For creating the Flag Book, you will need:2, 8.5" x 11" Construction paper - color of choice2 Stacks of sticky notes, two different colors1 Piece of color or patterned paper of choice - at least 228 square inches, or 2 pieces of colored or patterned paper of choice - each at least 114 square inches2, 8.5" x 11" pieces of cardboardUhu stick Bone folder toolScissorsPencilCutting mat (optional)

This project involves quite a bit of folding. It is very important to ensure the each fold aligns, and the creases are completely flat. Below are the folding steps that will be used throughout the process. Follow these steps every time the instructions direct you to fold the paper.Bring one edge to the other while taking your time to line up the corners with each otherRather that making a crease across the whole fold, just pinch the center of where you intend your fold to beUsing the bone folder tool, crease the rest of the foldUnfold the paper and flip it to the other sideRedo the fold so that it as been creased on both sides with the bone folder tool, then unfold the paper again. This will ensure that the paper can fold both ways without issueRepeat the process with each fold that is instructed

Start with the 8.5"x11" construction paper placed in portrait orientation and your bone folder tool. Fold the paper in half, hamburger style - short edge to short edge following the folding instructionsWith the paper still in portrait orientation, fold the bottom-most short edge up the the middle crease that you made in step one - following the folding instructionsRotate the paper 180 degrees, and repeat step 2After completing steps one through three, you should have a paper with three creases and four equal sectionsFold the bottom-most short edge up the crease of the section closest to you. This divides that first section in half. Now, fold the bottom-most long edge up to the crease closest to the top. You should now have four thin sections on the bottom half of your paper, and still two large sections on the top half, like so:Rotate the paper 180 degrees, and repeat step 5 and 6After completing steps five through seven, you should have a paper with eight equal-rectangle sectionsRepeat steps 1-8 on the second piece of paper, to create two identical papers with eight equal sectionsEnsure both pieces of paper are rotated so the fold creases are horizontal, and both left and right ends are oriented pointing upwards so that one can be nestled within the other Using the Uhu stick, glue the first section of one sheet with the last section of another, following the orientation from step 10Now, using a pencil, label the middle of each section with numbers 1-14On the top and bottom of each odd number section, draw a small circleTowards the middle of each even number section, draw an XUsing one color of sticky notes, add a sticky note on each circle. The sticky end of the sticky note should be on the right sideUsing the other color of the sticky note, add a sticky note in between the others on each X. The sticky end of the sticky note should be on the left sideThese sticky notes will act as placeholders while you gradually add each "flag"

Next, grab your patterned paper and cardboard pieces. The pattern you choose will be the cover of the crazy book. In this case, I chose to use two different patterns.Using the uhu stick, glue the cardboard pieces on the blank side of the pattern paper. Make sure that each cardboard piece has at least a half inch of paper border. This border will be folded back into the cardboard piece later onUsing your scissors, cut the paper around the glued pieces of cardboard while still ensuring there is at least a half inch of paper border. Set one cardboard piece aside. On each corner of the paper border of the cardboard piece, fold the paper corner in so there is a right angle on each side. Use the bone folder tool to complete the creaseNow that the paper on each corner is trained, fold each side of the paper into the cardboard pieceOnce all corners and sides are creased, glue them down onto the cardboard piece in the same order that you made the folds in steps 15 and 16Repeat steps 14 through 16 onto the other cardboard piece. Now you should have to identical pieces of pattern-covered cardboard. Choose one to be your front cover, and one to be your back coverGrab your book spine. Once you have identified your back cover piece, apply glue on the left edge, and glue down the right side of the paper spineOn the front cover, apply glue on the right edge and glue down the left side of the paper spineClose the book with the spine folded back up. Stack books, pans, or anything heavy on top of the flag book and let it sit over night. This will ensure all edges are glued down nicely and will stick

Flag Book - How To

artinhysteria

Sep 22

4 min read

What is a Flag Book?

Flag books are a great way to capture experiences, thoughts, and collect memories through a book with a dynamic and fluid structure. It is made up of a front and back cover, and a a spine with an accordian fold that gives you the opportunity to flip through the book, or completely fold it out to fully see the movement of the book and big picture view of the content.

