Monday, October 19, 2015

How to Make Mini Book Charms

Harry Potter Mini Book Charms
I still have a hangover from the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone: The Illustrated Edition and after rereading the whole series for the nth time, I got inspired to make this project, mini Harry Potter books.

Of course you can choose any book you want. I showed my finished work to my sister and niece and they right away requested for the mini versions of their favorite books.



To make this literally small project, you have to prepare your book cover for printing, any book you like or you can just make a book design of your own. For me, it's the Harry Potter series, starting off with the first book. I found some book covers online that are ready to be printed but I wasn't satisfied with them, some were just illustrations used in the dust jacket without the other details like the small texts, barcode, etc. so I just scanned the dust jacket from my book to make a better version. 

***This step, scanning the dust jacket of the book, was done because my OCD kicked in and I got worked up with such small insignificant details that wouldn't even be obvious on such cute versions, haha. Skip this if you're happy with those book covers of your choice that you can find online.



If you already have your book cover, print it according to your desired size. I just used a regular copy paper.




Cut the print out and fold it on the right places. This now looks like a mini version of the dust jacket



Get a cardboard, I used a cereal box, and cut it according to the size of the print out. To form the spine, cut on the surface lightly, not all the way through, just so you can fold it neatly


Cover it with colored paper that will match the dust jacket. This will serve as the mini hardcover for the book.




Adhere the dust jacket carefully and smooth out any lumps. I used Mod Podge on this. Now the cover is ready.


Prepare the inside of the book, the book pages. I used these pages from the project I did a while back, a hollow book safe.



Based on the size of the book cover, cut out pages enough to fill the thickness of the book. As this is going to be a book charm, I left a space where I can put an eye or a head pin in. To do this, a few pages in the middle should have a width 1mm narrower than the others.



Use binder clips to make the pages stay in place, brush glue around the edges, and let it dry.



When the inside of the book is already dry and all the pages are stuck together, put in the pin in the space provided for it, make necessary adjustments on the pin using your pliers or wire cutter.


Apply glue on all sides.



Place the cover and press tightly. Let it dry, put objects on top as weights.


Coat with glaze or decoupage sealant for a nicer finish. 


Ta-da! A mini book charm.


Well, continuing with my Harry Potter fix, I did all the other books in the series.


A keychain I made using the mini book charm and also a mini Gryffindor scarf with the Deathly Hallows wire pin.



And, another way to show that you are a proud Potterhead, a bracelet with all the books in the series. Cute, eh?

This would be a great gift, don't you think? Specially for your bookworm friends. You can also use this as a pendant, a fancy bookmark charm, or just anything you can think of. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and feel free to ask questions or share your ideas. Thank you so much for reading. Gotta go...  Accio Firebolt!






57 comments:

  1. Wow!!! Mommy this is awesome!! You can make a business out of this!!! :) when you do, I'd like Dr Seuss' books ha! :)

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  2. Awww. I love this. so creative!!! :) I'll try this.

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  3. This so cool! I wish I have the patience and the creativity to do this too! Have you thought of doing this as a business? This'd be a hit!

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    1. Thank you. I have a few requests from friends, already, haha.

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  4. Oh my gosh. Effort! But I will definitely buy something that cute!

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  5. Oh wow! Ang galing! My husband will be interested to do this.

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  6. Oh my... ang ganda naman, and super cute. Ang galing mo mommy!

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  7. Omg you've just outdone yourself. This would be the perfect giveaway to Potterheads everywhere!

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  8. Ang cute masyado!!! Plus it's my favorite book pa. I think I'll try this one...when I get to sleep. Haha. I never seem to get my craft plans done at all.

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    1. Thank you. Yup, some craft projects really take time to finish.

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  9. That's a very nice and cute idea! It would also be a cool gift giveaway for this Christmas :)

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    1. Thanks. Yup, specially to your bookworm friends.

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  10. Ang cute! I love the mini book idea, so unique. nakikita ko lang ganyan ung mini bible. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  11. This is so cool ! I'm going to try this out ! :D

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  12. Aww so cute!!! You're so creative!! :)

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  13. Wow! Super cute! You make it seem so easy but I'm sure it's not... still... good job! Even my daughter liked this blog entry. :D

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    1. Thank you. Well, I admit, I'm meticulous with things like this, haha.

