This is a really fun, simple project to do with kids. It gave me the opportunity to use my new wine cork stamps. For this project, I made a picture book, but I’ve also made a fan book by creating the book upside down.

To begin, gather several large shipping tags, some recycled chipboard (I like to use the backs of old drawing pads, etc), scrap fabric pieces or decorative paper, glue stick, leather punch, cutting tools and one screw post (found with bookmaking stuff at art stores).

Next, remove the string from one shipping tag and use it to trace on the chipboard for a front and back cover.

Cut the front and back cover out of the chipboard using a craft knife and ruler or a rotary cutter works really well too!

Then, punch holes in the chipboard where marked. I’ve used a craft knife to do this but prefer to use a leather punch.

Next, cut your fabric or decorative paper to size. ( I added the bird applique to mine to use up more scraps). Make sure you leave 1″ extra all the way around the chipboard pieces. Put glue on one side of the chipboard pieces and glue down.

Wrap the fabric around the chipboard pieces. Put glue on the other side of the chipboard pieces. Glue corners of fabric down first and then the sides to miter corners.

Prepare the end leaf. Remove the string from another shipping tag and cut some more fabric to 1″ larger than the tag. Glue and wrap the fabric around the tag the way you did for the cover. Use an iron to crease folds if your fabric is difficult like mine was. Cut holes in the fabric of the front and back cover as well as the endleafs, using a craft knife.

Glue endleafs to the chipboard covers. Insert the screwpost to ensure you get proper alignment.

Finally, insert more tags for pages your book and then attach the back cover and screw in place. The number of tags needed to fill up your book depends on the length of the screwpost. You can leave the strings, decorate them or remove them. Be sure to decorate the pages before putting book together.