Drawing Challenge Invitation [72] with the theme: "A Small Book"

In the interest of simplicity, I've edited this post so that my actual little book that I made FOR this week, appears right up at the top. I'll do a line of stars or something to separate the two entries.

I've been wanting to do a little smash style book for awhile now, and so this is the opportunity to do it. I did. This is what the muse came up with. I never ask the muse, I just follow directions. This book is the size of a regulation size a.t.c. [3.5"X2.5"] and was written by me for my daughter for her birthday. It is a little book of instruction for how to 'keep house' as the saying goes. The cover is cardboard from mouse poison and s.o.s. pads boxes. The inside contains sewn and glued pages with subjects such as: housework, lipstick, perspiration, complaining, to name a few. I figure a gal, no matter the age (my daughter will turn 41 on the 13th and has two children ages 8 and 6 yrs.) it is good to have guidance in things household. The only real illustration (drawing) done for this project is a gal in a brassiere but that counts me in as a 'drawing challenge' I'm hoping. Here's the book. [I considered hiring a 'hand' model to hold the book. My hands are so crinkly.] C'est la vie! Here's the book:

FRONT COVER:

INSIDE PAGES:

So there is my little book for this week. Remember to pop down to the very bottom of this post to click on to the names of the other players who are linked there. You'll see some really fun things! Ciao. ************************************************************************************

As long as the book can be held in the palm of one's hand, I consider this a small book. A standard 3"X5" index card when folded in half gives a cover for a book measuring 2.5"X3" and you are off to the start of making a small book. Create art on the front cover and fill the inside with nice paper that is blank and you have a journal. Of course you can use the journal to write, draw, make art.

To show you a few examples of small books that have inspired me, I will show you two swaps in which I have been fortunate to partake. The first is a one-time private swap I did with the lovely Kim. This swap was done with a love for each others' work and came about in a private email conversation between the two of us. Here is the little book that I sent to her: (It is made from one used tea bag)

You can see the entire book opened with all of the pages complete, before it is constructed. Here it's been put together and this is one page:

And here you can see the book opened:

Two inner pages are seen, and here is the back cover:

And here is the little book that Kim sent to me:

Now it is opened:

Oh how I adore the little house inside:

Another swap I did was with the talented Stefanie. She makes the most original and wonderful cigarette paper little books. Her illustration style is a work of art. My gal features a lovely polka dot frock.

This is a cigarette paper little book that I sent to Stefanie. This is what it is made from:

I can't locate a photo of the finished piece, if I took one. The cover is all about spiders. The inside is one leaf of cigarette paper illustrated with the bird and with a quote attached to the image. So there it is folks. You are welcome to come join the fun here. Just make a little book and do a blog post the coming weekend. If you are playing along, leave a comment below on this post saying that you are IN, and I'll add your name to the list and link to your blog. I am going to try a little 'smash' book using cardboard packaging for the covers...I see an SOS pad package shouting to be used...and maybe that mice poison box. Oh my!!

Thanks for dropping in, and I'll see you soon I hope, *smiles* Norma

Just for fun, I feel like giving away a little tea bag paper book to one of the players for this challenge. I will do a draw at the end of the challenge (next weekend.) I'll need to finish off one that I have already started and so I don't have a 'teaser' to show you! See you soon. WHO IS PLAYING THIS CHALLENGE? The following: Sus, Kim, Ariane, Sue, Renilde, Nadine, Barbara, Helen?, Rachel, Mano WHO IS OUR NEXT HOST? Ariane!

WHO WON MY LITTLE BOOK GIVEAWAY? Ariane!!