Make a Concertina Sketchbook to Fill With Art

Your creative year starts here

I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to craft materials. As I always say at my workshops: if you don’t like a print, don’t throw it away. Number one, you can usually learn something from it. And number two, you can almost always use it for something else.

So today’s tutorial is all about dipping into your stash of craft paper or not-quite-perfect prints you’ve been meaning to do something with for ages and turning them into something useful.

  <<JUMP TO INSTRUCTIONS>>

YOUR SKETCHBOOK, YOUR WAY

I call this a concertina sketchbook, but you might also see this fold-out format described as a leporello or an accordion book. Open it up and the pages stretch out like a little landscape of your own making. Best of all, you don’t need any fancy kit to make one; just simple materials you probably already have at home.

You can make your concertina sketchbook pretty much any size you like and you can also play around with the orientation. The smaller ones are perfect for slipping into a pocket with a pen or pencil, like a little portable creative companion for quick sketches, notes, pressed flowers from a walk, or snippets of inspiration. They also make cute gifts filled with quotes or keepsakes. Or go bigger (A5 is probably the biggest I'd go.) and create one for yourself to fill with art over the coming year.

NO EXCUSES!

And you’ve really not got an excuse to fill it up because these tutorials will be popping into your inbox every month. And don’t forget I also run a free online Artist in Focus session each month for the Royal Voluntary Service's Virtual Village Hall where we look at the life and work of an artist, then do some quick art exercises inspired by them. This month we’ll be exploring the illustrator, and her many other titles, Beatrix Potter (see my blog post). Alongside that, there’ll be various botanical, art-based sessions throughout the year, experimenting with different materials and approaches.

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HOW TO MAKE A CONCERTINA SKETCHBOOK

This is a great way to use up prints or paper you already have, and once you’ve made one, you’ll probably want to make more.

YOU WILL NEED:

• 3 sheets of A4 Paper (printed, plain, coloured, patterned) If you want a longer concertina then use more sheets.

  
  

• Bone folder (optional)

  
  

• Scissors or a craft knife, ruler and cutting board

  
  

• Glue (PVA or a glue stick)

  
  

• Cardboard or card for the cover

  
  

• Ribbon, twine or string to tie it closed (optional)

HOW TO:

1. Fold your paper 

Start with an A4 sheet of paper. Fold it in half, then in half again so you end up with 4 equal sections. Use the bone folder or press firmly with your fingers.

Unfold your paper and you should be able to clearly see the fold lines. Do this with the other 2 sheets.

2. Cut into sections 

Carefully and accurately cut along the fold lines so you have four pieces from each piece.

3. Fold again

Then fold each piece in half so they look like small folded greetings card. These are the building blocks of your concertina book.

4. Start joining the pages 

Take one of the folded pieces and open it out.

Lay it on the table with the right-side facing down and apply glue to the right hand panel.

5. Nest and glue 

Take a second piece, make sure the patterned-side is facing up, then carefully place it onto the glued panel, nestling the edge right into the crease. Press it down firmly so it sticks well.

This join creates the concertina structure.

6. Keep going

Flip the glued papers over and apply glue to the end panel. Take another piece of folded paper, open it making sure the patterned-side faces up and once again place it onto the glued panel, nestling the edge right into the crease.

Continue flipping and gluing until you've used up all your folded pieces of paper.

Every now and then I carefully fold the concertina to check the pages are all lining up square.

7. Let it dry 

Once all the sections are joined, leave the book to dry completely before folding it back up. This helps keep the joins neat and prevents pages from sticking together.

8. Optional finishing touches 

You can leave your concertina book as it is, or add thicker paper or card to the front and back as covers. A ribbon or piece of string tied around the book is a simple way to keep it closed.

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