The Japan Book

Materials:

5 sheets of 11" x 2-5/8" Japanese Kozo paper
black Momigami paper
1 sheet decorative origami paper (for pop-up box)
coin stamps
Japanese stamps
hole punch
2 eyelets
two 5-1/8" x 2-3/4" pieces book board
decorative paper
black Mizuhiki cord
brown shoe polish
craft knife
glue

1. To make inside pages: Fold Kozo paper in half, two short ends together, to make a page that is 5-1/2" x 2-5/8". Make at least 10 pages for the book.

2. Cut a triangle shape out of the folded side of each page. Insert decorative or printed paper inside the triangle and glue in place (figure A).

3. Decorate pages with stamps, words or images.

4. Stack all pages evenly and set aside (figure B).

5. To make the outside cover: Cut the book board to be slightly larger than the pages just created. Cut 1 inch off the end of the top cover and set aside (figure C).

6. Cover the bottom cover with decorative paper, mitering the edges (figure D). Glue the black momigami paper on one-third of the left side, mitering edges (figure E).

7. Trim off 1/8 inch from the top cover to make room for the hinged top. Use the bottom as a guide to measure.

8. Cover the top sections to match the bottom and miter edges (figure F). Glue on decorative paper to cover the raw inside edges (figure G).

9. Rub a decorative piece of photocopied Chinese lettering and words with brown shoe polish for an aging effect (figure H).

10. Cut down to smaller size and collage the cover with coins and other decorative elements (figure I).

11. Punch two holes on the top and bottom covers, making sure they both line up (figure J).

12. Insert eyelets and crimp with pliers (figure K).

13. Punch holes through the stack of folded and stamped pages to match the cover holes.

14. Stack the bottom cover, pages, and top cover.

15. Stitch together with cording and tie off to secure. Clip off the long ends of mizuhiki cord.