Meander Book

The meander (or maze) book gets its name from the way the paper is cut and folded to make the pages. This size book is great for a single event!

Supplies

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Score 12" x 12" paper at 3", 6" and 9".

   

2. Step 2

   Turn paper 90 degrees and score again at 3", 6" and 9".

   

3. Step 3

   Fold and unfold all score lines.

   

4. Step 4

   Use paper cutter to cut paper as follows:
   On the first vertical score at 3", cut from 3" all the way to 12".
   
   One the second vertical score at 6", cut from the bottom to 9".
   
   One the third score at 9", cut from 3" all the way to 12".
   
   Cut the first and last square off as shown.

   

5. Step 5

   Start folding paper up from one of the sides with a missing square.
   
   Fold it up accordion style, stopping at the end of row.

   

6. Step 6

   Tug the accordian pages of the first row under the second row.

   

7. Step 7

   Fold the second row accordion style like the first one.

   

8. Step 8

   Tuck your accordion pages under the next row.

   

9. Step 9

   Fold the third row accordion style.

   

10. Step 10

    Fold pages under the last row.

    

11. Step 11

    Now fold up the last row accordian style.

    

12. Step 12

    For pocket pages, punch a half circle on the top of one page.
    
    To determine the top, unfold the accordion pages a little. The top will be the side that has two neighbor pages opening on top, one on the bottom.
    
    For no pockets, just adhere two adjoining pages together.

    

13. Step 13

    Add adhesive to the bottom of the page.
    Tape pages together.
    
    You won't need tape on the side. It will be held together with the binding later.

    

14. Step 14

    Punch a half circle out of the second page.

    

15. Step 15

    Add adhesive to the side this time for a pocket.
    
    

    

16. Step 16

    Continue to turn pages into pockets.

    

17. Step 17

    Stamp pages if needed.

    

18. Step 18

    Punch holes in the side of the book pages for optional binding.
    
    A Bind-it-All™ was used here, but a different kind of binding machine or a Crop-a-dile™ could be used, too.

    

19. Step 19

    Tape 3 1/2" pieces of patterned paper to coaster pieces. Stamp those if needed.
    
    I used a Carl Rotary cutter to cut the coasters to size.

    

20. Step 20

    Punch holes in covered coasters.

    

21. Step 21

    Stack front, back and pages the following way:
    Pages, front cover face up, back cover face down.
    
    Insert wire through the holes and then close them with Bind-it-All™ or other binding machine.

    

22. Step 22

    Cut tags for pockets. These were cut to 2 1/4" x 2 7/8" before rounding the corners.
    
    Decorate the inside pages and pocket tags.

    

23. Step 23

    Decorate front cover.

    

Video!

Variations

Alternate binding
Use Crop-a-dile and ribbon for the book binding.

No binding
Just adhere top and back cover to the pages directly without binding the book.

More pages
Don't tape pages together for more pages.

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Meander Book. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

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