Wedding Gray Lace Guest Book Album and Pen Set

Something Vintage, something old, something beautiful for the wedding couple.

How to Select the Binding For Your Guest Book

There are several different methods of stab stitching a guest book or photo album.  But the question for today is, how do you decided which stitch design best suits your guest book?

Four Hole Binding

First of all, I just want to say that size matters.  The smaller the book, the less room to get real detailed and fancy.  Usually for a 5.5" x 8.5" album or even a 8" x 8" I highly recommend a simple four hole stab stitch design like the book in the photo above.

Hemp Leaf Binding

When you move up to a larger book, like a 8" x 10" or 8.5" x 11" for example, then my custom guest books are stitched in the Hemp Leaf Binding design as you see in the photo. 

However, ever once in a while, I'll also use the Tortoise Shell design like this photo below.

Tortoise Shell Binding

Three things to keep in mind when you choose your binding.

1. Size

2. Formal or informal occasion

3. Color.

I've already explained above how size matters.  The next thing you want to keep in mind is the occasion.  If it's informal, keep your binding simple.  If it's formal, hemp leaf binding is more appropriate. And, if it's elegant I'd go with the tortoise shell binding. But it's your book, you decide.

Lastly, I know what your thinking. What does color have to do with it?  Well, ask yourself, do you want your binding to stand out and be an accent? or do you want it to blend in? The more fancier the binding of your guest book, the more the color and design are going to stand out and be noticed.

Paperbacks Just Got Bigger

I've been pondering the idea of making some bigger sized paperback guest book albums this past week. The smaller paperbacks (5.5" x 8.5") have been growing in popularity lately. It seems they're being used most often for baby showers, bridal showers, and retirement albums (in place of a card).

Where as the hardbound guest books (small and medium size) are more popular with weddings.

I've had some 8 x 8 paper stacks sitting on my work counter for a few months now and haven't been sure what to do with them. Sometime I cut them down to make the 5.5" x 7.5" albums but got to thinking I'd add a new size and style to the shop this week.

So, I put together this 8" x 8" paperback guest book album.

It's all pretty in pink with it's floral print and glittery highlights.  I used pink signature pages stamped with a floral swag.

 For the photo pages I added yellow card stock (acid and lignin- free) in the back and stamped with this cute flower bouquet stamp.

Then I couldn't help but thinking that stab stitch wasn't going to work for this book. It needed something more feminine, so I used my zutter bind-it-all (affiliate link) and punched the binding holes. then using one inch wide satin pink ribbon I laced the binding and double knotted it with a bow.

It almost reminds me of going to one of those fancy tea parties, all pretty and dressed up and totally girlie.

What do you think, does the size work for the cover style?