A Flag Book

Flag books-- it's not what you think. Flag books are not about flags; it's a particular book binding structure. You fold an accordion base and attach "things" to this base--like little flags. What you attach to the base is up to you.

If you would like to make your own flag book here are some directions. This simple-to-make book can be fun, funny, simple, elegant, inexpensive or surprising depending on the materials used. Its basic structure can easily be understood by young children or taken to the limit by a mature artist. The materials listed here are easily accessible and inexpensive, but not long lasting--construction paper tends to fade. If you want to make something long-lasting, use a more archival material.

MATERIALS:

• covers--2 pieces of black construction paper--2 1/2" x 6"
• accordion base strip--1 long, folded piece of black construction paper--2 1/2" x 12"
• closure band--1 piece of black construction paper--1" x 6"
• rainbow "pages"--4 strips each of 7 colors of construction paper --1/2" x 3"
• small pieces of colored construction paper for cover decoration
• bone or wooden folder
• glue stick

PROCEDURE:

1. Take the accordion base strip that is folded in half--it has two sections. Fold each section in half by bringing each end of the strip to the middle fold--you now have 4 sections. Fold each of these sections in half again--you now have 8 sections. Fold each section in half one more time--you now have 16 sections. Fold each section separately; do not fold by rolling the sections over each other. Don't worry about the direction of the fold.


2. Once all the folds are made, correct the direction of the folds so that they form a correct accordion. Sit the accordion strip in front of you and check to make sure the profile looks like fig. 1--2 half mountains, 7 mountains and 8 valleys.
3. You are now ready to glue on the rainbow strips. No strips will be glued to the first and last half-mountain at each end of the accordion base. Lay the accordion base in front of you so that it extends the long way away from you. Begin at the end of the accordion base nearest you.
   
   Take four strips of the first color and starting on the left edge of the accordion base, glue one strip to the front side of the first full mountain. Make sure the bottom of the strip sits fully in the bottom of the valley and that the strip is straight and about 1/8" from the left edge of the accordion base. Glue the second strip on the back side of the first full mountain about 1/8" from the first strip. The first strip points away from you; the second strip points towards you (fig. 2).
   
   Glue the third strip to the front of the mountain about 1/8" from the second strip. Glue the fourth strip on the back side of the mountain about 1/8" from the third strip. This last strip should also be about 1/8" from the right edge of the accordion base. The important thing to do is to get all the strips placed right down to the bottom of the valleys, make sure they are straight, and make sure that they do not touch up against each other.


4. You repeat this gluing pattern on each of the mountains changing to a new color for each mountain. After I glue on the first four strips, I fold down the first mountain onto the tabletop to help get it out of the way so that I can work on the next mountain. After the next four strips are glued on, I can fold down the second mountain and make sure the strips all lay on top of each other--they are all lined up the same--and then proceed to the third mountain.


5. Once all the strips are glued to all the mountains you can apply the cover. Fold each cover piece in half. Put glue on both sides of one of the half mountains at one end of the accordion base. Sandwich this half mountain between the open ends of the folded cover (fig. 3) and rub with your wooden folder gluing the cover to the accordion base. Make sure the edge of the cover sits all the way in the bottom of the valley. Repeat for the other cover at the half mountain at the other end of the accordion base. Try folding your book closed. Use your wooden folder to make sure all folds are crisp. Don't leave your book closed until you are sure the glue is dry. The colored strips may be trimmed if any stick out beyond the foredge of the cover.


6. You can make a band to help hold your book closed from the remaining strip of paper (fig. 4). Close your book and wrap the strip around the book from top to bottom. Fold the strip neatly where it comes over the top and bottom edges of the book.
   
   Glue the band to itself where it overlaps. You can cut the extra colored paper into squares or shapes and use them to decorate this closure band. When dry the band is sturdy and can be slipped on and off the book to help keep it closed

IDEAS

There are many variations on this book. Other materials such as paint chips, calendar pictures, better quality paper, dried grass, plastic snakes, etc. have all been used in books made in this way. You can glue several accordion base strips together to give you a longer base. The width of the base strip can be whatever you want. The strips can all be glued to the same side of the mountain giving you a different look--one that can look like a more traditional book with pages on which you can write, stamp, draw, etc. The number of strips on each mountain can be whatever you want from 1 to whatever. The height of the strips can vary--they don't all need to be the same. Experiment, play with it--it's great fun.