Guest Book DIY

A guest book is one of the loveliest keepsakes of your wedding day, recording all of the people who were there and their wishes for your success.

A guest book can be much more than signatures. If you want your guests to have the opportunity to express themselves, consider a book with blank pages that they can draw or write on. Select a book made from archival paper which will slow the aging process and add years to its life. Where possible, it’s better to prevent damage and deterioration than try to repair or correct it.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• A hard covered book preferably made with acid-free paper
• Decorative paper for the cover
• Plain paper for inside front and back covers
• Double sided adhesive paper
• 1 metre of 2cm wide ribbon
• Art knife

1. Draw an outline of your book cover onto the wrong side of the decorative paper. Do not include the spine of the book as this is left uncovered. Allow an additional 3cm for overlap onto the inside of the book. 
2. Place the double-sided adhesive paper onto the back of your decorative paper and stick it to the cover of the book.
3. Before folding the paper over the edges of the book, mitre the two outside corners to give a neat fold and press firmly onto the inside of the cover. Cut a piece of plain paper 1cm smaller than the cover and place some double sided adhesive paper on to it before attaching  to the inside front cover (see image 1).
4. To make the insert for the ribbon, mark the centre of the spine with a pencil then taking a fine pin, push it through the spine where it is not stitched before cutting a 2cm slit with an art knife. Using a needle and thread attached to one end of the ribbon gently push it through the slit to the other side. Tie ribbon in a bow at the side of the book.