Domino Diary Pendant

Materials:

Ranger Adirondack pigment markers
Ranger archival ink pad
Ranger Heat-It craft tool
Ranger bone folder
dominoes
2-ply waxed linen thread
needle tool
text weight paper
needle
Crafters Pick The Ultimate! glue
1/4" grosgrain ribbon
mini paper brads
rubber stamps
pencil
spray sealer
3/8" foil tape
pin bail/chain
super-strong glue
rotary drill with 1/16" drill bit

Steps:

1. Begin by cutting your papers for the book. Determine size by measuring your domino and doubling the width (this will be folded in half) (figure A). Cut enough papers to create an odd number of signatures (groups of three to five pages for each signature). We created five signatures of three pages each. Cut an extra page for the template, for a total of 16 pages. Note: You will always need to have an odd number of signatures for this stitch.

2. Cut one page out of a heavier card stock to create a cradle to use when stitching the book.

3. Cut two pieces of grosgrain ribbon to span the width of the book.

4. Create the template for the book by folding the extra page in half and opening back up. Lay ribbon pieces across the fold, centering where you would like them to lay on the sine/fold (figure B).

5. Mark both sides of the ribbon with a pencil. Also mark 1/4 inch in from each end of the fold (figure C).

7. Using your needle tool, pierce the marked holes through both pieces of paper (figure E). This will be used as a template to punch holes in the signatures for your book. Note: You will always need an even number of holes in your template for this stitch. The paper is the top template and the card stock piece is the bottom cradle. Fold each page in half width-wise using your bone folder. Be sure to fold one at a time.

8. Group pages together in five sets of three; these are called signatures. Line up the signatures from left to right with the fold facing to the left.

9. Thread needle with waxed thread. You will need the length of the domino times the number of signatures plus one for the thread amount (figure F).

10. Insert needle into the peak fold and out through valley fold of the first signature, leaving about a 2-inch tail of thread out.

11. Lay one piece of ribbon across spine; stitch over the top of it back in through the next peak hole and out through the valley of the signature. Repeat with the next piece of ribbon. Your thread should now be out through the last hole of your first signature (figure G).

12. Place your next signature on top of the first one (figure H) and begin stitching--this time from left to right. Do a simple straight stitch in and out, being sure to stitch over each piece of ribbon over the spine.

13. When you reach the end of the second signature, your thread should be on top of the tail of thread where you started (figure I). Tie a square knot with these two threads (right over left and left over right). This will be the only knot you will tie in this book (figure J).

14. Add the third signature on top of the two and stitch back right to left, simply repeating the straight stitch from the first two signatures.

15. When you reach the end of the third signature, make a kettle stitch. A kettle stitch is a stitch between the last two completed signatures to fasten them together. Here’s how you do it: Insert the needle from the spine of the book facing out. Go under the last stitch of signatures one and two, bringing the needle from right to left under that stitch. Do not tighten this stitch.

16. Pull the thread until you create a loop (this is the cup). Drop the needle down through the loop from top to bottom (pour the tea). Pull thread directly straight up and your stitch will fall into place (up comes the steam).

Here's a tip to remember it: Make the kettle stitch between the last two signatures, creating the cup. Drop the needle into the cup, "pouring the tea." Pull the thread straight up--"up comes the steam."

17. Add your fourth signature to the top; stitch from left to right, repeating the kettle stitch on the right. This time go through signatures two and three (the last two completed ones). Be sure to stitch from the inside spine out.

18. Add your fifth and final signature to the top, and stitch from right to left, finishing off your book by creating a double kettle stitch (just make two) between signatures three and four (figure K).

19. Trim your threads and the ribbon to fit across the book and not hang over the edges. Set it aside.

20. To create the covers of the book: Drill two dominoes on the center side with a 1/16-inch drill bit, going only 1/4 inch into the domino. (figure L). Be sure to wear protective gear.

21. Color directly on the domino with the pigment markers and blend the colors with your finger while wet. Apply additional colors and continue to blend them until the desired look is achieved. Heat set with a heat tool (figure M).

22. Ink stamp with permanent black ink and press domino onto stamp, lining up the image you would like. Heat set this also (figure N).

23. Seal your stamped dominoes with a spray sealer.

24. Apply foil tape to edges of the dominoes and burnish with bone folder. (figure O). Re-pierce drilled holes through tape.

25. To assemble your book: Lay domino pieces face down with the holes facing out and away from each other. Apply glue to back of domino on the left and spread glue with your finger. Place scrap of linen thread on the back of the domino lying across from the outside edge in. (this is for your closure). Place book on top of glued thread and press to secure.

26. Glue top cover on other side of the book. Be sure not to glue thread on this cover. Allow thread to hang out of the spine of the book (figure P).

27. Glue brads in drilled holes with super-strong glue and allow to dry.

28. Embellish thread with charm if desired. To close book, wrap thread around back of diary and tie a "figure 8" around brads.

29. Glue pin bail to domino.