Getting Started

Materials

For creating the Flag Book, you will need:

2, 8.5" x 11" Construction paper - color of choice
2 Stacks of sticky notes, two different colors
1 Piece of color or patterned paper of choice - at least 228 square inches, or 2 pieces of colored or patterned paper of choice - each at least 114 square inches
2, 8.5" x 11" pieces of cardboard
Uhu stick
Bone folder tool
Scissors
Pencil
Cutting mat (optional)

Helpful Tips

This project involves quite a bit of folding. It is very important to ensure the each fold aligns, and the creases are completely flat. Below are the folding steps that will be used throughout the process. Follow these steps every time the instructions direct you to fold the paper.

Bring one edge to the other while taking your time to line up the corners with each other
Rather that making a crease across the whole fold, just pinch the center of where you intend your fold to be
Using the bone folder tool, crease the rest of the fold
Unfold the paper and flip it to the other side
Redo the fold so that it as been creased on both sides with the bone folder tool, then unfold the paper again. This will ensure that the paper can fold both ways without issue
Repeat the process with each fold that is instructed

Flag Book Instructions

Building the Spine

Start with the 8.5"x11" construction paper placed in portrait orientation and your bone folder tool. Fold the paper in half, hamburger style - short edge to short edge following the folding instructions
With the paper still in portrait orientation, fold the bottom-most short edge up the the middle crease that you made in step one - following the folding instructions
Rotate the paper 180 degrees, and repeat step 2
After completing steps one through three, you should have a paper with three creases and four equal sections
Fold the bottom-most short edge up the crease of the section closest to you. This divides that first section in half.
Now, fold the bottom-most long edge up to the crease closest to the top.
You should now have four thin sections on the bottom half of your paper, and still two large sections on the top half, like so:
Rotate the paper 180 degrees, and repeat step 5 and 6
After completing steps five through seven, you should have a paper with eight equal-rectangle sections
Repeat steps 1-8 on the second piece of paper, to create two identical papers with eight equal sections
Ensure both pieces of paper are rotated so the fold creases are horizontal, and both left and right ends are oriented pointing upwards so that one can be nestled within the other
Using the Uhu stick, glue the first section of one sheet with the last section of another, following the orientation from step 10
Now, using a pencil, label the middle of each section with numbers 1-14
On the top and bottom of each odd number section, draw a small circle
Towards the middle of each even number section, draw an X
Using one color of sticky notes, add a sticky note on each circle. The sticky end of the sticky note should be on the right side
Using the other color of the sticky note, add a sticky note in between the others on each X. The sticky end of the sticky note should be on the left side
These sticky notes will act as placeholders while you gradually add each "flag"

Building the Covers

Next, grab your patterned paper and cardboard pieces. The pattern you choose will be the cover of the crazy book. In this case, I chose to use two different patterns.
Using the uhu stick, glue the cardboard pieces on the blank side of the pattern paper. Make sure that each cardboard piece has at least a half inch of paper border. This border will be folded back into the cardboard piece later on
Using your scissors, cut the paper around the glued pieces of cardboard while still ensuring there is at least a half inch of paper border. Set one cardboard piece aside.
On each corner of the paper border of the cardboard piece, fold the paper corner in so there is a right angle on each side. Use the bone folder tool to complete the crease
Now that the paper on each corner is trained, fold each side of the paper into the cardboard piece
Once all corners and sides are creased, glue them down onto the cardboard piece in the same order that you made the folds in steps 15 and 16
Repeat steps 14 through 16 onto the other cardboard piece. Now you should have to identical pieces of pattern-covered cardboard. Choose one to be your front cover, and one to be your back cover
Grab your book spine. Once you have identified your back cover piece, apply glue on the left edge, and glue down the right side of the paper spine
On the front cover, apply glue on the right edge and glue down the left side of the paper spine
Close the book with the spine folded back up. Stack books, pans, or anything heavy on top of the flag book and let it sit over night. This will ensure all edges are glued down nicely and will stick