DIY "Save the Date" Mini Books

For those of you opting to send out "save the dates", I've got a great DIY tutorial if you're looking for something a little different. These mini books, found by my friend Trisha at Ruth Bleakley are so adorable, that I just HAVE to use them for something! They would be absolutely perfect as "save the date" cards. Just write the date of your wedding inside, and you've got something cute and fun that your guest will be more likely to keep and remember. Or, these would make cute place settings with your guests names inside. Or, favors that just have a "thank you" message inside. And, if you're planning on having a literature-themed wedding, well it just doesn't get more perfect than this. Give 'em a shot!

Thank you Trish for the fantastic idea!

Materials:
• Scraps of thin decorative paper for covers,
• filler paper (this can be regular computer paper or sketch paper)
• thin cardboard for the covers (the kind on the back of a sketchpad will work fine)
• glue (I use PVA but any white glue would work fine)

1. Start by printing your message on your paper. They should fit onto strips of paper as wide as printer paper (8.5″) and about 2″ tall. Then, cut out your strips (with your message on them), and fold them like an accordion. Cut cardboard covers slightly larger than the size of your accordion, folded up. I folded the paper first, then measured the folded size to determine the cover. I made the cardboard covers overhang by about 1/8″. I cut the cardboard with a utility knife and metal ruler.

2. Cut decorative cover paper for the cardboard so that it overhangs all sides by 1/4″ and trim off the corners so they’re mitered (at a 45 degree angle) that way there’s less bulk in the corners when you glue them them. Apply glue and fold opposite sides together. So long sides first, then top and bottom.

3. Gluing the inside is the trickiest - fold up your accordion inside, and put glue on the facing side of the last sheet, then adhere it to the first cover. For the second cover, put glue on the sheet facing you and then lay the cover on top like you’re putting together a sandwich.

 4. Viola! If you like, cut a short piece of ribbon and glue it to the back of the book for a tie. Make sure there’s no glue sticking the pages of your book together before you tie it and leave it to dry.