Sunday 27 September 2015

Mountain Dog Book Folding Pattern

Dog patterns are always popular, so I thought that I'd try something different. Rather than the small cute breeds, I've gone for a large, strong mountain dog.

This guy stands tall and proud. He requires 294 folds and 588 pages. The book I chose was the perfect size, so it allowed me to show off the lovely coloured inside cover, which really helps him stand out from the crowd.


Available to download from Etsy

Wednesday 23 September 2015

Easy Elephant Book Folding Pattern

Are you looking for something to keep the kids busy for a while? Well why not get them busy folding this cute elephant. This is an ideal craft which involves no mess!

You'll need a hard backed book with at least 122 pages. If you don't have something already suitable, your local charity shop is a great place to look.
Full instructions come with the pattern, so you can sit the children down with their book, pattern, a ruler and then they can start folding. It's as easy as that.

Available for instant download on Etsy

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Ship Pattern For Book Folding

It's always so difficult to find something different to give to the men in our lives. For those that love sailing or ships, then this could be a great solution.

This is a larger design which uses 309 folds and requires a book with 618 pages.


Available for instant download on Etsy

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Anchor Book Art pattern

Here's a pattern for the sailors out there.

This is a simple design of an anchor which you can complete in an evening. The pattern only requires 107 folds so you will need a book with at least 214 pages.


Available to download here on Etsy.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Toy Train Book Folding Pattern

Here is a great idea for a decoration for a boys bedroom. A toy train with smoke coming from the engine, folded into a book. This would look great made with an old copy of The Railway Children of some other train themed novel.

It uses 176 folds so you will need a book with at least 352 pages. I think it looks really cute in this book with a bright orange cover.





Available to order now on Etsy.

Sunday 13 September 2015

Calling All Strictly Fans

Who's looking forward to the 2015 season of Strictly?

How about this unusual book folding pattern for all your friends who are Strictly Come Dancing fans. You will need a book with at least 478 pages to make this pattern.




Available to download now from Etsy.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Cute Mother & Baby Giraffe Book Art Pattern

This design is sooo cute!

It is for a mother and baby giraffe which looks great in a taller book. I used a glossy old antique guide book in my example. You will need a book with at least 534 pages as there are 267 folds which allows for for detailed features on the heads.

This is a fun design for a shelf in a child's bedroom and is suitable for girls or boys.
Available for instant download on Etsy

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Musical Notes Book Folding Pattern

My latest design uses a couple of musical notes. This would make a great gift for someone who loves their music, or is maybe a singer in their local choir. Why not use a book with a musical theme, such as a biography of a famous composer.

The pattern only uses 224 folds (448 pages) so can be completed in 2-3 hours.




The pattern for this "Musical Notes" book folding design is available to download from Etsy.

Monday 7 September 2015

Bake Off Book Folding Pattern

Calling all "Great British Bake Off" fans. Now this is something you won't find amongst all the other GBBO merchandise. This is a fantastic idea for anyone who is a fan of the show.

You need a book with at least 840 pages for this design. A big old cookery book would be perfect, especially if it was a Mary Berry cookery book!



The pattern for this "Bake Off" word art is available for instant download from Etsy.

Friday 4 September 2015

Halloween Ghost Book Folding Pattern

Looking for an easy decoration for this Halloween? Well this friendly ghost will look great in the window or hallway on 31st October.

All you need is a hard backed book with at least 468 pages, the pattern and then you're all set to make this cute little guy. A great Halloween decoration that can be used for many years.


Available to download on Etsy

Thursday 3 September 2015

Shh! A Quiet Book Folding Pattern

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite designs. With only 152 folds this another design that you can complete in an evening

This book with the word "Shh!" makes a perfect decoration. It is a great reminder for any place where quiet is needed, such as the hallway or outside a nursery where a baby is sleeping.


You can download the pattern here from Etsy

Monday 31 August 2015

"Cat Having A Wash" Book Folding Template

This pattern is for a very cute cat having a wash. I often catch my own cat looking just like this, very intent on his task.

The design uses 180 folds or 360 pages, so can easily be completed in an evening.

Available to download now from Etsy

Flying Swallow Book Folding Pattern

Another animal design today.

As summer draws to a close the swallows will soon be flying off to warmer countries before they return next summer. Meanwhile why not create your own swallow book art.

