I found this spiral notebook at Hallmark one year and have always loved it. (I heart the Cat in the Hat!) It gave me the idea to create a little mini book with a Seuss-ish theme.
I started by sketching out a template reminiscent of a certain cat's hat .
Then I just cut the template apart creating a paper-piecing pattern (tutorial & pattern below).
Next I glued everything together and attached it to a folded mini-book.
I think this would be really fun to use in a lapbook for homeschoolers, for journaling or a tag for scrapbookers or even a little book in which to collect favorite Dr. Seuss or other quotes.
Since Dr. Seuss's birthday is this month, I thought I'd share this tutorial from my ezine a few years ago.
What you'll need to get started:
-Hat Pattern (download here- you'll need Adobe Reader - available for free here)
-Red & White construction paper or cardstock
-20 lb copy paper (if making a mini book)
-Black or gray chalk and cotton balls (optional-to add dimension)
-Adhesive
-Pencil
-Scissors
Step One
The first thing you’ll want to do is print the pattern and cut it out.
Fig.1
Step Two
The next step will be to trace the pattern on white cardstock in order to create a “base” for your design.
Fig. 2
Cut this out and leave it blank as in Fig 2. We’ll be cutting the pattern apart so we want to have backdrop to simplify putting it back together.
Step Three
Now we’ll cut apart the template to create six separate pieces (as shown in Fig. 3).
Fig. 3
Be sure to number each piece (as shown in Fig. 3a).
Fig. 3a
This makes it much easier to put the pieces back together, especially if you get interrupted while you’re working (but what are the chances of that happening, right? heh-heh).
Step Four
Now we’re ready to start creating our pattern pieces.
Using red & white cardstock trace three alternating pieces on white cardstock and three on red cardstock.
Fig 4
Flip the pieces over backwards to trace (Fig. 4) so that when you’refinished cutting them out, the pencil lines will be on the back, and you won’t have to erase!
Again, be sure to number the pieces so that you’re able to easily realign them.
When you’re finished cutting out all of the pieces you should have something similar to fig. 5 below.
Fig. 5
Step Five
Next cover the backs of your pieces with the adhesive of your choice and attach them to the base you created in step 2 (Fig 5a).
Fig 5a
Step Six
Make a Top-fold Card or Tag
To make a card, folded tag or journaling flap simply fold a piece of cardstock in half and lay your design on the paper with the fold at the top (Fig 6).
Fig. 6
Trace and cut out being sure not to cut the fold and attach your hat to the front.
Fig. 6a
Fig. 6b
Make a Mini-Book
To create a mini-book, fold several sheets of 20 lb copy paper in half (depending on how many pages you’d like your book to have) and trace your pattern on the side fold.(as in Fig. 7).
Fig. 7
Cut out your book and attach the hat design to the front. (as in Figs. 7a & 7b)
Fig. 7a
Fig. 7b
Step Seven
As a finishing touch you can add depth to your project by rubbing a cotton ball in a little black or gray chalk and running it lightly around the edges of your hat.
Fig. 8
You're finished!
Hope you have fun and make some of these this month! (If you do let me know, I want to see!)
Grace & Peace,
♥ Melissa~
PS Thank you all so much for all your comments and emails about my slideshow woes. It was so encouraging and I could *feel* your prayers. I was able to finish the slideshow that day with minimal tears and I'm really happy with how it turned out. Love you all!
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"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it." -1 Thessalonians 5:11
