Advanced Book Cover Designs : Using xTool M1 Laser & DIY alternatives

[@DeerheartStudioArts]

You said “book nook” one second after it lit up my brain! YES! Please make digital kit with SCV for Cricut users.

[@LedgerAndLace]

Who doesn't want an Imperial Arming Press?! How cool to be able to replicate it in the 21st century. Looking forward to the new Booksmith Book Nook!

[@NiktheBooksmith]

And an extra room to house it! Lol

[@theresa_lili]

Do any of your hubby's have a hydraulic press? Might be an option to make a design to be pressed into our covers.

[@Ms.W529]

You know you could sell kits of that cabinet. I’d certainly purchase a couple I’m thinking that you could deboss some chipboard through a big shot or some such tool, then, you could the careful gluing, you could then use your laser to cut a matching stencil that you could lay over your debossed board to paint. Or you had a steady enough hand, you could just paint the debossed surface.

[@ChantelleArts]

that tiny apothecary cabinet is EVERYTHING ❤❤❤

[@PatWalden]

Love, love, love the apothecary cabinet! ❤❤❤

[@danacolosimo5874]

What a cool library card catalog shelf 😍😍❤️ and love the book covers 😍 TFS 😘😘❤️🇨🇦

[@Vikiwastestime]

Adorable! It reminds me of a teeny vintage library card catalog cabinet....maybe for a library book-nook? Love those engraved book covers.

[@donnamorina7846]

Those book cover designs are beautiful and I am inspired to try and imitate the looks without any fancy tools that I don’t have anyway 😏. Thank you for the time you spend sharing your amazing talents!

[@lightbulbnirvana]

You are part of the family of problem finders for sure. I love what you've come up with and it will be a joy to discover what you decided to add to this earth of bookbinding. Thanks for sharing! ❤

[@TrishDarbonne]

Ha! I’m “fancy”!!!!! ❤

[@jenniferwatson7118]

Fantastic results! And that mini drawer cabinet...!❤

[@annettedover3602]

Very interesting techniques. Thank you for sharing!

[@annaengberg]

So sorry to hear that your arthritis is getting worse... Happy, though, that you have the laser cutting machine to ,make things easier. I adore the tree cover! 🤩 In love with it!! I might try a craft knife version...

[@dancooper-jones]

You can also get embossing stencils that you use by hand in card making. I just tape them down, do the embossing, paint over the stencil, and lift it up. That way I don't have to worry about not actually being able to see the design under the fabric. I just do it on top once everything is glued down.

[@dammitjim5037]

I love all the information here. The wee apothecary cabinet is so sweet. I loved your "Fancy people" comment, and I actually repeated 'fancy people' at the same time you did. 😆 I'd love a laser, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Thanks for the video!!

[@realeyes212]

Your creativity & craftsmanship is beyond belief! Love your work. 😍 Thanks for sharing.

[@user-AnuPP247]

Nik you are sooo talented! Me thinks you under explain how much time and working out all that must have taken! The laser engraver sounds awesome, but technical to use. Is it? Maybe for someone of your skill set it’s easy, but I must say I find anything creative on a computer irritating! Thanks for showing your cute cute drawers and hope the arthritis isn’t too painful! 🦋🌿

[@theresewallentin2856]

Your talent blows me away and your sense of humor cracks me up. Thanks Nik.

[@margaretcomella3318]

Ooh! 😮 Some really cool stuff!! That little cabinet is THE CUTEST!!❤

[@feherpeter6816]

Dear Nik, I have enjoyed your video again (and a lot of earlier, too).Thanks for your inspirational ideas and videos, and all of your work shared with us! Best wishes from your new fan from Hungary: Peter

[@RobinsNestBindery]

Hope to see more videos like this! I love the idea! Your so clever!

[@bonneeley5670]

Breath taking covers. Love the Hx. behind the making of the books. I thoroughly enjoy the Nik the Booksmith Talks. Hope you had a nice holiday.

