Accordion Book House

Welcome to my Accordion Book House!

Not long ago, iHanna shared a link to a fun site called Snail Mail Magazine.  I have spent quite a lot of time browsing through the links and eye candy on this site.  (I found the link to the tutorial for the baker's twine kitties here.)  Among the posts, I found an inspiration book put together by the blogger called "Snail Mail Is..." 


Browsing through the pages of the online magazine, I saw an accordion-fold book with pages shaped like houses, and was inspired to create my own Accordion Book House (or would that be an Accordion House Book?)

I cut each page separately, with the roofs slanting every which way.  The only requirement was for the side of each house page to line up to the one next to it.  I used washi tape to connect the pages on the front side only.

The project was really just a fun excuse to play with my collage stash.  I like the vintage couple waving "hello" from the first page, and the little girl doing a handstand on the second page, as though inviting you in to play.  Next comes the kitchen, with its ad for spam.

The next page admonishes you to "handle with care"--I'm sure there is some deep psychological meaning to my inclusion of that page--and a vintage image of a woman ready to head out the door to her car, parked on the last page, which is the garage. 

Can you believe it?  There really is method to the madness of the images I choose!

On the back, I chose some pretty papers with open space that could allow this book to become a journal filled with personal writing.


A view of the back of the "house"

I've sent this Accordion Book House to a mail-art-loving friend who has been more than generous with the booklets, postcards, and postal ephemera she as shared with me.  I have plans for making more, though.  Creating it was a satisfying way to spend the afternoon!

Back view of the Accordion House Book

Visit the Snail Mail Magazine blog, and check out "Inspiration" under "Posts About" in the right hand margin for some very fun posts!