The End Paper: Spoilers

I love Doctor Who, and when I saw River Song’s journal I knew I just had to re-create it.

http://www.onecobble.com/2011/09/23/making-river-songs-journal/

Last summer I was very lucky to receive a whole load of bookbinding materials from Roger Trise. Included with all the tools and things (see post 'A bookbinder's cigar box') I got some small rolls of book-cloth. I used the most beaten up and ‘Tardis blue’ cloth form the bunch and tried to make something that resembles River’s journal of Spoilers. I also used some of the paper that Roger gave me.

I made the book and cover in the normal way, and then cut out the elements for the ‘Tardis’ effect from thin card, gluing them on. Here is a template I used:

http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=2514.0

Then I glued the book-cloth over the top, pressing my bone folder into all the grooves.

After that, I got a charcoal pencil and did some outlining in black. Then I sanded down some areas for more of a 'worn' effect.

The charcoal kept on coming off on my hand, so I covered the whole thing in glue, which as well as making it shiny, helps to keep it strong.

For endpapers I bought a dove-grey colour, and used a light blue ribbon as bookmark.

This was also the first time I have used headbands, and adding them to the spine immediately made the book look a lot more neat and professional than any of my others.

I completed the book by adding a book plate and tying it with red ribbon.

I made it for my friend, Abbie, who loves Doctor Who. She received the package on her birthday. When she finally opened it after a few tantalizing hours after she told me she’d got it but hadn’t opened it she said that she ‘squealed’ and thought it was amazing.

I am ridiculously proud of this. Although it’s not perfect, at least Abbie still knew what it was meant to be!