[@johnibrazzell764]

So good to see you again 🎉 great stuff as always N. Looking forward to what's next. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Be safe ❤

[@Carol-dr1mq]

Add another 5 drawers to that cabinet (either another row of 4 plus a bottom full width drawer OR another column of 5) and you've got the start of an adorable advent calendar. Done in balsa wood they'd be a great kit for your Etsy store and completely customizable.

[@blackcoffeeandwildflowers]

What a great library card catalog shelf!! Really just adorable. And beautiful engraving. Hugs 🤗❤️

[@KYATKAT]

love the mini drawer you made .. hubby gave me a larger one many years ago .. he picked up from a company who was giving it away . it holds regular copy paper in it .. 4 draws across and 6 down.. it has rust stains and nicks all over i... it holds the papers i use and tools .. so grateful he gave it to me ..

[@janicem4382]

You do incredibly beautiful work, TFS.

[@earthdimensionc-1378]

Could use the lasering canvas techniques on the covers. Where you layer paint colors use the laser to remove some of the layers.

[@Jeannette.akaJnett]

That is awesomely cool. Can't justify the cost of the laser, but it sure would be fun to have one. Some clever alternatives. Oh my, you are crazy (in the best sort of way) making the cabinet - the drawers, no way. My daughter-in-love and my granddaughter love to make teeny-tiny things. Granddaughter loves the kits that she has to make everything that goes into the rooms etc. Super tiny, she's nuts too. LOL Love all your crafts/books/all of it.

[@FranMiniCrafter]

So enjoyable to follow along with everything you do, and especially in miniature! Really looking forward to the next Nik book nook. Separately, while I am sure you are quite adept at developing your own techniques and finding the tools that help you keep working with arthritis, I was diagnosed with RA in my late 20s (some 45 years ago) and have probably been dealing with the challenges of crafting in miniature for somewhat longer than you. I may have some tips and workarounds that would be helpful; please get in touch if I can be of assistance.

[@jennifermarlowe5336]

Hey Nik, I was diagnosed about a year ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis in my right (dominant) hand and wrist and it has definitely slowed me down creatively. I love working in miniature but find much of the intricacies nearly impossible now. But I love what you’ve been able to do with your laser! Seeing what you’ve been able to do despite your arthritis is encouraging and empowering. Thank you so much for sharing your many talents!

[@cindyinaz2357]

Oh my goodness such creative talent you have. The book covers are beautiful and that little cabinet is so adorable and the drawers come out 😱 just amazing.❤️

[@beckyb4074]

Hello there Nik, as always you make incredible projects. No expensive tools for me, but I do have plenty of your older projects I've not gotten to do yet. You are too young to have arthritis. I know things don't always be as they should, but doesn't mean I have to like it. I always keep you and others in my prayers for complete healing, because Nothing is impossible with God, we just need to believe what he said, he meant. Thanks for sharing your time, talents and inspirations. Take care and God bless you and yours. Sincerely Becky B from Arkansas

[@TubeYouLena]

Incredible, all of it! ❤❤❤

[@madebylora]

As always, I love the books that you made (and the little cabinet is soooooo cute!!!!) and I really appreciate that you give suggestions for those of us who don’t have the fancy equipment. I’ve got a mini die-cut tool (very basic, with a handle to wind the cutting plates through the rollers like a little mangle haha). I was already planning to use this to cut out shapes to make raised designs on a book cover, but this video gave me the thought that I might also be able to use the embossing plates for a more subtle relief pattern like the ones you showed. Thank you.

[@MadCatLady9]

This is amazing Nik!!! Have you thought about offering this little cabinet as a DIY Kit?? I would love to have one if they are cost effective. It’s just darling!! Thanks for sharing this video! 🥰

[@sharonrazmzan4777]

So interesting, got me thinking about how to create similar covers without the engraving tools. Thanks!