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  14. OMG! OMG! OMG!! I want!! Huge Harry Potter fan here. I've read the novel like a hundrd times already. And I've been listening to the audio book for 5years now everyday. Instead of the usual music while working, I prefer Harry Potter audio books. Bwhahaha! I love this idea.

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    1. Hahaha, same here. I love listening to the audiobooks, I love the one read by Stephen Fry.

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  15. like the bracelet so much! so cute and I'm sure your hands hurt a bit coz they're so small... love it!

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    1. Thank you! My eyes are the ones that hurt, actually, haha.

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  16. That's so creative! Pwedeng gifts to friends and loved ones.

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    1. Thank you. Yup, you can give them their favorite books' mini version.

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  17. So cutie! I wonder what book I'll use to make. :)

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    1. Thank you. You must have lots of favorites, haha.

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  18. cool! i love all things diy...too bad I don't have books, as in hard copies now!

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    1. Thank you. I hope you can get an image of the cover of your fave book online.

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  19. I love this! I'm not really good with DIY but this is something I hope I could do :))

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    1. Easy enough but would take some time. Go for it.

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  20. Omg love!! Your so creative! Would you be able to share the book dust cover images with me through email? I really want to make this for my friend but I'm not happy with the pictures online, haha OCD like you ;) please and thank you ☺️☺️

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    1. Sure, I'll be happy to help. You can leave your email here or send me a pm.

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    2. My email is:
      sabiha-hansrod@hotmail.com
      Thanks your the best!! 😊

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    3. Hi, it was taking forever to send all images in one go, so I tried sending them one at a time. You should be receiving 7 different emails from my iCloud email. =)

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. Yay! I'm so happy love you 😊 :D

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    6. Haha, glad you like it. Enjoy!

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    7. Hey! I love this DIY so much and I would love to make it too. Could you please send me the dust jackets for these book covers? Thank you (:

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    8. Thanks for visiting. Unfortunately I lost the files. I even checked on my email's sent messages but I got that deleted, too. Sorry. =(

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  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  22. I absolutely love this and Harry Potter! I have actually began a new liking of making miniature books and I am so happy I found your blog. Your tutorial is by far the most detailed looking books, exactly how I would want mine to look. The fact that you kept the dust jackets on made me love them even more!! I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing your images for the books, I would love to give this a try, but I am not satisfied with the internet finds and no scanner :( if you wouldn't mind sending them, my email is jennalillian3@hotmail.com . Again, thanks so much for an awesome blog!

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    1. Hi, thank you so much for appreciating this entry. I already sent the images to your email. I had them sent in separate messages because it was taking too long to send them all at once so you should be receiving seven emails from me. Hope this helps. Enjoy and thanks again for visiting.

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  23. Wow! I love this so much!! I would like to make some but I can't find a printable I like online. Could you send the printable you used to my email heinrichjrk@gmail.com? Thanks so much! Have a great day!!

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    1. Thanks for visiting. Unfortunately I lost the files. I even checked on my email's sent messages but I got that deleted, too. Sorry. =(

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  24. hi, i just came across this tutorial and i love these mini books. i know it is a long shot that you will see this but could i please get the files for the dust covers so i can make them as well. Thank you and i hope you see this.
    my email is nikkee.ca@gmail.com
    -Nikkee

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    1. HI, thanks for visiting. Unfortunately, I lost the files. I already sent them to others before so I tried checking my email's sent messages but everything's gone. Apologies.

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  25. Hello! I just found your blog and I'm so happy about that! I'm planning to do this but I need your help. How to scan all the dust jacket into single file like yours? (sorry for my bad English) thank you!

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    1. Hi. It doesn't have to be a single file, mine has 1 file for each book. If you mean 1 picture for the jacket, I scanned the whole jacket in two parts because it doesn't fit in the scanner in one go. So there were two pictures for 1 jacket, I just edited the pictures and attached them together making sure that they connect perfectly. I hope this helps. Thanks for visiting.

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