Accordion Book
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_AsianProverbBook.htm
General Description
The accordion book comes to us from Asia. It was invented to accommodate scrolls that had become unmanageable because of their size and length. The accordion book is composed of a continuous folded sheet of paper and is often enclosed between two covers. It can either be expanded outward or kept flat.
Paper used for the inside sheets can be of the weight of drawing paper, heavy wrapping paper, or colored construction paper, or it can be heavier, like tagboard or thin Bristol board. If used as a scrapbook, it will hold as much mounted material as desired without bulging at the open edge. The inside paper, which is folded into sheets, may be the same size as the card stock cover or slightly smaller. If the book is to stand, stiff paper the same size of the cover will work best.
Accordion books are great for exhibits and displays because you can stand them up and view both sides.
The finished size of the accordion book will vary depending on the size of the paper that you use.
Materials
• Strips of paper cut to size
• Cardstock for covers, the same size as the folded text block,
• Bone folder or wooden craft stick
• Glue stick
Preparation
Cut paper and cardstock
Procedure
1. Fold paper in half and crease the edge, using a bone folder, tongue depressor or ruler.
2. Fold one end to meet the center fold, creasing the edge of the paper.
3. Now reverse the direction of this fold.
4. Fold the new fold up to meet the center fold.
5. Fold the end to the center fold.
6. Repeat with the other end fold.
7. You will now have an 8 page accordion fold book.
8. If you want 16 pages, keep folding in the same way, always bringing the fold back to the center.
9. Glue the card stock covers to the first and the last page of the text block. Use a bone folder, a
tongue depressor or a ruler to “bone down” the edges of the glued cover to the text block.
http://www.eastsideeditions.com/Hazelwood/rabelais/Rabelais.htm
Materials list
Cut book board to size using the utility knife or a heavy-duty paper cutter. You will need two pieces, one for the front cover and one for the back. For this sample book, the size of the book board should be 6 x 4.5 inches (15 x 11.25 cm).
Cut decorative paper 1 inch (2.5 cm) larger than the book board on all sides. Put glue on board and place it in the center of the paper. Smooth paper with bone folder in order to remove any air bubbles. For gluing use PVA (polyvinyl acetate) or other white glue (in US, Sobo or Elmer's brands will do). It is helpful to pour some glue into a small container. Choose an inexpensive bristle brush and dedicate it to this purpose. The waxed paper is used to keep the work surface free of glue. Place the board to be glued on the waxed paper and remove or fold the waxed paper between each application of glue. An alternative to waxed paper is craft paper or newsprint. The advantage of waxed paper is that it will peel away if any glue wanders to an unwanted surface. A note on the decorative paper: too thin and the glue will bleed through or too thick and it will be difficult to fold around the covers.
Trim paper diagonally at corners to 1/4 to 1/2 inch (1 cm).
Glue paper at top and fold over onto covers. Smooth with bone folder. Repeat at bottom.
Trim corners to 1/8 inch (3 mm) , tuck in small tab. Glue and fold 1 inch sections on sides onto covers making sure the corners are square and crisply folded.
Place under weight until glue dries so boards dry flat.
Cut two sheets of paper 6 x 17 inches (15 x 42.5 cm).
Most paper (except handmade paper) has a grain. Paper will fold or tear easier along the grain. You will want to cut your paper so the 6 inch (15 cm) measurement, the one you will fold, is along the grain. The paper for the accordion should be sturdy enough to stand up when folded. I recommend a 70 to 90 pound (150 to 190 gram) paper. I use a 90 lb. hot press watercolor paper or a 70 lb. drawing paper. Most likely, the paper you are using for your alternative photo processes will work.
Measure one inch (2.5 cm) from one end of each sheet of paper, score and fold. Fold the sheet of paper in half, but only to the fold line. You will have two folds at this point with three sections measuring one inch, 8 inches and 8 inches (20 cm). Fold the 8 inch sections in half in the opposite direction creating an accordion fold. Each sheet should have four 4 inch (10 cm) sections and one 1 inch section. Place the sections in front of you with wings up and the 1 inch sections in the middle. Cut off one of the 1 inch sections and glue the other one to the second sheet.
The accordion can now be glued to the cover. To glue, place the accordion on waxed paper and use the waxed paper as a barrier to keep the glue on the section to be glued. Place the accordion on the cover so the folded side is about an 1/8 inch (3mm) from the edge of the cover. Repeat, except when attaching the second cover, place the cover on the folded accordion ensuring that the covers line up properly. Once the pages are glued in, wrap the book and any glued pages in waxed paper and put under weight until the glue dries.
An alternative to using one of the wings as the inside cover is to attach the accordion to the cover with 1 inch (2.5) tabs and glue on an inside cover. Either way, you need an even number of accordion pages so the book closes properly.
You can attach images to the accordion with glue or thread, or you can print directly on the accordion pages.