

Please count me in Penny! I would to win one of your journals.

michele hileman said...

I just love it. Count me in too. I love Candy... Those are really awesome. I am gonn have to try to make one of those.

Healing Woman said...

You are so talented and always willing to share. I have been away on a trip to the UK and Ireland so have missed reading your wonderful posts but will catch up soon.

Thanks so much!

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Oh I would LOVE to have one of these awesome books. I've tried making a piano hinge book once but wish I had your tutorial on hand. The tips would have been SO very helpful. I have some of these tiles here to make coasters but, even as gifts, I don't need all of them and had to make myself not buy the terra cotta colored ones on clearance at Lowes. LOL I've got to try this! TFS Paula

Netty said...

Brilliant tutorial, thank you. Love what you have made they are gorgeous. Please enter me for your draw as would love one of these. Thank you, Annette x

Deb C said...

Those are amazing! I've done a piano hinge book before, but didn't ever think about putting a cover on the book. This opens up a lot of creative possibilities.

Lori said...

Wow, really great tutorial Penny, and all those books you have made are just awesome! And good tip about the GA versus Diamond Glaze, I think I still have some DG left, somewhere... lol Thanks for the opportunity to win your wonderful creation!

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Penny I have to leave a comment to this incredible tutorial - such clear instructions. Thank You. As I am so lucky to already be the owner of one of your tile books it seems unfair for me to take part in your Giveaway. Lynne M x

Rhonda said...

Your books are amazing! Gorgeous - please put my name in the hat - cheers!

Lynn Stevens said...

Hi Penny,
I'm already lucky to have one of your gorgeous books but I'm thrilled to see the how to and have already downloaded the template. Thank you so much for sharing your talent!
Can't wait to try it out!
hugs Lynn

BadPenny said...

Fabulous tutorial Penny

wwilloww said...

I love your tiles, your book and especially your piano hinge. Thanks for a great tutorial!! I am just now getting into types of bookbinding! You can seem my attempt at Japanese stab binding on my blog http://justcuttinup.blogspot.com Of course, I would love to win one of yours but having a great tutorial really helps!! Thanks so much!!

Sarah said...

This is something that I have always wanted to try. Thank you for the tutorial and inspiration.
It sure would help if I had one of your fabulous books to look at while working on one!

Unknown said...

The piano hinge book is beautiful. Doesn't really look all that hard to make. Maybe I'll give it a try. Thank you for new inspiration.
Carole Mller

2amscrapper said...

thank you for this wonderful tutorial!

Unknown said...

What an amazing book - and how very very kind of you to add a tutorial - for FREE. I really would love to own such a book, but next time I am in town, I hope to buy some tiles to have a go myself - if the little town has anywhere to buy them.

Love your journal - and like you - I have entered a page of mine into the Lots to Do - challenge this week.

Art By Wanda said...

It's been a long time since I made a piano hinge book... I never would have thought to use a ceramic tile for the covers... very cool!!! Fabulous books!!!

Jeany said...

next Sunday I'm goying on a piano book course, and I wanted to look for information on the web, that's why I fond your blog, what a great tutorial and a wonderful blog, thanks for sharing, I'll love to come back to you.Best wishes from Jeanys Brunnen from germany

Cynthia Schelzig said...

This is a fabulous tutorial on the making of the Piano Hinge....your specimens with the tiles look great!! I found this through Janine:)