A great way to personalize a gift to another person or to take advantage of unused materials in the home is to make a DIY book. The first and most important step of making a DIY book is determining what will be included in the book. Choose the content carefully, and decide how the content should be laid out within the book. This will help determine how large the book must be, as well as what types of papers, bindings, and inks should be used. Once those factors have been determined, it is time to start researching the different bookmaking techniques.
The bookmaking process will vary depending on what type of DIY book project one is undertaking. The process, for example, of making a hardcover book will be different than the process for making a paperback, and it is best to decide beforehand what type of finished product is desired before purchasing any materials. Several websites or books can recommend the best materials for making a DIY book in the style desired, and these resources will also recommend the best tools to have on hand. A cutting implement, such as a box knife, will be necessary, as will a hard edged ruler. Beyond that, the required tools may vary.
Use high-quality papers and glue if possible when making a DIY book. This will help prevent the book from degrading prematurely, and it will provide a more pleasing aesthetic overall. A strong glue will keep the pages from pulling away from the spine, and it will also help prevent seepage into the pages of the book. A trip to a crafts store will often give the crafter a good selection of glues, papers, cardstock, and so on to choose from.
As the glue dries, the book's binding will need to be held together to ensure the pages and the glue bind properly. Some people choose to place weight on the book--stacking other books on top of the newly bound book is an option--though a more efficient option is a wooden vice or a jig. Jigs can be made fairly quickly and easily if the DIY book binder has some carpentry skills. Otherwise, an inexpensive vise or clamp can be purchased at a hardware store to place pressure on the book once it is bound and ready for drying. This will ensure a more attractive finished product that will look professional rather than homemade.
