Accordion Glued Spine - Cowboy Proverbs

My Guild (BVCG) gave us a challenge of Cowboy Sayings... I created a couple larger pieces and submitted them... but then I was thinking that there were so many more I wanted to play with... so created a booklet of them.

I was looking for something else and found these papers in the back of the drawer and decided to use them for this booklet. It has a lovely texture. The paper is called Ruche paper because of the crinkly effect in it. It has a weight feel of about 100# although I have no idea what it is advertised as. I have it in several colors and decided to use the beige and deep brown (cowboy colors). Text is written in a western type font called "Cowboy-Movie font. A little time consuming but I like the effect.

The booklet has 16 dark brown pages plus the beige cover which is an accordion fold glued spine with folded over covers for additional strength.

Origmi Booklet - Thoughtful Words

I did a Google search of "Origami" on my website and came up with a bunch of stuff and this structure was one of them which I did in 2015... I said perfect since I only had 4 words for a booklet.

I used scrapbook cream and deep brown cardstock for the pages, covers and inserts

INSTRUCTIONS:
No glue or adhesive of any kind and no cutting other than to make sure all your pages are the same size and your links/spine are the right size

My booklet starts out as an 9-7/8" x 6.25" piece of paper and ends up being approx 4.75" x 3.125"

BOOKLET CONSISTS OF:
Covers - 2 sheets
Spine - 1 sheet
Pages - a sheet for each page (my booklet has 3 pages)
Links - same quantity of sheets as number of pages + 1 sheet for the spine. 

All sheets should be the exact same size. Each page in the booklet will turn out to be 1/4 the size of your sheet. So an 8.5 x 11" sheet will give you a page size of 4.25”h x 5.5"w links/spine size of 4.25 h x 11” w - or page size of 5.5”h x 4.25”w and links/spine of 5.5”h x 8.5”w
Note: Use decorative papers for the covers, spine, pages and external links. Inner links can be any paper since they are basically hidden.

Fold (top to bottom) in thirds (doesn’t matter if the thirds are equal as long as the edges meet) - this will be the height of your booklet. Fold pages (left to right) of paper so edges meet each other (this will be the width of your booklet).

Cut your spine pieces and fold in half and slip into folded page slots - one side into the right folded page and the other side into the left folded page.
When all pages are slipped in, use your spine piece to slip into both cover pieces.

OutlinePen - Breeze

size: 5" sq
I just got some new pens... "Outlinepen" 48pce set outline marker set. Basically you get a silvery colored letter with an outline look of the pen color. Interesting effect. Bleeds through paper like crazy so I have to keep remembering to protect what's underneath... It's quite evident in the large word "Breeze"
On Canson Mixed Media paper created the word and linear section with the "Outlinepen". Outlined and remaining text with a black Micron pen.
words: The BREEZE at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. Rumi

Doodling - Ecstatic On Black

size: 4.5"w x 6"h
OK so I wrote the word "Ecstatic" with the bullet end of a ZIG Writer...And then just started outlining things - one layer at a time... and this emerged...
On Canson Black Drawing, using a white Gelly roll 08 and a Uniball Gold gel pen created the design. Colored sections with Prisma  pencils.
words: Ecstatic

Doodling On Black - Everyone's Border

size: 4.5"w x 6"h
Another one of those days I was in a mood for circles and this border emerged...
On Canson Black Drawing, using a white Gelly roll 08 and a Uniball Gold gel pen created the border.
The text is something funky I saw onLine, but in it's outline form was hard to read so colored in alternative letters with the white gel pen.
words: Music is just another language, but it's very special because it dresses everyone's border. Jacob Collier

Basic Circle Weave Card - Thinking Of You

Size: 5"w x 7"h
On black textured cardstock created my weaving cuts and inserted strips of off cuts from my geli print papers, added the circle lines with a Uniball white gel pen. Text with a Juice Up pen.
words: Thinking Of You

Basic Weave - Funky Weave Cards

I took an online class thru Edmonton Calligraphy Guild On paper weaving with  Suzie Beringer. She had an abstract w/c piece done on Arches Text Wove. She then printed out some text, overlapping and repositioning the copy to get a more textural look to the words then cut strips of it and wove it thru her w/c piece in one area. Striking.
Size: both 5"w x 6"h
While she was working I was doing basic weaving using geli off cuts...  On black textured cardstock, in a greeting card format, created my weaving cuts (one with basic straight cuts the other with a wavy cut) and inserted strips of the geli print papers. I like the results. Added some text to finish of the card. Just 4 U on the straight cut card and Hello on the wavy cut card. On the inside of the wavy lined card I colored the visible strips with a black ZIG Writer. The basic weave on the other card I left as is gluing down the ends for neatness.

