Beyond the construction of the book, there are so many ways book arts can be so much fun. These simple ideas will get you on your way!
Making books “shine” is an interesting way to make your handmade books appealing, particularly for those intending to sell them or give them away as gifts. Thinking outside the box allows for a lot of creative exploration, as well as unconventional techniques. That’s the beauty of mixed-media arts.
Before beginning, prepare the area where the charm (or charms) will be placed with eyelets. This will prevent the book page from tearing as the charm moves over time. Choose an eyelet that matches the theme of the book, as well as the type of charm that will be hanging there.
- Key rings: use a key ring to hang the charm from. This will allow a lot of motion for the charm, and it is very easy to loop into the eyelet hole. If the key ring is too shiny for the presentation, spray paint it or distress it with a rusting agent first.
- Florist’s wire: use of florist’s wire allows artists to create a rustic appearance. Choose a wire that isn’t green, twist it out of the traditional circle shape that is expected when seeing a charm, and be inconsistent with the lengths. That way, when the charms are hanging, it looks less planned and gives the book’s appearance a random feel.
- Twine: a heavyweight twine allows for durability, is great for fluid motion of the charms, and it follows that same rustic feel. Dying the twine first gives the book a custom look, especially if a vintage or distressed appearance is planned. Tie knots right on the eyelet, and then add a dab of hot glue to prevent the knot from slipping untied over time.
- Ribbon: if you are creating a page that is feminine, that follows a family heritage theme, or is one that would be otherwise suitable for fibers, ribbon is an excellent choice. Because ribbons come in a slew of styles, colors, patterns, widths and textures, there is wide variety of options that can be put into play. Like the twine, tie the ribbon right at the eyelet and dab on some hot glue.
- Jewelry cording: avoid using the slippery kind; otherwise you’ll have a lot of issues with keeping your knots tied even when hot glue is put to use. Find the leather or faux leather cording, and tie it at varying lengths to give the book an interesting appearance. The use of hot glue at the knot should still be used. This type of cording is very durable, but it will distress over time, and will give the book that extra bit of interest.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with other materials beyond what is listed here. Try experimenting in an altered book set up specifically for practice work and experimentation.
The copyright of the article How to Add Charms to Handmade Books in Altered Books is owned by Jenn Greenleaf. Permission to republish How to Add Charms to Handmade Books in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
