Because you asked, here are the Xmas gifts I made

[dungeonmistress]

OK, folks here you are, These are just a couple of pics of all of them grouped together. The top pic shows the front of all the books and the bottom pic shows the backs.



Below are links to the slide show of each of the books, and the box I made.

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Art%20Journal

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Candy%20Journals

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Memories%20Journal

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Music%20Journal

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Non-Metal%20Metal%20Box

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Sophisticated%20Journal-Album

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/The%20Heavy%20Metal%20Crazy%20Cat%20Daddy%20Journal

s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts/Useful%20Miscellany

And here's a little something extra...
s1153.photobucket.com/user/dungeonmistress/slideshow/Christmas%20Gifts
/Vampires%20Hunters%20Journal%20and%20Sketch%20Book

I am sorry that this took so long, and that the slide shows are in reverse order, but...
I hope you enjoy!

Please post any questions you might have and I will try to answer them coherently.

Now, just to get my creative explosion cleaned up!

[SpielMeisterKev!]

Howdy,

  Dang...um, your creativity is showing!  That vampire hunters journal...wow!


I hope the recipients treat them with the respect they deserve.

I gotta EXALT this,
Kev!

[dungeonmistress]

Thanks, @spielmeisterkev, they were a lot work, but a lot of fun, too!

If you Google "How to Haunt your house" You'll find the downloads for the vampire stuff. I printed it out at the library in B&W, then I dyed the paper with coffee (for the journal) and raspberry herbal tea (for the sketch book). Then I painted and stained (blood stains and other fluids - ew! Not real!) and hand distressed the pages. Then I used some cool papers I bought at Michael's to create the covers and bound them.

I'm glad you liked them.

[sgtslag]

Those books are... Stunning! Wow... Wow... They are works of art. Every detail goes hand-in-hand with the next. The clasps on the books... Sorry, had to pick my jaw up from the floor and put the hinge back together. Amazing. Simply amazing. You have a lot of talent, creativity, and just a little experience, I'm guessing? Marvelous. Thank you so much for sharing with us. My favorite would have to be the music book, though. The whole thing was like an orchestra symphony, from spine, to cover, to each individual page... Truly beautiful work. Thank you, again, for sharing. Cheers!

[dungeonmistress]

Oh my, thank you, sgtslag! Actually, this was my first attempt at making books, and now I'm hooked! I had so much fun making these, I can't wait to make more...especially an art journal for myself.

The music book is for my stepson, Thomas, who is a very talented musician. I thought he might be able to put something like that to good use. First the covers are simple chipboard covered initially with black tablet paper and then collaged with different papers from Michael's and Hobby Lobby (on sale!), and napkins purchased at the Dollar Tree. I made a treble clef out of 20 gauge aluminum wire and used heavy gel medium to adhere it to the front cover (although; this is a flip book so, technically, it has two front covers) along with some other embellishments made from hot glue and painted to suit. I also used metal alpha beads to spell out Thomas' name at the bottom. Inside both covers, where there was room, I wrote out some musical quotes that I felt were appropriate. When the covers were done, I used the Coptic stitch and a pale gold Pearle cotton to bind it and a length of black silk cord to tie it closed. It took several days to complete, most of that time was spent in drying.

I'm very glad you liked it. If you are interested in learning how to bind your own books, I highly recommend checking out Sea Lemon on YouTube. She has clear and easy tutorials on several types of binding methods. That's how I learned to do it.

[bloodchoke]

Beautiful gifts. Not only are they works of art, but also really show someone you care about them. Can't just pull that off with an Amazon card.

[Deleted]

Those are stunning! I couldn't pick just one as a favorite, so they are all amazing! I like the idea or a handmade gift for the holidays so much better that store bought gifts. I have to do something similar for next year.
Great work!

[dungeonmistress]

Thank you @shinobi and bloodchoke. I really enjoyed the process of making them. And the possibilities for design and embellishments is nearly endless.

Be careful! Making your own hand-bound books is such a satisfying thing that it becomes addictive very quickly!

That said, check out Sea Lemon, her videos are great. Also, if you go to YouTube and search book binding techniques, you will come up with a wealth of information and tutorials. Which can be used, of coarse to create hand outs for your games or impressive DM Quest Journals, Rulebook covers, Necronomicons, or what-have-you.

And if you are interested in making an art journal for yourself, but are not sure how you would use it, take a look at France Papillion on you tube and her Journal on Monday series. Very inspirational.

[SpielMeisterKev!]

Howdy,

  I think stuff like this would sell well in a craft fair type setting?


Kev!

[onelastlaugh]

Who ever you gave them too should be very happy, as they look better then gifts you buy in shops!

[dungeonmistress]

I am thinking of putting together a selection of handmade books for just that purpose, @spielmasterkev. Meanwhile, my local library has asked me to put a display of my work in March. So...

Thank you, onelastlaugh, that's a really nice compliment.

[halloweenville]

Awesome! Love them, Very talented Mistress!