Pop Up Tunnel - Abstract - Just For You

size closed: 4.5"w x 6.5"h
mechanism: 3"w x 4"h (closed)
opens to 3"w x 2"h x 2.25"dp approx with 4 windows plus the door.

Mary one of our Art Of The Fold members showed us a video clip from Kit Davey with this finished structure... no details... After doing the 1st one I thought to make the mechanism  a bit wider..

A circle at the top to keeps the mechanism closed.

Basic white card base (9"w x 6.5"h) folded in half, black cardstock then a layer of a background on w/c paper I created a long time ago...

Created the mechanism basic shape from black cardstock 6.75" x 3" scored at 1/2"+ 2 1/8"+ 2"+ 2 1/8" with a 1/2" end to glue to create the box.

Cut the front window in the main structure before gluing.

For these dimensions cut 3 more widows  3"w x 2.5"h. Note: the 3.5" h section is scored 1/2" on top an bottom to glue to the mechanism after windows are cut out.. Glue to basic box. Add images either before or after gluing, I did it after...

I glued one of the images over the whole back area instead of using a window.

Glue half a circle to the card to keep the mechanism closed.

Pop Up Tunnel - BFlys - Dream On

size closed: 4.5"w x 6.5"h
mechanism: 2.5"w x 4"h (closed)
opens to 2.5"w x 2"h x 2"dp approx with 5 windows plus the door.

Mary one of our Art Of The Fold members showed us a video clip from Kit Davey with this finished structure... no details... I looked at it and said OK... Next thing I new I was creating one with my made up dimensions... as you can see it worked... so I'll show it at our next meet (Feb 2026). raided my Joanna Sheen artwork pads (I have several with different themes...) and cut and spliced.

A circle at the top to keep the mechanism closed.

Basic white card base (9"w x 6.5"h) folded in half, covered with one of my marbled papers from eons ago...

Created the mechanism basic shape 8.5" x 2.5" scored at 2", 4", 6", 8" with a 1/2" end to glue to create the box.

Cut the windows in the main structure before gluing.

For these dimensions cut 3 more widows  2"w x 3"h. Note: the 3" h section is scored 1/2" on either end to glue to the mechanism after windows are cut out.. Glue to basic box. Add images either before or after gluing, I did it after...

Glue half a circle to the card to keep the mechanism closed.

 

Funky Calligraphy On Gray - Endure

size: 7"w x 3.5"h

It was another one of those days (end of the year) where I just kept creating...

On Strathmore Toned Gray paper drew out the letters using a black ZIG Writer and painted between the letters using a white Prisma colored pencil leaving a slim space between the white and the black.

words: Endure

Sprout Doodling On Black - Plant Love

size: 4.5"w x 6"h
It was one of those days I just started doodling and this emerged...
On Canson Black Drawing, using a white Gelly roll 08 pen created the sprout like design using Prisma colored pencils added white gel pen highlights. Text written in a funky style (not sure what it's called...) using a pointed nib and Kuretake Brilliant Gold Mica ink
words: Plant Love, Let It Sprout

Semi Circle Doodling - Finding Patterns

size: 4.5"w x 6"h
It was one of those days I just started doodling and this emerged...
On Canson Black Drawing, using a white Gelly roll 08 pen created the semi circles, adding doodling in the wider ones and coloring the thinner ones using Prisma colored pencils. Then  found a quote to go with my design... I chuckled one I found this one...
words: Finding patterns is the essence of wisdom. Denis Prager

SK - Valentine 2026

4.5"w x 3.75"h
Red basic cardstock base. Hearts punched out from red, gold textured and cream peralized metallic cardstock.
Mechanism white cardstock folded in half then then the center folded with an X. Red with white squares adhered to the X folds. More hearts punched out.

