Book Recipe - Recipe Book

Some skill and/or assistance may be required.  This is a synopsis of what I teach in my bookmaking class.

Ingredients:

1 easy, short recipe

Photocopied images or eatable result of recipe (for object to draw)

Permanent, no-bleed, fine point pen (Sharpie or Micron).

Pencil (HB or 2B) and eraser

1 sheet of 140# hotpress watercolor paper.  Cut to 4.5" x 11.75".  One sheet is usually enough for multiple books.

Watercolor paints

Watercolor brushes

paper towels, plastic cup for water, and scissors

2 pieces mat board cut to 4.5" x 4"

1 piece craft paper (or paper grocery bag) cut to 9.5" x 9" (or alternate version - see drawing)

Sea sponge

Acrylic craft paint (2-3 colors)

Satin Ribbon

Decorative papers

Spray adhesive and craft glue

Directions:

1.  Using sea sponge with acrylic craft paints, sponge one color onto one side of the 9.5" x 9" craft paper.  Mottle the paint effect.  Sponge a different color on top of the first.  Add a third color if desired.  Put paper aside to dry.

2.  Create a mini still life with food created from recipe.

3.  Divide the 4.5" x 11.5" piece of watercolor paper into thirds with light pencil marks.  In general, the first third from the left can be for the illustration and the remaining two thirds can be for the recipe title and text.  However, you can be as creative as you like in the layout.

4.  With pencil sketch in a border, the food still life.

5.   Create guidelines in pencil for the recipe title and text.  Lightly in pencil, write in the title and recipe.  You may need to redo it a couple times to get it to fit.  Play with the lettering of the title text; add flourishes to or bolden your handwriting.

6.  Once you are satisfied with your light sketch and text layout go over it with the permanent pen.  Do not pen in the guidelines for the title and text.  Erase all pencil lines.

7. Paint in your illustration using the watercolors and watercolor brushes.  Let dry.

8.  Turn paper over.  In the middle third section, create a mini illustration first in pencil, then pen it in and erase pencil lines, then add watercolors.  Let dry.

9.  Return to the craft paper with the sponged paint, it should be dry by now.  Place on table, face down with 9" edges to top and bottom and 9.5" edges to side. (Image include alternate template with areas you can cut out if desired.)

10.  On the two pieces of matt board, apply a light coat of spray adhesive to one side only.  Holding the mat board with the 4" edge to top/bottom and 4.5" edge to sides, place the adhesive side down onto the craft paper in this location:  Approximately ¼" from bottom and sides of craft paper with approximately ½" in-between the two matt board pieces.

11.  Lightly spray adhesive over unpainted side of craft paper and the two pieces of matt board.  Fold in the bottom two corners.  Fold in the bottom and side edges.  Lightly spray adhesive onto the newly folded in edges.  Fold down the top portion of the craft paper to cover the mat board.  Trim off any excess craft paper.  Fold in half.  This is the book cover.

12.  Turn the bookcover over and decorate.  You can add decorative papers to the fold and a ribbon for the tie.  Use craft glue to apply papers and ribbon.

13.  Return to the illustrated watercolor page.  Fold it into thirds – first the left side in toward the right and then the right side in to the left.

14.  Apply craft glue to the blank right third of the page, smooth out the glue to the edge of the third with your finger.  Apply the glued surface to the inside right side of the bookcover.  Make sure that the folded edge of the page lines up with the outer edge of the cover.

Estimated time:  4+ hours for art project.  Does not include time for gathering supplies, cutting paper & mat board, or for cooking the recipe.

Have fun!

Susan