Children's Board Book

A simple board book made with common materials. It's reasonably durable and, even if it gets torn to pieces, it's easy to make a replacement.

Materials

• 1/16"-thick pressed cardboard (Elmers or Bienfang illustration board) - 1 per leaf
• Full-sheet adhesive labels (Avery or similar) - 1 per leaf
• Card stock - 2 small strips

Step 1: Cut Boards

Cut 5"x5" boards from pressed cardboard. I used Bienfang illustration board but any pressed (not corrugated) cardboard that's about 1/16" thick will do. You'll need enough for the interior pages, plus the front and back cover. Round two of the corners.

Step 2: Print Interior Pages

Print 10-1/2" x 5-1/2" images on adhesive paper, one for each pair of facing pages. The first image will be the inside of the front cover and the first page; the next is the second and third page, etc. I used Avery full sheet labels for this. The outside 1/4" of the image will be trimmed off, so keep any content away from the edge. Cut down each sheet to roughly the size of the image.

Step 3: Mount Interior Pages

Peel of the backing from the first sheet and lay it face down. Place two boards on top, lining them up with the center of the sheet.

Trim off the excess adhesive paper using a sharp knife.

Continue mounting all interior pages, using the back of the previous page for the front of the next.

Step 4: Print Cover

Measure the thickness of the book so far. It should be about 1/16" x the number of pages. The size of the image for the front cover will be 10", plus the thickness of the book, plus any border. The image should be, from left to right, the back cover, the spine and the front cover. Print the image on adhesive paper. Crease the paper along the edges of the spine.

If you can't print a single image large enough for the entire cover, you can print it in two pieces, overlapping on the spine.

Step 5: Mount Cover

Peel the backing off the cover sheet and lay it face down. Cut two strips of heavy paper (card stock), each the width of the spine. Press them onto the adhesive paper, one along the spine, one next to it on the back cover.

Set the book on the cover, lining up the spine. Wrap the front and back cover around the book. Trim off any excess paper. When the book is opened, the cover should pull away from the book along the spine and a narrow strip of the back cover.

Comments

[Büchermachen]

I'm having trouble finding thick pressed cardboard, do you have a link or a store that you could recommend?

[pab59]

You just gave me an idea... what about recycling old board books? I have two big bags of them my daughter has outgrown... I was thinking glueing on my own pictures onto the pages and glueing on a cover for the book. Think that would work?

[jaydeechick]

i'm thinking along the lines of Jodi09. Probably going to make a book with pics of my kids, to give to great grandma for her upcoming birthday. cheers, great instructale. thanks, Jaydee

[Jodi09]

It's like always - Now Why Didn't I think of That. As a Scrapper and Off The Pager - this is going to be a very handy set of instructions - and none of those darn metal rings to be seen - or ribbon to hold it together - WooHoo

[darkmuskrat]

nice indeed, i remember having one of these :P

[GorillazMiko]

Nice job! I that that teddy bear, it is very cute. Great job. +1 rating.