This pattern only needs 155 folds in a 310 page book.


Download now on Etsy

Friday 28 August 2015

Ta Dah! Book Folding Pattern

Another fun word design today.

This book folding pattern is inspired by the Boots commercial (sorry you won't understand this if you are not in the UK). "Ta Dah!" captures a moment in time when you feel really good about yourself.

Well I feel really good about this design. Enjoy.


Available to download on Etsy

Thursday 27 August 2015

How To Choose A Book Folding Pattern


So, you want to try out book folding – where do you start? Apart from a book you will need a pattern and there are many available for you to choose from. There are two main types of patterns, the mark and measure method or a template style.

Mark and Measure Patterns

These are the most common type of book folding pattern. A mark and measure patterns simply gives you a list of measurements. There will be 2 measurements for each sheet, one for the upper fold and one for the lower fold. You start by using a ruler to make a pencil mark on the page for each of these folds. Once you have gone through the book marking each page, you then go back to the beginning and start making your folds.

The reason that mark and measure patterns are so wide spread is that there is a computer software package that you can buy that which calculates all the measurements for you and many small businesses have bought into this software.

One major drawback to these patterns is that they are not flexible to the height of your book. All the measurements are based on measuring down from the top of your book. In most cases the patterns say that it is suitable for a book 21 cms tall, so if your book is 18 cms or maybe 25 cms then the final design will probably not be aligned where you would like it to be.

Template Style Patterns

These patterns are a more visual form of the pattern you are about to fold. You have a column for each sheet of your book with an upper and lower line showing where the folds need to be made. With a template pattern you simply line up column 1 with your first page and then make the folds. Then move on to column 2 and your second page and repeat.

What I love about these patterns is that you can start folding straight away without having to make all those measurements (I know I’m impatient, but don’t we all want to see our design appearing as quickly as possible?).

A key advantage of this type of pattern, is that you choose where to position the design vertically (height wise) in your book. This means that the pattern can be adapted to the height of your book. You could even enlarge or reduce the pattern with a photocopier to make it fit a different size book.

As you can probably guess, all the patterns I produce are template style. I used to produce these by hand, but my husband has created a personalised program which does all the hard work, allowing me to concentrate on ‘tweaking’ the detail in the design.

Why not try both types of pattern and let me know which you prefer.

Book Folding Pattern For A Swan On Water


I live by a river, so the scene from my lounge window inspired this design of a swan gliding across the water. Very simple yet elegant.


Full details of the pattern can be found here on Etsy

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Paw Prints Book Folding Pattern

Oh, how we all love our four legged friends. They bring so much unconditional love and all they ask for in return are good long walks, tasty meals and a tummy tickle (well that's what my dog loves).

I also have many friends who are a dog lover and I'm always looking for unusual presents for them when I'm out and about. So designing a 'paw prints' book folding pattern was an obvious idea. Some friends are not crafty, so I have made and given them the finished book. Others though, love to have a go themselves, and they have been delighted with the outcome.

Why not try this out for some of your dog loving friends.


The pattern for this book is available to download here from Etsy

Tuesday 25 August 2015

"Hello" Book Folding

So here we are with my first pattern. I thought that it should be something welcoming, so what better than the word "Hello".

This is a nice simple pattern which requires 259 folds (518 pages) and uses a Bookman style font. It only took me a couple of evenings to make the book and I think this will look perfect as a decoration on a hall table.


The pattern for this book design is available to buy now on Etsy. It is an instant download so you can start folding in minutes!

The Art of Book Folding

So here we are, the start of a new venture.

Looks Inviting has been my own crafting business since 2006. During that time I originally created thousands of handmade wedding invitations for clients - all very time consuming but also very rewarding.

I then discovered book folding and I was instantly hooked. I started producing my own designs and selling the finished books in a local craft outlet in my home town of Market Deeping on the Cambridgeshire Lincolnshire border. Initially the patterns were created by hand, but then my husband helped me out by developing some software which does most of the work and produces very clear and professional patterns. So now I can now move into the word of digital downloads and sell my unique designs to others for them to enjoy. This means that I get to make one of each design so that you can see exactly what the finished design will look like, which is a perfect excuse for spending all my evenings folding books.

Please bear with me as the number of designs build up. I'm folding as quickly as I can!