Rotating Spinner Card - BFlies - Just 4U

The mechanism is the aqua blue circle scored to create 24 sections and a 1.25" circle in the center, then 7 sections cut away including the small center circle. Accordion folded both ways to make the mechanism very pliable. (the 1st section will be glued to the card base at the end of construction).

Cream squares glued to the mechanism, then the butterflies punched out of geli print papers and adhered to the squares.. Added glitter to the body area. This was then mounted to a pearlized metallic cream cardstock and then mounted to the blue textured cardbase.

I created the Happy Birthday words  on another geli print, cut out/pasted to the inside.

BVCG - Cowboy Wisdom - In The Saddle

My Guild's next challenge is "Cowboy Wisdom" and this is my 2nd piece and my favorite... and so true. In my younger days I used to ride a lot... mainly English style but also quite a bit western style as well. I was also honored to ride in EXPO 67 in Montreal in "Le Grand Spectaque" (spelling??)
size: 7.5"w x 5"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper drew out the outline cowboy style text. The border words were done in a 2 tone style using w/n Burnt Umber on the lower part of the letter and Gold Ochre on the upper part and letting them blend together. For the inner text I dropped water into the letter then the Ochre and blotted the liquid up. I really like the result of this. I added graphite shadow (2B Caran d'Ache) on the inner text.

words: No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. 

Winston Churchill

BVCG - Cowboy Wisdom - Bull, Horse, Fool

My Guild's next challenge is "Cowboy Wisdom". I though this was a good lesson...
size: 5.5"w x 7"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper wrote out the text in a light and heavy funky serif style using both a Juice Up pen and a ZIG Calligraphy Marker

words: Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction.

Rotating Spinner Card - Hearts - Happy Birthday

 

And another spinner card... I think I'm addicted to them... You can see an other one HERE 

The mechanism is a the black circle scored to create 24 sections and a 1.25" circle in the center, then 7 sections cut away including the small center circle. Accordion folded both ways to make the mechanism very pliable. (the 1st section will be glued to the card base at the end of construction).

I adhered white squares, then a largish hand cut red heart to each, and then punched out white hearts and then the small punched heart which I added glitter to (some like the heart on the front and some just as an outline of a heart. This was mounted to a gold textured cardstock and then onto my white card base.

On the underside of each white base I wrote out a single letter to read "LOVE U BUNCHES with a glittered heart separating the words.

ECS Env Exchange - Jan 2026- Edwina Klein

Using my cut off ends of a bunch of Geli prints created the envelope. Drew out Edwina's name on a yellowish cardstock, outline with a black ZIG Writer and cut it out.

Card was also made with geli print ends and words done in shadow lettering style...

Rocks In Its Bed

size: 7"w x 3.25"h
I had this end piece of St Armand w/c paper and just started doodling rock shapes using a ZIG Writer and graphite 2B pencil with paper stump. Text written with the Juice Up pen.
words: If it wasn't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song. Carl Perkins

Doodled Leafy Vine - String Along And Play

size: 8"w x 7"h
I loved Helen Williams artwork... and then... years ago...she stopped posting. Have no idea why. I resurrected this leafy design from my stash while looking for something else... I can't remember whether it was my design or something I copied from Helen... but decided to finish it.
On St Armand w/c paper painted the artwork and added some doodling. Painted the stems with gold paint. Added the text in a funky style and then filled in the sections with line work using a Juice Up pen.
words: string along and play with me.

The Beauty Of Lace on Black

 size: 6"w x 4.5"h
On Canson Black Drawing Paper using a white gel pen and a Juice Up pen created the lace design
Text written with a pointed nib and Bleed Proof white.
words: The Beauty of lace.

