How to Make a Fabric Memory Book

You do not have to be stuck with the generic graphics on the front of your book, but you can easily cover them.

With the large selection of fabrics and embellishments on the market today, there is no reason why your memory book has to be plain. With a little bit of time and fabric, you can change your plain, hard- covered memory book into a beautiful work of art, covered in fabric with embellishments of your choice. Fabric-covered memory books make wonderful books that can be easily personalized by fabric choice. Use a fabric with a baby print for a new baby or a holiday-themed fabric for a special holiday book. The ideas are endless.

Things You'll Need

• Memory book
• Fabric
• Embellishments
• Large sheet of poster board
• Can of spray adhesive
• Craft glue or glue gun
• Scissors
• Lightweight batting
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Using your memory book as a template, wrap the batting around the book, like a book cover. Trim the edges off the batting. You do not want to leave any excess batting that will hang over the edges of the book. Starting on the front of the book, attach the batting. Spread the craft glue or hot glue over the front of the book, making sure to get a good line of glue along the edges. Quickly place the batting onto the glued area, pressing down to ensure a firm bond. Using the same process, do the side of the book, the spine, and then the back. Let the book rest so the glue has ample time to dry and adhere.

2. Lay the fabric out flat on a flat surface with the wrong side up. If there are any wrinkles in the fabric, iron it now. Using the memory book as a template, mark the edges of the book onto the fabric. Remove the book. Measure out and mark an extra 5" around the entire edge of the marked line. Cut out the fabric.

3. Lay the cut out fabric panel wrong side up on a flat surface. Smooth out any wrinkles. Starting on the front of the book, just like you did with the batting, attach the fabric. Spray the batting with the spray adhesive, making sure you get a good coating on the batting. Position the book over the fabric in the correct place and press down. Flip the book over so that the top is up and make sure that fabric is smooth over the batting. You have a moment or two to adjust the fabric before the spray adhesive dries. Repeat with the spine of the book and then the back.

4. Measure the inside of the book cover. Subtract 1" from the top and side measurement. Cut out two pieces of the adjusted size from the poster board. For example, if the inside measurement of your book cover is 13" x 9", you will be cutting the poster board at 12" x 8". You will need two of these. One for the inside front cover and one for the inside back cover.

5. Taking your time on this step, open the book flat on a flat surface. Cut the material straight up and straight down from the edges of the spine. Think of the spine of the memory book as its own rectangle. At the top two corners, cut the extra inches of material straight up from the corners and straight down from the bottom two corners. Trim those pieces so they are only 2" of extra material attached to the cover where the spine is. Fold the spine piece of extra material in half and apply glue to the folded side that is facing upward. Tuck that piece of material down into the spine of the book, pressing as much as possible to ensure a good bond between the book and fabric.

6. Apply glue to the exposed, wrong side showing extra fabric. Carefully wrap the excess fabric over the edges of the book and glue to the book's inside cover. Repeat with the back inside cover.

7. Place the cut pieces of poster board onto the inside covers to ensure they are cut properly. If not, re-cut them to the proper sizing so that when positioned in the middle of the inside covers, there is between 1/2" to 3" of material along the inside edges. Glue the poster board pieces in place on the front inside cover and then the back inside cover.

8. Place the book aside so that it has ample time for the various glues to dry. Once dry, decorate the book with any embellishments you choose.

Tips & Warnings

• When using glue, make sure you are working in a properly ventilated room.

• If working with a hot glue gun, make sure you take all necessary precautions so you do not burn yourself.

References

• Pioneer Thinking