instructions for the maze book

I have been making lots of these cute little books lately and have been asked a few times what they are and how you make them. So here goes

A miniature book using a single sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock. All it takes is a little bit of folding, three simple cuts, some good gluing techniques and the basic book is ready for photos and embellishments. This colorful book makes a great gift or a pocket-sized scrapbook to show off those holiday photos.

You will need

• Bookbinding Adhesive or strong liquid glue
• Patterned paper of your choice for front/back covers
• 12 x 12 Plain Cardstock, one sheet
• Bone Folder
• Foam Brush or glue applicator
• Cutting Mat
• Craft Knife
• Ruler
• 1/4" Ribbon, about 1 yard
• Two 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ Mat Board Squares for front/back cover or suitable thick chipboard

To start your maze book, fold a sheet of plain cardstock in half. Use a bone folder to reinforce the fold. Fold each free edge of the cardstock back to the center fold. Your cardstock piece should now resemble the letter “W”. Reinforce the folds with the bone folder.

Open the cardstock up. Fold in half again in the opposite direction from the first fold in Step 1. Fold each free edge of the cardstock back to the center fold. Reinforce the folds with the bone folder.

Open up the cardstock. The folds have now created sixteen squares that measure about 3 x 3 each.

Unfold the cardstock on top of a cutting mat. Lay a ruler along the right vertical fold. Using a craft knife, cut along the right vertical fold. Start at the top horizontal fold and cut all the way to the bottom edge. Make a second identical cut along the left vertical fold. Make a third cut along the middle fold, but this time start cutting from the top edge and stop cutting when you reach the bottom horizontal fold. The cuts in the cardstock form an “M”.

Now follow the maze to fold the cardstock into the book pages. Start folding the left leg along the folds. When you reach the top, fold the stack over to the next leg, following the natural fold. Fold the piece to the bottom following the existing folds again. When you reach the bottom, fold the stack over to the next leg. Fold back up the leg. At the top, again fold the stack over to the next leg. Fold down the leg to complete folding the maze pages. Set the pages aside.

To make the front/back covers, squeeze a line of glue onto the center of a 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ piece of mat board. Use a foam brush to spread the glue over the entire surface of the mat board, working from the center out to the edges.

Place the mat board, glue side down, onto the center of a 4 ¼ x 4 ¼ piece of plain card. Create mitered corners. Begin by cutting off the corners of the cardstock, 1/16of an inch from the corner of the mat board.

Using the bone folder, score the cardstock along the edges of the mat board. Then fold the cardstock flaps around mat board to train the cardstock to its final placement. Squeeze a line of glue along the join line where the mat board and cardstock meet on each flap. Use a foam brush to spread the adhesive across the entire surface of each flap. Wrap one of the flaps around the mat board and smooth it down. Hold it in place for a few seconds. Then wrap the opposite flap around the mat board.

Use the tip of the bone folder and fold in the little overhanging flap of cardstock at each corner, just like folding in the sides when wrapping a package. Wrap the two remaining flaps around the mat board. While the glue is still wet, run the side of the bone folder along the edges of the covered mat board to square off the edges. Repeat the steps to create the second cover for the maze book.

To begin assembling the book, lay the two covers side by side about 1/2" apart on the work surface with the inside facing up. Run a line of glue horizontally across the center of each cover. Smooth out the adhesive slightly using the foam brush.

Lay a 12" piece of ribbon across the glue line so there is an equal amount of ribbon on either side of the covers and smooth the ribbon down.

Isolate one of the 2 outer flaps of the maze pages. Squeeze a spiral line of glue onto the flap. Use the foam brush and spread the glue across the entire surface of the flap, working from the center out to the edges.

Center the flap on one of the covers and press down. Apply glue to the remaining end flap of the maze pages being careful to keep the adhesive off the subsequent pages and adhere it to the remaining cover. The book is now assembled and ready for photos and embellishments.

You’ve just completed your Maze Book.

I have been making them with the BIA as well lately. The only thing i did differently was to slightly trim the front and back pages before attaching to the covers, it works a treat.

Hope that helps

Sarah