Tiny Felt Flip Photo Books

Here is a useful little book you can make as a gift for a Grandma or someone else who likes to carry photos around in their purse to share with absolutely everyone they run into.
I used some nice photos of my kids at the beach last summer and had them printed out as "wallet size." I used typing paper for the inside paper because it is thin and flexible and felt for the exterior. You could use origami paper for the inside pages too because it is really thin but do not use construction paper as it will crack. You can sew up the book in several different ways using either regular sewing thread or embroidery floss.

Materials:

• 3 felt pieces measuring 3 x 4 inches
• Embroidery floss
• Needles of various sizes
• Buttons and other felt scraps, trim, etc 
• 3 pieces of thin paper cut 3 x 8 inches and folded very neatly the long way
• Pins
• Scissors
• Optional- clamp for holding book while you bind it

Steps

1. Decorate the cover of your book. I used felt hearts, buttons, and rickrack. I added my sister-in-law's name to one of the covers. You can sew the pieces onto the cover or glue them.
2. Make a little book by stacking the folded book pages inside each other.
3. Lay the bottom piece of felt on a table, put the paper booklet on top of it. Lay your cover on top of everything. Do not worry about the third piece of felt yet. You will use it later on.
4. After everything is really nicely lined up and square use a bulldog clip or clothepin to hold the pages together.
5. It is time to bind your book. I employed two diferent methods for my two different books. For one book I used regular sewing thread and a sharp needle and just sewed over the edge and through the paper as neatly as possible. This looks nice, but the paper may rip eventually.
6. For my second book I used a simple book binding stitch known as the four hole pamphlet stitch. Here are good directions for how to do it from the My Handbound Books site. It is actually not as hard as it sounds, as you only have to poke 4 holes in the edge of your book so is quicker than the first method. If you enjoy embroidery you could use different stitches to hold your pages together, The blanket stitch would look really nice.
7. After your book is bound you can trim the paper edges so they don't show and trim the threads. 
8. To hide the sewing on the back of the cover I glued on a backing to it. This is where your third felt rectangle comes into play. You will need to trim it as it will be smaller than the cover since it is not stitched in. We are not stitching it in with the pages because that would add a lot of thickness for the needles to have to through. You ay want to try including in the binding and see what happens.
9. Glue in your wallet sized photos. I used a glue stick. A scrapbooker would probably use something more elaborate and effective but the glue worked fine for me.
10. Now, wrap up your little book and mail it someone who will be very happy to have more photos of your adorable kids, or leave the book empty and give it to someone who takes a lot of pictures and likes to share them.

Matchbox Valentine Keepsake

Here is a fun Valentine you can make with an empty matchbox.

The best part is the surprise inside.

A little diorama of arrows and a lacy Valentine heart.

But that is not all, one of the arrows is on a stick, so you can slide it from side to side to reach the bulls-eye. 

There you go.

Felt Heart Blocks

Easy Valentine's Day Cones

Mini Chalkboard Heart Messages

My kids do enjoy picking out those boxes of store bought valentines every year,and they are 

a quick easy, way to give cards to a huge number of people.

 But it is always really special when you get a handmade card. 

It can be simple or complex, but it lets the person know you were thinking of them when you made it!

These chalkboard hearts are a cute, handmade way to leave your valentine a message.

Tiny Portable Peg Family

We travel a lot, visiting our family in Ohio. It is quite a long drive from Chicago,

but I have to say my kids have really learned to entertain themselves on this 5 + hour long drive. 

(either that, or we pull the video games and dvd player out! I have to admit it, we do that too!)
They have been doing it since they were babies.

What I have learned is, new things keep them happily entertained. 

This can get costly, right? So here is a very inexpensive and easy little toy, that will entertain them on those long car trips. Also good for Dr. office waits, restaurant waits...you name it. Pull this toy out, and 

you just may have some happy little people. (for a little while at least!)

Plus, it's so tiny, it takes up almost no space in your bag.

I modeled this one after my own family.

(l to r.) My son Simon, daughter Ava, our wiener dog Alice, me and my husband Paul.

This particular peg is my son. He is going to turn 5, just a few days before Valentines Day. 

This is very important to him, since his sister's birthday has fallen on Thanksgiving, and his Dad's on Easter.

Valentines Day is his day!

So this is both a Valentine gift, and birthday gift, that will be presented to him in the car on our way to Ohio!

His sister has already seen this, is already jealous, and has already stated she NEEDS one too.
Of course.

So I used the tiny altoid tin. Then purchased these tiny, tiny wood pegs from the craft store.

I had a different idea for them, that didn't work out, then realized I could re-use these....and boy have I! 

(Another post coming soon, with yet another tiny peg idea!)

I just painted very simple color blocked  shapes, and added detail with a good, fine point, black ink, rolling ball pen.

Add a scenic interior. I used felt and trees...since it seems that is all we pass on our 

way there. Not complaining, these trees have inspired many of my drawings!

I can't wait to give this to him, I think he'll love it.
-Corinne

Tiny Valentine's Day Button Books

 
I love making tiny books. Valentine's Day is a good excuse to make some little books for my loved ones. I decided to use some scraps of craft paper than I have and then add a heart for each book. For my daughter I cut the heart out of old sheet music. My son the adventurer got a heart-shaped map. You may be using paper scraps like I am so don't worry about making your book a specific size.

Tiny Heart Garland