Book-shaped earrings can be a fun gift for anyone who enjoys reading, including yourself. You only need a few hours to make a book-shaped earring and express your nerdy status or your belief in literacy. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to making earrings and click on the illustration to enlarge the image.
Step
Step 1. Cut cardboard into rectangles, each measuring 2.5x4, 5 cm
Use a ruler or paper cutter so that the edges and corners are straight. This piece of cardboard will form the outline of the book cover.
Step 2. Find the center of the rectangle and draw a line from top to bottom with a pencil
Hold the ruler in a perpendicular position to the line and make a mark on each side 1.5 mm apart. Make incisions on the left and right sides of the center line from top to bottom using a pen with blank ink or a bone folder (a tool used to create perfect creases and curves without cutting the paper).
Step 3. Fold the cardboard along the notch you made to form the cover of your tiny book
Do not fold the line in the center of the paper.
Step 4. Cut the paper for the page
Cut 16 rectangles from 2.2x3.8 cm plain printing paper. Use a paper cutter to get an even cut if you have one. Don't pile up too much paper, as this will make it difficult for you to cut. Two stacks of eight sheets of paper are easy enough to do and don't worry if the pages for one book look a little different.
Step 5. Fold each stack of eight sheets of paper in half in the middle
Trim the edges of the paper to make it look even. This stack of paper will become the pages of the book.
Step 6. Make a hole for binding the book
Align the center of the page with the center of the cardboard cover. Place the book in an open position with the cover on the bottom on a cutting mat or scrap cardboard. Use tacks to make 3 holes in the spine through the center of the page. Do the same process in the second book.
Step 7. Thread the thread through the eye of the needle and make a knot
You can use white thread or thin thread.
Step 8. Insert the needle through the top hole
Step 9. Continue by inserting the needle through the center hole
Step 10. Then insert the needle through the bottom hole
Step 11. Do the second stitch with the same pattern
Continue stitching up through the center hole, then the top hole, and so on. If you're using thin thread, you can sew it in the number 8 pattern a few times before tying the thread. Wrap the thread around the thread itself on the back side of the book several times to tie the stitches, then trim off the excess thread.
Step 12. Cut the material for the cover
Make two rectangles of cloth or patterned paper measuring 8.25x5 cm. If you're using patterned or textured paper or fabric, make sure that the pieces of material align with the outline. This piece of material will form the cover of the book.
Step 13. Place one book in the middle of the patterned material with the book pages wide open
Combine each patterned material with the book used to measure it so that it can accommodate if there is a difference in size.
Step 14. Cut the corners of the patterned material as shown in the illustration
Make an obtuse angle from the corner of the notch to the edge. The size of the angle is not important, but try to make it symmetrical.
Step 15. Place the book in the center of the cover and cut a V-shaped notch where it will become the spine (see illustration)
Step 16. Make nicks on the patterned material right on each "bone" if you're using paper
In the illustration you can see the cover is ready to be glued.
Step 17. Apply a sufficient amount of glue (don't mess it up) on the center of the patterned material and the top and bottom flaps
Make sure you apply glue to the “inside” or “back” side of the patterned material. Spread the glue all over the surface up to the edges.
- You can place a sheet of scrap paper as a base while applying the glue to catch the glue that goes past the edges.
- Glue sticks work more smoothly than liquid glue, but you can use both.
Step 18. Place the book on top of the patterned material and press down firmly, making sure the edges line up with the notch
Fold the top flap inward and press down firmly. Do the same procedure for the lower flap.
Step 19. Apply glue to the side flaps and fold inwards, over the top and bottom flaps
Press firmly.
Step 20. Thread the thread between the top of the binding and the cardboard used as the outline for the book cover
Or, you can attach the threads with glue. Make sure the thread is firmly attached
Step 21. Make a simple knot on the yarn
Pull the thread closer to the book, then tighten it.
Step 22. Twist the thread knot down and cut off the excess thread
Step 23. Open the ring on the earring, insert the loop of thread found on the book, then close it again
Use long-nosed pliers or jewelry pliers that are not serrated. Tuck in the earring so that the two books will point forward when the earring is worn.
Step 24. Let the glue dry before you put on the earrings
Top the earring with a thick book so that the book closes while waiting for the glue to dry.
Tips
- You can also make a necklace that matches the earrings as a pretty gift.
- Instead of making your own, you can buy the booklets commonly sold for dollhouses and turn them into earrings.
- This method can also be used to create a book or journal or sketchbook that you can write on. Make sure you increase the size.
- You can scale the book 10 times to make the book a normal size and writeable.
- If the recipient isn't wearing earrings, make a decorative ornament or necklace in the same way. You can increase the size of the book if you want to make decorative ornaments.
- If you can't sew a bookbin this small neatly, try using a stapler. When using a stapler, make sure that the straight side of the staple is on the outside and the bent part is on the inside, near the page. Align the stapler and the book page so that the staple is centered. Two staples will suffice.
- You can add a personal touch to your earrings by writing something on a book page or sticking 1-2 small photos of your favorite (pendant sized) photos. Practice on scrap paper first to see how small you have to write to get the message across. You may only be able to write 1-2 words to fill a page.
- Look for used materials that can be used for this project. Cereal cardboard or other food packaging can be used for covers. You may be able to find scrap fabric or patterned paper at home that can also be used for book covers.
- If you are making these earrings as a gift, pay attention to what the recipient of the gift usually wears. Try to match the color and style of the person.
- If you are making this gift for a girl and want to impress her, write down your love story in a book.
Warning
- To punch holes in the pages and cover of a book, place the book on an object that can handle the pinhole. Old cardboard or magazines can be good choices. Do not hold the book with your fingers while making the hole. You can also place a blue tack lump on the table as a base to prevent you from pushing the needle into your finger or scratching the table. You can also punch holes in the page and cover separately if you want.
- If you are making earrings as a gift, make sure that the recipient has the ear pierced.
- Make sure your finger is not behind the needle when sewing a bookbind.
- Since these earrings are made of paper, try not to get them wet.
- Use scissors, craft knives, and paper cutters safely. Cover the blade when not in use and do not cut towards you.
