Inspired by the Shetland March 2027 workshop, and eager for a reason to do some cutting and sticking, here’s How to: Text & Texture. Create a sampler or a narrative with paper and glue. Cutting and sticking is such an immediate, stress-free, way to make a unique book – I hope you’ll give it a go.

You’ll need:

• A long strip pf paper – mine is around 11cm/4.5 inches high and 59cm/23 inches

• A glue stick

• A magazines catalogue or brochure to cut up – I’m using a beautiful Toast clothing catalogue from 2021!

• Scissors

• An awl or a needle

• A pencil or pen for the text – I’m using a Derwent Academy Watercolour pencil in Rose.

Step by step:

Begin by folding the long strip in half width-ways.

And then fold into quarters.

Finally fold into eighths. We’re not looking for diamond-grade-measuring-precision here, just a fairly regular concertina.

Flip through your magazine/catalogue looking for texture. Oooh here’s some on the back cover!

Cut out some pebble shapes (if the texture suits.)

Glue them on to the front cover of your book.

A strong graphic start, don’t you think?

More flicking, to find a rectangle of blue sky (smaller than the size of your page.)

Then choose a contrasting colour or texture and cut out the same size rectangle as for the previous step.

Cut one rectangle into even-sized length-ways strips, and the other into width-ways strips. Then, with the help of strategically placed dobs of glue, begin to weave the strips together. I decided that sticking the blue strips alternately on top of and underneath the gravelly texture would be a good way to start. It’s a little fiddly, but worth persevering.

Glue down securely once complete. I decided to apply a rectangle of glue to the page, rather than risk damaging the woven strips.

Pity you don’t get to see the back once it’s glued in to place…more subtle contrasts here.

Rip out a shape and glue it down. Regular sized multiples could also work well here.

Next: choose three areas of colour texture.

…and cut out three ovals, diminishing in size.

Glue one on top of the other, starting with the largest shape.

Oooh I love how the ovals frame each other and play with perspective.

For the final page, I’ve chosen a lovely tangle of yellow flowers.

From the reverse side (for more texture) prick small holes through, either randomly, or highlighting each bloom.

Careful not to squash the texture when sticking this one down.

Add a title to the back cover page.

Add text to compliment the images. Keep it simple, or wax poetic, just as long as it all fits on the page.

Here’s my finished book! PLEASE tag pictures of your Text & Texture creations @thetravellingbookbinder so that we can see the variety of your interpretations!

Thank you to Toast for creating such gorgeous clothes and catalogues.

If you’d like more quick and thoughtful bookart projects, then please do subscribe to The Travelling Bookbinder’s monthly newsletter, at the bottom of this page, which features a book review (with discount code), exclusive access to workshop bookings and more bookish, paper, inky news.