[@TokyoMakes]

I’ve had some luck using artists modeling paste and stencils, then covering in book cloth. It’s an arthritis friendly technique and is very low cost. I even prefer to make my own modeling paste with any powder and glue as it holds a sharper edge. Once my modeling paste design has been stenciled onto the book board and has dried, I cover with book cloth and work the fabric into the crevices of the shape. I do this using a bone folder, ball embossing tool, but actually my fingers work best somehow. I keep going back every 5m or so as the book cloth glue dries and rubbing again to ensure thorough adhesion and fix any lifting insight corners. I’ve been really impressed with the results and how fairly small details are preserved, text looks good even when fairly small and the overall design shows through. I worried I ’d need to do this as I was laying down the book cloth, so as not to warp it around the piece, but the fabric has enough give that it stretches with the moistures the glue and conforms very well to even complex small shapes like lettering. Worth a try for those without access to machines, it’s just the cost of a stencil really, as the baby powder and glue paste costs pennies. I designed and laser cut my own complex stencils on a Cricut and then used this technique to create embossed book covers. I’ve done freehand designs too using the modeling paste in those needle tipped mini glue bottles and have experimented further with cutting away some layers of the book board and building up others to create 4 layers of relief on one book cover.

[@nancymccormick-jw6834]

We have a laser engraver and it’s wonderful

[@debbiecarter6430]

Thanks Nik. 😊

[@francineh.7825]

Beautiful covers! Interesting process.

[@bookwyrms.2658]

As always, well presented information. One day ...

[@katiehanrahan5293]

Thanks Nik! This was cool. I also have a lot of arthritis in my hands, but don’t think I want to spend the $$ on the laser engraver. I have a Silhouette machine so I might try messing around with that. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!

[@silver_csmith]

Those book covers are awesome!! 👌🏻❤️ And could that mini card catalogue cabinet be any cuter?! 🥰👏🏻

[@sharonromer6606]

Always amazing work👍❣

[@priltheartist9007]

Super cool!! I’ve done some hand cutting of simple shapes in Davy board in the past, it’s doable but definitely WORK. May try and see what my giant paperweight, I mean, ahem, Cricut can do. Maybe give it a use ;).

[@ilselauwers6009]

I work with a cricut . Even on thin metallic sheets from empty beer cans and I get nice results

[@collettekunkler7211]

So amazing So many great ideas!

[@ilselauwers6009]

When I saw the little drawers I immediately thought : hoo her poor hands assembling all of those … and yep 🙂 I embossed book covers with my old hand-driven machine. It needed some experiments but turned out fine in the end . Loved the last book cover half painted 🤗

[@theresa_lili]

I'd like to see you try multiple coats of gold paint, cover that with your main cover color and then run it thru your machine to etch. Having multiple coats of paint would build up the thickness of the layers making a light etching bring down the cover color revealing the under gold. Love to know if it works. A 3D printer would be able to make a hard and thick enough design to be used on a hydraulic press.

[@marilynbook4211]

I have been thinking about getting a cricit but could not justify the cost but wow that is something I would love to do.

[@Nolaproposalphotographer]

Can you share the settings you used on your M1 for both etching and engraving on the book cover? This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@kimmickleborough4920]

Wonderful experiments! Beautiful I want a laser cutter now! Lol

[@katarinashandmadestudio]

I know this is an older video and you probably won’t see it but if you do, I was wondering if that gorgeous forest book cover is an image you printed or bought somewhere? I’d love to recreate this book and that is such a beautiful painting.

[@rosalindfeemster8049]

Very interesting...so pretty.

[@Ms.W529]

Very cool

[@maramcmanus9669]

Great episode! I have RA and scleroderma so relate to some of your observations about helpful tools! Just wondering if you run into fraying issues when you engrave into or through book cloth? Do you use a sealant of somekind after painting or is painting itself enough? Would seem to me that a stencil would prevent 100% application of paint to cloth edges and that it would perform inconsistently as an anti fraying technique? Any observations or suggestions for that?

[@joannoble500]

You are the best!

