Book Pumpkin Tutorial

So here is the book pumpkin tutorial I promised. So the fatter the book the easier the pumpkin. You can make it with smaller books, but I have found you need more than one to complete it unless you make them really mini (which could be really cute....) Sorry if this tutorial is not written very well, but I hope you can understand it from the pictures.

 

Choose your book. And make sure the binding is "bendable" after you tear off the cover. So bend your book in half backwards to see if the spine will bend. Also find a stick that is small enough that the spine of the book will fold completely around it when you bend it backwards.

 

 

 You can either draw an arch shape, use the edge of a bowl to trace or just free hand it when cutting the shape of the pumpkin- which is what I do and don't worry if its not perfectly round.

 

 

Start by cutting just the front page. I usually start cutting 3/4 from the binding or even halfway, but usually not all the way from the binding.

 

Then just take a few pages at a time and cut the rest of the pages the same, using the first pages as a guide.

 

At this point is when you should ink the edges of your book... I missed that step and had to do it towards the end. It's easier if you do it now. Take a brown or black or whatever color ink pad you prefer and rub it all over the edges. Don't be afraid to go crazy!!! Especially if your pages are way white because the ink doesn't always show up a ton. So if you want to you can even ink the inside edges too... just depends on how much time you want to take with it:)

 

Next take the stick you found and place in the center of the spine, fold the book in half to make sure it is completely surrounded by the book- it just makes it easier. Then take a glue gun and glue it shut around the stick.

 

Stand your book up and spread out the pages. If there are some too spread out glue the pages together, just make sure to start at the inside and press down evenly to make the pages stay flat. My first books didn't turn out so pretty:)

 

This is where I remembered to ink my pages:) 

 

Tie some tulle or ribbon around the top to give a finished look. It helps to cover any big gaps too:)

 

Enjoy!