** See top tabs here on blog for real-life miniatures books. Just added: 2020 and 2021 book list!
There's something addicting about books - I mean lots of books!
In miniature, the fun is having piles of books all over (like real life!) or shelves filled with various tomes.
Or filling that room with dozens, hundreds of books!
Spooky book setting by me.
** Where to find book printies?
* Google antique books and you'll find lots of covers you can download and shrink down in your Word or photo program. You can find books on Pinterest, too, but be careful as many links head to bad or non-existent websites.
* * Hint: To fit most miniature shelves, the books should be under 1" high. I've been making most about 7/8" tall and others are smaller of course. Watch the size when you are printing on some purchased or free printie sheets, too, as I've had to resize some by printing at a smaller than 100% print size.
* Advice on printing: use good paper and your top photo setting. I like to spray the finished printies printed out on matte paper with a fixable matte acrylic to seal it. You can then coat the sheet with gloss or several coats of matte Mod Podge without smearing.
* Emboss: Trace lines and designs on coated and dry book covers with a ball tip stylus to make the design stand out. Inside: I like to cut picture framing mat board to fit. Color edges with gold paint as desired (I use a metallic gold fabric paint) or leave plain for an old, used look. Layer pieces of board as needed for thickness. Here's the how to. --Chris V
** Mini Book Printie Sources:
* Patricia Paul has a great sheet of dollhouse book printies on her website. Simply sign up for her occasional newsletter.
* I also have some free book printies shared with permission from fellow authors on my website's miniatures page. Please remember that all these are for personal use only and can't be resold or reposted.
* Printies list at MySmallObsession (The book link there doesn't work.)
* Books and other items in various scales at Small Stuff's PrintMini. They also have a set of books that fit nicely on bookshelves.
* Book printies on some of the printable pages at cdhm.com
* Costume design and other book printies
* Selection of kids' books to shrink down.
* LeeAnn Borgia has a great selection of miniature books at various prices. I used her Raggedy Ann books in my RA roombox. (See her ebay store and Facebook page.)
While there are quite a few freebies out there, it's always nice to get some different designs. Check out a number of nice book printies for a reasonable price on Etsy. Search with dollhouse book printables at the site to find more. Here are some I like:
* EverAfter Miniatures has a set of 28 magic book covers, $6 or 28 vintage cookbooks, #$5. For fun, she also has a coffin-shaped bookcase printable, $3, if you don't want to make one from wood.
* Nice pretty, romantic set of book covers from AdikaBoxCovers, $3