Bow - Bows & Bling

size: 6" sq
On Genoa Bond paper drew out my bow using a ZIG Writer, adding gaphite shading and a holograph sticker.
Lettering with a broad edge red ZIG calligraphy pen in a funky style. Shadowed with a Juice Up pen.
words: Bows And Bling It's A Girl Thing

Color Me Pink & Purple

size: 6.5" sq
On St Armand w/c paper drew out my letters and squares and painted with w/c. Outlined the letters with a Uniball gold gel pen and shadowed with a graphite pencil. Small text with a pointed nib and Sumi ink. Added glitter to some of the squares.
words: Color me pink & purple

Art of the Fold - Throw Out Pages - Intuitive Reason

size closed: 6"sqx 3/4"thk
The challenge for our next Art Of The Fold Group (Feb 2026) has us making a "Throw Out Pages Card"
Card base is a basic orangey scrapbook cardstock. I used 2 sheets. The pages made from Staples white cardstock.

Decorations were cut from geli prints as well as Hand made marbled paper, punched with various sized punches both standard and scalloped. Text written with a ZIG Writer in a basic monoline style. I doodled on 4 sections, adding w/c to one series and black in doodles with graphite blending.

Book title hand drawn letters on white cardstock and then fussy cut out.

words: The square is not a subconscious form. It is the creation of intuitive reason. The face of the new art. The square is a living, regal infant. The first step in pure creation in art. Kazimir Malevich

 

wk 2 - Gold - Education Is The Key

size: 5.25"w x 5"h
On Canson Black Drawing paper using a white and gold gel pen in basic monoline and shadow lettering
words: Education is the key to unlock the Golden door to freedom.
George Washington Carver

I had created right next to something I was doodling so I split the text away from the artwork... Love that bow...

 

wk 1 - Rainer Quote - Welcome New Year

size: 6"w x 4.5"h
On Canson Black Drawing paper wrote out the quote using a pointed nib and my style of script writing using Bleed Proof white ink. Added  some floral edging.
words: and now we welcome the new year full of things that have never been. Rained Maria Rilke

Future Intertwined

size: 6"w x 4.5"h
On Canson Black Drawing paper created the wavy doodle using a white gel pen... Text written with a pointed nib and Bleed Proof white ink.
words: Our individual fates are linked our futures intertwined. Jimmy Carter

On Black - PLAY - Important Exercise

size: 4.5"w x 6"h
On Canson Black Drawing Paper using both Copic White (don't like it...), Bleed Proof White and Gelly Roll white gel pen doodled the border and created the shadow lettering
words: PLAY a most important exercise.

On Black - Funky Frame - Frame A Moment

size: 6"w x 4.5"h
On Canson Black Drawing Paper using a Uniball Gold gel pen created the funky intertwined border.
You'd ever know what looks like a blue border is real and beautiful green... go figure painted with US ArtQuest Mica Interference paint.
Text written with a pointed nib.
words: You can frame a moment but you can't frame a life. Armin Houman

On Black - Funky Border - Luck Misfortune

size: 6"w x 4.5"h
On Canson Black Drawing Paper using a Gelly Roll white gel pen created the funky border. Painted with US Artquest Mica Color "Interference" set
words: Luck and Misfortune are closely intertwined. Thomas Muller

BVCG Env Exc 2025/26 - Violet Smythe

5"h x 7"w

With a ZIG Calligraphy pen wrote out Violet's name then doodled with a white gel pen. Added the swirl-y doodles with a Unibal gold gel pen.

The artwork on the card is something I was playing with and decided to make a card of it... hence the various colored circles to make it my normal card size...

Art Of The Fold - Rotating Spinner Card - Thinking Of You

size closed: 5"sq
The challenge for our next Art Of The Fold Group (Jan 2026) has us making a spinner cards and after making 2 of them I decided to try a rotating waterfall card...  couldn't resist trying to make this particular style. The original is 8.5"sq and not a card so set it aside to mull over and decided to make this smaller version and made it into a card. Much more useful...

Card base is basic black cardstock.

The mechanism is a circle scored to create 24 sections and a 1.25" circle in the center, then 7 sections cut away including the small center circle. Accordion folded both ways to make the mechanism very pliable. (the 1st section will be glued to the card base at the end of construction).

Adhered my 1.5" squares to each fold area, starting at the 2nd folded section.

Note: I didn't do any decorating or writing till the end so my letters were always in a readable orientation.

Drew out the letters for "thinking of you" in my funky style and painted with US ArtQuest Mica Color Metallic and Interference sets. Added a thick black shadow to each letter and a decorative doodle in each with gel pens.

Link Rotating Waterfall Card base Instr HERE