SWL ~ handmade smash/junk book #2 ME

This swap is the same as the handmade envelope book swaps, apart from that the book is not made of envelopes, and does not have to include little bits inside pockets/envelopes for your partner.

The theme for this book, this time, is YOU. All about you, where you live, your interests, your likes and dislikes, collages of things you love, ephemera that shows where you are from, your friends and family, your hobbies, lists of things about you, facts about you. Interpret how you like! Divide into sections, interpret through art, write journal style pages, print pictures, use collage showing what you like and love... whatever you want to do! Show your partner all about YOU using this handmade book!

For this swap we'll be getting super creative! Please don't focus so much on size, what is required, what it should look like, etc because this is ART and what is most important is what YOU make, and making something YOU are proud of. There is no exact of what this book should look like. Everyone's will be different. Just follow basic requirements, the rest is up to you.

For your 1 partner, you'll be making them a handmade book with a minimum of 10 pages inside. The book can be made of and out of anything, please don't just use a plain exercise book. Make it with pages of paper or another medium stuck or binded together, out of postcards, out of card, make an envelope book, make a smashbook. Bind however you like. It doesn't have to be professional; for mine I am going to use card for the back and front pages, and simply paper and card stuck in the inside with washi tape/Sellotape as a spine.

PLEASE if you are going to use a premade book like an exercise book, decorate it completely. And remember it only must contain 10 pages; 20 maximum, so tear the others out somehow.

Creativity is key here, there's no really "wrong" or "rights" and it's all about putting your own spin on things.

basic requirements

• size; minimum postcard size 4x9. Give or take, you are welcome to make it smaller as long as it is not resembling pocket size.

• 10 pages inside (that can be back and front, so 5 back and front is ok) maximum 20. ( this is to keep it fair for everyone)

• theme is all about you.

  Make sure each page inside your book is stuck or binded inside and secure. They can't be loose and fall out. What you use to bind/secure them is up to you, book rings, sellotape, ribbon, twine, etc.

  Decorate the book and pages with stamps, stickers, collage, drawings, paper goods, quotes, embellishments, art work, lists, anything you can think of.

  include a note for your partner with the swap name etc, and send it! :)

Please put a lot of thought into it and create something you are proud of. Stick to the layout guidelines above & size, but besides that the sky is your limit,

There are tons of inspiration online, on pinterest, there's tutorials on youtube etc. There's also a little tutorial in the SWL forums how I make my envelope books. But please don't copy any you find online, also I find a lot of things I find online make me feel very overwhelmed because it looks amazing, professional etc so please don't feel like yours has to look like that!

Swap picture is inspiration and not is example of the book you must create.

Have fun and any questions just let me know :)