Make a Soap Box Book by Bel Mills of Scrap Paper Circus

Beginner | 1 hour 14 min

Make a Soap Box Book
Overview01:20
Materials02:23
Trim and cover the soap box26:16
Create the pages11:45
Assembly32:48

Taught by Bel Mills of Scrap Paper Circus

Buy For $29.95

Pricing Options

Engage in the creative and imaginative practice of upcycling. Rather than beginning with a book idea and then purchasing the materials, Bel Mills of Scrap Paper Circus reverses the process and instead finds inspiration in her recycling bin. Utilizing a discarded soap box as a book cover, she transforms what might become garbage into a lively, kinetic book with accordion-folded pages and a button closure. Bel offers several design options and makes this unique book structure as simple to construct as it is to source the materials.

Here’s what you’ll need:

One bar soap box: cut to 3-3/8” tall and 2-5/8” wide
Two sheets of 8 ½" x 11” cardstock: cut five pieces to 3-1/2" tall by 9-1/2" wide, grain short
One sheet of patterned cardstock paper: cut two pieces to 5" tall 2-3/4" wide, grain short
2" or 3" wide book cloth tape, gaffer tape, or wide colored duct tape for less expensive option
Masking tape
Metal ruler
Pencil
Craft knife
Scissors
Large craft needle
Awl
Waxed linen thread
Cutting mat
Bone folder
PVA glue
Glue stick
Small glue brush
Cup of water to rinse glue brush
String or ribbon
Small button about ½” diameter
Metal eyelet and eyelet setter or another ½” button
Scor-tape (optional)