| Re-thinking the Wrapper (Online)

Think outside the wrapper and learn how to make beautiful and functional tuxedo-style wrappers that can be used to enclose prints, books, photographs, or drawings.

 

SOLD OUT!  Email [email protected] to be placed on  waitlist.

Note: This workshop will be held in a live, online format utilizing the Zoom platform.
Class meets on Saturday afternoon, Apr 15 from 1-4pm ET.

The four-flap wrapper is a staple of book preservation practices. It offers protection to worn and damaged books using few materials at a relatively low cost. The “tuxedo” wrapper, as it is also known, can be overlooked as an accessible enclosure — but has a great deal of artistic potential, especially for prints, books, photographs, and drawings.

In this online workshop, students will follow along with a live demo to make a tuxedo-style wrapper, complete with a self-locking flap. In the second part of the class, we’ll also look at how to make:

• a flat, envelope-like wrapper,
• a wrapper closing mechanism made with buttons and braided thread, 
• and, we’ll cover the use of cutting and layering as a way to introduce decorative elements to the wrapper.

The class will dive into materials, adhesives, and tools. We’ll explore paper/card stock candidates for future projects, as well as other elements including threads, tapes, and cutting implements. 

All levels are welcome.

Students will receive a kit containing:

• Pre-cut strips of 20-pt. card, in a light-yellow color (enough to make all three wrapper structures),
• Pieces of backed leather and backed cover-weight decorative papers (to use in the button-and-tie wrapper variation),
• Colored bookbinding thread (unwaxed),
• 10-pt. card stock in a dark gray color,
• Scrap board (for cutting the self-locking flaps),
• Some blotter paper and Reemay.

Students will need to source the following tools and adhesives:

• A roll of 1/2” 3M 415 Tape double-sided pressure-sensitive tape,
• Bone or Teflon folder (if possible, a bone folder with a pointy tip for scoring),
• Sharp scissors capable of small, neat cuts,
• 9mm Olfa knife OR X-Acto knife OR scalpel with #11 blades, for X-Acto or scalpel: replacement blades (10-12 recommended),
• Self-healing mat (approx. 12″ x 18″),
• Awl OR pin tool,
• Flat metal ruler (12″ or 18″),
• Metal triangle (suggested: 8″, 30/60/90 degrees),
• Scrap pieces of paper (a few sheets of printer paper
• Pencil and eraser
• PVA, and
• Glue brush

For the wrapper variations in particular, the instructor recommends the students source one (or more) book weight(s) (*As a book weight, students can use: a dense dictionary, a Tupperware container filled with marbles, a heavy and clean wooden cutting board, or a brick wrapped in paper…)

Optional tools (for students who already have these on hand, or for students who are looking to expand their tool-kit… but, by no means necessary to the class!):

• Paper or notebook for taking notes
• Dividers
• Japanese screw punch with a 1mm bit