How to Make a Leather Scrapbook
Scrapbooking is a fun hobby and a great way to keep a record of special events, friends and family, or to have a keepsake reference on a favorite subject. Scrapbooks can be as simple as picture sleeves kept in a three-ring binder or as complex as being bound like actual books. For scrapbook enthusiasts, the way the scrapbook looks is nearly as important as what they keep inside. Here's how you can make a leather scrapbook that will look great and last a lifetime.
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Instructions
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Open your scrapbook and measure its width and height. Add two inches to each side to ensure you will purchase the right amount of leather. You can purchase leather pieces from leather supply stores and some hobby or scrapbook shops (see Resources).
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Wrap your scrapbook with a piece of paper and mark your cut lines with a pencil. This will form the pattern for your leather cover. Cut the pattern out with scissors. You want to be sure to add an inch to each side of your pattern to fold over the edges of your book cover.
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Place paper cover patterns on your leather pieces. Work on a flat, sturdy surface. Use a razor knife to cut the book cover around your paper pattern. Depending on thickness of leather, you may need to make more than one cut. It's a good idea to use tape on the back of your paper pattern to make sure it doesn't slip during the cutting process.
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Discard the paper pattern when you've cut the leather for your scrapbook cover. Use a leather edging tool to smooth the rough edges of the cut, then fold the leather around your scrapbook one section at a time. Use leather cement to glue the edges to the inside of your cover. If you'd like a cover with a plush feel, you can slip cotton between the leather and the book cover before you glue it in place.
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Use an alternative if you'd like to have a custom leather cover for your scrapbook without doing it from scratch. There are several online scrapbook services that will custom fit a leather cover for your scrapbook (see Resources). Buying a custom leather cover isn't as fun as making your own, but it's a simple alternative to achieving the same end result.
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