Making Art Together Bookmaking Theory and Resources

Handmade Cards and Books

Diana MacKenzie
December 12, 2011

Last Thursday I taught a handmade cards and books workshop here in the Studio, just in time for the holidays! We discussed several bookmaking methods including accordion folds, pamphlet stitching, Japanese stab binding, and non-traditional techniques. 

Handmade books sitting on a table.

In addition to their stack of books, participants created handmade cards, envelopes and a colorful set of papers for future projects.

A stack of hand-stamped papers with various textures and colors.

Below are a few books to help inspire you to create handmade books and cards this holiday season!

  • The Booklyn Education Manual compiled by The Booklyn Artists Alliance *currently out of print, but you can download the contents of the bookmaking manual for free!     
  • Handmade Hellos: Fresh Greeting Card Projects from First-Rate Crafters by Eunice Moyle and Sabrina Moyle        
  • Collage Lab: Experiments, Investigations, and Exploratory Projects by Bee Shay 
  • Print & Stamp Lab: 52 Ideas for Handmade, Upcycled Print Tools by Tracy Bunkers
  • Painted Pages: Fueling creativity with Sketchbooks and Mixed Media by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare
  • Books without Paste or Glue by Keith A. Smith        

For more information about booking a Professional Development Workshop, check out our program offerings here.

Diana, smiling wearing an orange scarf and brown shirt.

Diana MacKenzie

Public Art Program Educator from 2007-2016, Diana has a BFA in Printmaking from Syracuse University and creates mixed-media works inspired by her travels, combining her interests in printmaking and sculpture. She received her M.A.T. from Mount Holyoke College in June 2017, and continues teaching visual arts to children and adults.
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