[@annedwyer457]

This is fabulous Nik - I bought an engraver after your last video on them and have been experimenting ever since. Would you mind letting me know what dimensions your "cabinet" is? Was thinking advent calendar. Thanks for this and look forward to more.

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Heya Anne! I will measure it and get back to you. =)

[@NiktheBooksmith]

heya Anne! The dimensions are 90mm wide x 112mm tall x 21mm deep

[@annedwyer457]

Thank you so much @@NiktheBooksmith

[@annehessel]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@sharon94503]

Imagine what us nobody's could do with a free X1? 😢 I love watching your creativity...I just wish I could afford the tools.

[@Ladythyme]

Interesting 😊

[@Print229]

Would a laser engraver work on leather, also?

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Howdy! I've used it on leather very successfully.

[@kymmaraldo1365]

Hi Nick, thanks very much for this video. Love the covers you made. Exactly which model do you have? I'm considering getting the M1. Trouble is....if I buy the lower wattage model, will I really need the larger but if I buy the larger, will it be more than I need? I've been watching lots of vids with reviews of the machine but no-one mentions the model that they have. Thanks xx

[@NiktheBooksmith]

hi kym! the more powerful model is definitely the best option. Every person I talked to that got the lower wattage model, wished they had gotten the bigger one. That being said, last time I looked, I only saw the 10W model. I might be mistaken, but I think they discontinued the 5W version??

[@kymmaraldo1365]

@@NiktheBooksmith Firstly, please let me apologise for mispelling your name. My hubs is Nick and it's automatic for me. Eeeeek! Thanks so much for your valuable input. Greatly appreciated! Having said that, my Nick (the evil enabler) was looking at an advert for the company and he saw they now have 20W & 40W machines!!! Have you seen the model that has the capacity to feed in a 3mt long piece of timber? Decisions, decisions. Not really as I couldn't afford something that costly. If I do pull the trigger and purchase, it will be the 10W version. Thanks again, you are appreciated.

[@Tinalles]

I wonder if you could use your laser cutter in combination with heat transfer foil. Use the laser cutter to cut out the design you want in a piece of thin wood to use as a mask. Then build a sandwich: book cover on the bottom, then heat transfer foil, then your wood mask. Secure it firmly in place, maybe with some light clamps or some bulldog clips or similar. Then hit it with a heat gun. In theory, you'd wind up with a perfectly smooth transfer across the exposed area, while the wood would insulate the areas that shouldn't have foil on them. I don't know if you would get bleed around the edges of the design. And I don't know if heat transfer foil needs *pressure* to adhere it to a surface, or if the heat alone is enough. So it might not work. I may give it a try -- there's a laser engraver at my library, so I can get a mask cut there.

[@NiktheBooksmith]

I think it depends on the type of foil, some needs heat + pressure, some needs foil adhesive, or toner + heat + pressure. Learned that the hard way when I bought the wrong kind of foil for the method I was using Lol Thanks for a thought-provoking comment! I'll give it some thought 🤔

[@secretsquirrelaimee2212]

Cool! Great job!

[@penelopemarshall6320]

Very fancy pants Nic.😂❤

[@LiterarySnob]

yes, stuff happens as we age!! I am sitting here "listening" to videos because I have had one cataract removed. They don't bother to tell you that the surgery make that eye smaller and you will have double vision!!

[@happymailmagic]

Phenomenal!!!

[@liekmacgillavry277]

Awesome ❤ 🙏🏼💋🍀

[@AliceGoesNomad]

💖

[@raeannshinabarger875]

Anyone else see a Disney-esque dandified fox wearing a fur muff in the taupe book vine and flowers design?

[@Mtonazzi]

My third world arse ass watchig this: it's a bisturi blade and patience then

[@NiktheBooksmith]

The 'mom' in me says, "please be super careful", but I have every confidence that you can do it!

[@maskichef]

show. don't tell.

[@FolkFaninMA]

That little cabinet is adorable.