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Jun 5, 2024

Vintage Gel Printed Accordion Book Tutorial


Hi everyone and happy spring!  I've enjoyed some playtime with my mom this spring and we've done a lot of gel printing.  I was trying to think of a way we could use our stash prints and decided we should make an accordion book.  I picked one of my favorite 8x10" prints and cut it in two to cover two pieces of 4 x 6.5" chipboard, wrapped around the sides with mitered edges.


Here is my pile of gel prints.  Honestly, I didn't put a dent in this set alone!  This project didn't take as much printed paper as I had hoped...  But it was a fun project nonetheless.



I cut two pieces of white cardstock and scored them to fit inside and adhered the overlap to make the accordion panels.  Then I glued these to each cover and covered with gel prints measuring slightly smaller than the covers, 


I looked at my wooden stamp display and was inspired by this darling Character Constructions girl and called up a good friend and asked to borrow some of her doll stamps so I could complete my book.  Thanks Barbara!


I stamped all of my dolls onto book pages and added a bit of watered Tea Dye Distress Ink to give them a slight coloration.


Next I dipped all of my die cut Tim Holtz Wildflower in a combination of Tea Dye, Walnut Stain and Rusty Hinge Distress Inks.  


I mixed in my favorite scripture stamps with other favorite old wood mount stamps.


I always enjoy stamping on old paper.  Here I tea dyed some graph paper and it was a great backdrop to the scripture.


How many of you still own these stamps.  Personally, I treasure mine!  Both my friend and I have them on display in our art rooms.  


Here's a shot of mine from last year.  I've since changed things up a little, but still love this image.


I also took some free vintage label images and overlaid a typed font scripture and printed it.  I love the look and pop of aqua!


My finished book is a little busy, but fun to inspect.  I really hope it has made you smile today and has you considering how to incorporate your old stamps into your current work.  


I finished the book off with a sari ribbon binding.  


I just loved this particular gel print and was happy to make it the focal point of my book.  Happy crafting!  xx, Autumn