Tip: 

Large cutting boards are available at copy centers (such as Kinko's) that can cut paper up to 24", and make larger and smaller cutting jobs much easier and less time consuming.  If you have a lot of sheets that you are cutting, Kinko's also has an industrial cutter behind the counter that can cut up to 500 sheets at a time for $.75 per cut.

Tip: 

If the paper or fabric you are using to cover your book is too bulky in the corners, you can cut out the triangle of decorative paper that forms when folding in the corners as shown in Figure 5.  After cutting out triangle you can continue following the methods explained.

Tip: 

This type of book can be made with a soft cover (paper or card stock) as well rather than a hard chipboard cover, which younger children can complete on their own.  A soft cover can be colored, and decorated quickly and easily by all ages.

Tip: 

I find using a hair-pin (not a bobby pin), easier to sew with than a needle, especially with bigger books where sometimes you need to use pliers to help pull the 'hair-pin' through, and the hair pin is much easier to thread.

Tip: 

There are many different patterns you can 'sew' on your spine.  Criss-cross is a very simple and elegant bind, but regardless of the pattern you may decide to use the most important stitches of the binding are the two that wrap around the head and tail of the front and back covers.  Don't leave these stitches out when binding your book, or the book will gradually fall apart.

Tip: 

Placing the spine of your book on an old telephone book and drilling into the telephone book is quick, easy, and clean.  And used fabric softener sheets are great for picking up any drilling dust!