Making your own books is easier than you might think, and Erin Zamrzla shows you how, using Japanese methods to produce a range of delightful projects: from easy-to-fold accordion pamphlets to books using the intricate and distinctive Japanese stab stitch bindings. Traditional bookbinding techniques are applied to creative and contemporary projects that will interest a broad range of beginning crafters, DIYers, and book artists. Zamrzla makes all the techniques accessible and completely nonintimidating by providing clear, step-by-step instructions for even the more complicated stitches. Information on the basics of bookbinding, including book terminology, tools, and techniques are included, and many of the projects encourage the creative use of recycled materials.

Each project is featured in a full-color photograph presenting it in a real-life setting. Additional photos and computer-drawn instructional illustrations offer step-by-step details of construction.

Projects include:

•Unfolding Flower Notes: An accordion book that opens into a string of flowers.

•Tiny Souvenir Book: An accordion book with envelopes for pages so you can collect memories on the go.

•Return-to-Sender Mail Book: Made using a four-hole stab binding in the hemp-leaf pattern, the pages of this notebook are contained within an envelope cover so you can simply fill the pages, seal the end, and mail it to a friend, who can then add to the pages and send it back to you.

•Pillowcase Dream Book: Made using a Yamato binding—a simple two-hole stab binding—the cover of this book is sewn from a pillowcase.

•Tea Bag Tracing Book: The pages of this book are created from tea bags that are bound in a traditional account-book style.