Tribe.net. Local Connections $item.owner.firstName http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#eb1370c5-70c6-4eac-9aaa-254bc8727fbf 2008-04-12T13:21:29Z 2008-04-12T13:21:29Z

Wow! That is an amazing idea!

$item.owner.firstName 2008-04-12T13:21:29Z Amy http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#ced9180a-5c6d-4a42-9b62-b20ca2cdc936 2008-04-11T15:41:26Z 2008-04-11T15:41:26Z

OH it's been too long since I was here. But great question! The most recent technique I used was using an old watch band (without watch face). After face piece removed I attached one half of band to cover of book and second half to back cover. Eventually I was able to "buckle" the book closed.

Amy 2008-04-11T15:41:26Z Marta http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#fbfecdfc-2519-4f49-ba11-5e535b7d4bcc 2008-04-10T12:30:39Z 2008-04-10T12:30:39Z

It depends on the book of course, but they are stretchy like bra straps so they have some give.

Marta 2008-04-10T12:30:39Z $item.owner.firstName http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#06ea12c4-db85-4dd4-819d-1e21d759c23b 2008-04-09T17:27:44Z 2008-04-09T17:27:44Z

Great ideas. I hadn't even thought about drilling the covers. But that's exactly what I was thinking about the ribbon- that I'd have to put a new endsheet to secure it. I had to Google the book bra! They look so small. Do they fit all the way around the book? They're funny.

$item.owner.firstName 2008-04-09T17:27:44Z Marta http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#83086313-66d5-4cd5-a8c2-2effba82807a 2008-04-09T15:18:59Z 2008-04-09T15:18:59Z

I've done the door knob too. I love it, but it makes putting it on a shelf hard :) When I do my books I always add a new endsheet (the piece of paper on the inside that holds the cover to the pages. Because I put a new one down, I can put ribbon all the way to the spine and then glue the paper down. It secures it nicely. You can use anything from hemp to ribbons. I have also drilled a hole in the cover on both front and back. You can string something through the back, and attach a stringed "loop" in the front. Then when you close it, you pull it through the loop and tie. The craft store also had what they called a "Book Bra" that I loved. It had a label on it that said "book bra" but it was a 2 inch stretch elastic with bra hooks on it.....cracked me up.

Marta 2008-04-09T15:18:59Z $item.owner.firstName http://AlteredBooks.tribe.net/thread/51bcd7a0-f242-4dd5-b48e-83ebc7c6394e#d5469ec6-fbb6-4406-b3c4-f691f7a3f8b0 2008-04-09T15:02:11Z 2008-04-09T15:02:11Z

Hi everyone! I'm new to altered books and just beginning my first one. It is going to be quite thick, so I wanted to get advice on closures you've tried. I'm thinking of making a ribbon closure attached to the front and back covers, but I'm worried it won't be sturdy enough. Although this isn't a closure, I think this doorknob idea http://www.paperclipping.com/2007/08/24/featured-project-dedra-longs-altered-book/ is soooo neat. Please share your ideas with the newbie. Thanks.

$item.owner.firstName 2008-04-09T15:02:11Z