Hello AT,
Do you have any sources for a "make your own board book"? We just had our first trip to the zoo and I wanted to put together a board book for my 13 month old based on the photos I took.
Thanks, Alexa.
Great idea and great question. We haven't made these ourselves, but we've dug up some resources that will get your project going with a few basic materials.
Make Magazine has linked to a DIY tutorial which uses easy-to-find materials, some of which you probably have at home: pressed cardboard, card stock, adhesive paper (such as Avery full page labels), scissors, an Exact knife, and a piece of cardstock. The tutorial is here.
There are also several sources for blank board books which you can embellish with paint, markers or photographs (either by printing on adhesive paper or by covering photos with laminated paper and trimming to size). One source for these is Creative Kids which sells three different sizes. C&T Publishing also sells a variety of blank board books, several in creative shapes like this house book.
Good luck with your project, Alexa! Readers, have you made your own board book? Any advice for Alexa?
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better than purchasing a new book...why not pick up some tattered old board books at a garage sale and simply recover them with scrapbook paper, gift wrap, or contact paper? Then just add you own pictures and captions/dates.
To recover an old board book with scrapbook paper:
1) Use a glue stick or Modge-Podge and a foam brush to completely cover one side of the book's page with adhesive.
2) Place your chosen paper wrong side up (the side you do not want to having showing should be facing you) and place your gluey book page on to the paper.
3) Turn the book over and carefully press out any air bubbles.
4) After a couple of minutes, use sandpaper to sand in quick, even strokes across the edges of the book (try to always sand in the same direction). This will remove the excess paper from around your book and leave with a cool, slightly distressed look.
5) Repeat the above steps for every page of the book.
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Good thinking, akbuilt!
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1. This place has board books, but also take a look at the cool wooden blocks you could put your photos on--I love akbuilt's recycling idea--you could also do this to square blocks you already have using modpodge:
http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=165_185&products_id=4415
2. I created little photo flip books for each of my children using a laminating machine and i.d.sized laminating sheets, punching holes in the corners and tying them with a colorful ribbon--One project was the alphabet, and another we used family and familiar object photos along with Spanish vocabulary words....I also used this technique to make a set of matching game cards for playing Memory and old maid (using my own photo for the OldMama)....it was fun, and my kids love them! Plus they withstand hard use, chewing and spills.
3. I remember some creative photo projects in some older MarthaStewart Kids magazines.....I tried to search for the articles online but the www.marthastewart.com website is always so freaking slow even with my dsl connection...maybe you'd have better luck there than I did.
4. Here is an adorable website of creative books created by a mom for her kids http://www.smilinggoat.com/Books.html
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I love these ideas, does anyone know if modpodge is non toxic? I am thinking of making a book for my little ones but I am sure it will go in one mouth or another at some point and want to be sure not to put anything dangerous on there!
I've also thought about doing a cloth book for the kids with that iron on paper that you can feed through the printer. Anyone tried this?
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I only just now read this post...and have found the link to the C & T products has changed. It is now: http://www.ctpub.com/client/client_pages/sites/rtgbbb_index.html
I like the idea of using an old board book and covering it, but also love the house-shaped one at c & t - perfect for telling the story of a move to a child.
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