I promised y'all a tutorial on making miniature books for your settings and I am keeping my promise. Diving into my miniatures has been comforting to me.
If you want to see how I make my miniature books, here is the video from YouTube.
There are other ways to make them than what I have shown, but I find this to be one of the simplest methods. I have been asked about readable books as well as static, open books so perhaps in the future I will supplement this video with another on those two things.
I mentioned in the video that the hardest part of this project is actually making the book covers. I use a program called Paint Shop Pro and combine photos of books found on the Internet, alter and move things around on the photo and scale it all down to work with 1:12 scale. When doing this, remember that the higher the resolution, the better your book cover will look when you print it out. Maybe I need to make some kits. Hmmmmm.
Don't have a photo editing program? Well that isn't a problem either. Find some decorative paper or scrapbook paper that has a leather look or design that you like and just cut out some book covers from that. You can use a fine-point gold pen to add some details to the spine of the book. The rest of the project can be done just like in the video.
Don't want to use paper, well if you have some thin leather you can have some really nice, leather bound books on your dollhouse shelves. Just glue the leather to the card stock just like you would the printed book cover.
I'm sure there will be some questions and I hope you don't hesitate to ask. If you aren't comfortable asking in public, please shoot me an email and I'll do my best to help you out.
These are the pics from the end of the video so you can take a closer look if you like.
Till later!
Hey Dale
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see you getting back in the saddle. Well done x
Love the book tutorial, I might have to try that.
Best wishes
Simon
Thanks Simon. Sure feels good to be back. Glad you liked the tutorial. I would love to see some books that you make. Surely you could fit that into your busy mini schedule. :-)
DeleteDale
very cool tutorial, thank you so much :)
ReplyDeleteMarisa
Marisa, you are very welcome! I love doing these videos.
DeleteDale
Yeay!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Dale. That was a GREAT video. I love watching you create. Also hearing your clock in the background...lol!
It's so wonderful how you were able to focus in very close to your work. The grid was a good idea too. It helps us visualize the size of the books. The lighting was good too. If you need to add more light (sometimes I do this if I have to take pictures in a hurry) use a mirror on the opposite side of your light source to double your light or a white piece of card stock or a sheet of paper.
Your videos are FANTASTIC.
Looking forward to seeing many more.
Hugs,
Morena
P.S. I was thinking, a little piece of silk ribbon as a bookmark would be nice too.
Hugs Marena! Sure feels good to be back with my friends.
DeleteI have really been trying to improve the camera skills and lighting and I love your ideas. I have used them when taking pictures and don't know why I never thought to apply it to the video as well. Thanks for giving my brain a bump. I think it was stuck. HAHA
I LOVE the ribbon idea for a bookmark. I might have to do that with some of the books. Great idea.
Dale
Thank you for this great tutorial - and let me tell you I admire you! I would never be able to paint those tiny books without getting most of the paint on my hands (that's why I always have a big pack of oneway gloves at hand when it comes to working with paint *grin*) - but you even managed to stay clean while working in front of the camera... ;O) Btw, when I want a leather look for my witchy books I use paw fabrics from my bear making supplies, especially suedine is perfect, it doesn't fray, is not expensive and sold in small sizes.
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Birgit
Always nice to hear from you Birgit! I wish you could see how my hands really look when I'm working on mninis. HAHA I hade the paint and glue well. :-)
DeleteGreat idea for the leather look. I'll have to look and see what kind of suedine I can find around here.
Dale
Great looking books. I make my books a bit diffently but always enjoy seeing other methods. I like the images that you found. I've been practicing cutting and pasting scrapbook paper images together to make albulms and journals, I think that I've almost got it. I would be interested in seeing how you make a readable book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary.
DeleteI think the gathering of artwork and scaling it all down is much harder than actually putting the books together. :-) I'll have to look into doing a readable book. That is definitely a harder process and I have never been happy with the final product as it always seems out of scale. But, they are great to show people who don't do minis cause they are always amazed by tiny readable books. LOL
Dale
Love the mini book tutorial I might have to try to do this.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Mario
Thanks Mario! With you being a fantastic wood worker, you could probably make the book inserts faster and easier with wood instead of the matboard. Just a thought.
DeleteDale
Hi Dale! I was here last week and enjoyed the video tutorial a whole lot but I was running late for work and had to postpone the comment. So sorry. I love the way you did the books! They look really good and the jackets are just wonderful and I am so impressed. I like the linen color that you used to 'Knock-Back" the white, which gave it more of a book with 'history' and not brand new. The books when displayed looked so real and "readable" and really added to the scene. Books are a necessary dollhouse accessory for me always all the time. Well done!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth
Thank you so much Elizabeth. I'm not a huge fan of anything looking brand new or perfect. There is nothing in my house like that. HAHA!
DeleteI agree with you that books seem to really give lift to a setting more than a lot of other things. It shows that someone enjoys the space well enough to sit down and spend some quality time.
Thanks again!
Dale
Yes, I think that you have expressed EXACTLY, why I think they are so important, Dale. I couldn't have said it better myself!
Deleteelizabeth
Hi Dale,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful tutorial. Your books look terrific--I really like the detail and natural aged look you create. I'm working on an English cottage project and hope to have a few shelves of books. Your tips and instruction will come in very handy! Thanks again. You make it look so easy!
All best,
Brad
Hello Brad. I am so glad you liked the tutorial. I really hope you do give this project a try. I'm sure they would look great in your English cottage. :-)
ReplyDeleteDale
You're an angel, Dale! What a well depicted tutorial! Thank you so much. I have never made books. But now, after seeing your wonderful tutorial, I know that I will be able to make some without hesitation.
ReplyDelete