How to make miniature book earrings

These little cuties take less than an hour to make and are a unique way to proclaim your booknerd bonafides! You can also learn a new word, SEXTODECIMO which is when you fold a single page to create 16 sheets (32 pages). Each ear can have either “The Velveteen Rabbit” or “Thumbelina” which have both been typeset to create an entire book with only one folded sheet!

Supplies you will need are:

  • 2 sheets printer paper (the thinner the better) and access to a printer
    • Realistically, you’ll want a few more sheets to practice on
  • Pretty cardstock
  • Glue and paintbrush
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • 2 earring hooks (or if you’re going really low tech, paperclips)
  • 2 jump rings (optional)
  • Ribbon

Instructions:

  1. Download one or both files for “The Velveteen Rabbit” or “Thumbelina”
  2. Print on double-sided (flip on SHORT edge)
    1. Note: I choose to print at 60% scale to make the finished book even smaller
  3. Fold, fold, fold, fold… Make the numbers go in order…
    1. First, fold so the page numbers 23 and 24 touch each other
    2. Next, 25 and 26
    3. Next, 21 and 22
    4. Next, 13 and 14
      1. This last fold is tough, it will damage the page less if you trim the top before folding
    5. “My book doesn’t open!” you’ll think. Just wait!!!
  4. Poke two holes in the inner crease through to the outside of the spine
  5. Thread the thread through each hole and tie the ends together on the outside of the spine
  6. Leaving the spine alone, trim the top, bottom, and foredge. This releases the pages so that they can turn
  7. This is your “Textblock”! If you want, you could stop here and have a book to read!
  8. Trim your cardstock to be slightly larger than your textblock when it is laid fully open
  9. Create a small channel for your textblock to rest in by making two creases next to each other in the middle of the card stock
  10. Create a loop of ribbon, thread it through the earring hook (or whatever you’re using to attach it to your ears!)
  11. Glue the loop into the cardstock channel
  12. Apply glue the front and back page of the textblock
  13. Wrap the cardstock around the textblock
  14. Press firmly, wipe away any extra glue, and let dry
  15. Don’t let sloppy gluing glue the book shut. Open the book and leaf through the pages while it’s drying to make sure
  16. Wear! Or Read!
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