How to Make a Binder Spine
A binder is a book-like shell that is used to store reports or sheets of blank paper. The binder shell is closely related to a hardcover book; it is usually rigid and durable and the front and back cover will often hinge or bend easily to open and close. The spine of the binder is the same as the spine of the book. It is constructed of the same durable binder material and it is used to determine how much paper the binder can hold. Often commercial binders will incorporate some type of ring, clamp or slide device to secure papers inside the binder. Making a binder cover and spine uses the same skills and techniques used in creating a hardcover book shell.
Things You'll Need
- Book board
- Craft utility knife
- Metal straight edge
- Cutting board
- Scissors
- Glue
- Glue brush
- White sheet fabric
- Hard rubber roller
- Bone burnisher
- Fabric
- Heavy paper
- Wax paper
- Bindery stem pegs
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the size of binder you wish to create. If you want to house a standard 8-and-a-half-inch by 11-inch paper, then you will want to make the binder larger than this size. Art binders may be much larger. An example binder to make would be 6 inches by 9 inches with a 1-inch spine.
-
2
Cut two pieces of book board to 6 inches by 9 inches. Book board is a specific type of art board designed for book covers. Book board is sold in most art stores or on-line. Cut one piece of book board to 1 inch by 9 inches. Use a craft utility knife and a metal straight edge over a cutting board. Punch two holes 1 inch from both the top and bottom edges and a half inch from the side of one of the book boards. Cut 60-lb. heavy paper 11 inches by 15-and-a-half inches. This gives you a 1-inch border around the covers and quarter inch between each cover and the spine.
-
-
3
Mark 1 inch from the top, bottom, and sides and draw horizontal and vertical lines on the 60 lb. paper. Measure from the vertical side line, marking at 6 inches, quarter inch, 1 inch, and quarter inch. Draw these vertical lines. You should now have the layout for the hard boards. Cut each corner of the paper off at a 45-degree angle quarter inch from the crossed pencil lines.
-
4
Paint glue inside the pencil lines where the book boards will fit. Press the plain book board into the glue of the box on the left, press the spine board into the glue of the center box, press the board with the holes so that the holes are close to the spine in the glue of the third box.
-
5
Cut white sheet fabric 4 inches by 8-and-half inches. Find the center of the spine and mark. Fold the 4-inch side of the fabric in half to find the center. Paint the back of the fabric with glue. Center the 4-inch width of the fabric at the center of the spine. Place the fabric glue side down. The fabric should be quarter inch from the top edge of the boards. Roll over the fabric with a hard rubber roller. Use a bone burnisher or wood tool to press the fabric down between the boards.
-
6
Cut a 1-inch by 9-inch strip out of card stock. Paint glue on the strip and place it directly over the board spine with the glue face down. Roll with the roller. Use your craft utility knife and make a small cut at each of the four outside corners from the corner of the board perpendicular to the 45-degree cuts you made earlier.
-
7
Paint glue around the outside 1-inch borders. Fold the top and bottom first. Fold the sides last. Roll over with the rubber roller. Cut 60-lb. paper 8-and-a-half by 13-and-a-quarter inches. Paint the back side of the paper with glue. Hold the two 8-and-half-inch edges in your hand. Start at the center of the spine. Work the paper into the gaps between the boards, but try to keep the paper quarter inch from the top and bottom edges. Roll over with the roller when you are done.
-
8
Wipe off any excess glue. Place wax paper over the covers. Place heavy books over the wax paper to hold everything in place while it dries. After the glue dries use your craft utility knife to cut through the fabric and paper covering the drilled holes in the back cover. Insert two bindery stems and screws that are 1 inch in length.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Binder covers can be printed, painted, or otherwise decorated. Fabric can be used to cover the exterior and other objects can be glued to the surface. Book board, glues, tapes, rollers, folders, binder pegs, and burnishers can be bought from most art stores and on-line.
References
- Photo Credit raccoglitori image by haruspex from Fotolia.com
