Oct. 7, 2008
My Lapbook Sampler
I have been thoroughly enjoying creating lapbooks with my children. DD loves it and DS tolerates it in small doses. There are so many different kinds of mini-books and things one can use in a lapbook. We have not yet purchased any kits, just put our own things together and things we found free online, but it's been fun. I noticed that I was accumulating quite a pile of sample mini books. Every time I came across a mini book I liked, I followed the instructions and made a sample for future reference. Well, I had quite a collection in my lapbook idea folder, and I needed to find a better way to organize them. Then I thought, why not make a lapbook of all the ideas and mini book samples? So I did. And I uncharacteristically threw my natural perfectionistic tendencies out the window and just quickly laid it out and pasted them in. I wanted to get it done quickly, so I didn't stress out if things weren't absolutely perfect. So my first lapbook is complete, organized, functional and not too bad looking, for a quickly put together project. I hope this helps you with your lapbook ideas. Enjoy!
I made my sampler base by refolding two file folders shutter style, so their flaps met in the center, then I glued the two folders back to back. I made two title cover sheets and mounted them on the "front" of both sides. Here is what one of the title covers looks like:
To reinforce the connection between the two folders, I used a long strip of clear packing tape on each side. Next, I took all my mini-book samples and laid them out, trying to keep it relatively organized. When everything had a place, I took my glue stick and went to town sticking them in.
Here's what I put in side one:
This is the full spread on the first side of my sampler. In the center I stapled in some illustrated instructions on how to create about 7 different basic mini-books. I have samples of each of these in my lapbook, but I might forget how to fold something someday (I'm human, it happens). This way I won't get stuck on the "how-to". Below are close-ups and more details about what everything is.
On the left hand side, from top to bottom, I have a pocket (with notes on a lapbook I'd like to do sometime sticking out of the top), a matchbook, and a four-corner book (aka: quilt square book).
On the right hand side I have a flap book. These can have almost as many or as few flaps as you like, and can be mounted vertically, as I did, or horizontally.
On the other side of the sampler I have the following:
In the center I have instructions on how to make a mini-book with one sheet of paper, sometimes called a "poof" book. I guess because you fold it, make one cut and, "poof" you have a little book. And yes, it is pretty much that easy.
Under those notes, I added an extension and attached some idea pages from Scrapbooking To Learn.
On the left hand side (sorry its a little blurry) I have a couple poof books and an accordian fold book below. A close-up of the yellow poof book is below.
This yellow poof book was my first mini-book sampler. I made the mini-book and wrote in directions and illustrations for some of the great mini-books I was learning about. Nothing fancy, in fact, my handwriting is a little crooked and sloppy. After doing this little booklet, I decided to start making a sample of the different mini-books instead of just taking notes on them. And that pile of samples led to this Lapbook Sampler.
On the right hand side I have a circle flip book. Folded, it is a compact quarter of a circle. When opened, it expands to half a circle, 3/4 and finally the full circle seen above. I saw a video on YouTube a while ago where a mom was showing her childs lapbooks. She used this circle idea to create a large circle lapbook on the days of creation. It was very impressive.
On the back of the right hand flap I have a larger, double layer poof book. I just put a smaller mini book inside each page of the larger one. Here it is open to some of the pages:
And that concludes this brief tour through my Lapbook Sampler. I hope my ideas are helpful to you. I had a lot of fun putting it together and the samples and ideas have been really useful in this format. Next time I do a lapbook for myself, I'll make it a little more substantial. Perhaps a study of a foreign country, or a certain period of history, or... ah, well, at least I got to make one of my own!
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