Wish Scroll for the New & GIveaway

I live by three calendars—the one where the seasons change on the solstices and equinoxes, the traditional Celtic calendar where the seasons begin at the midpoints between, and the school calendar. After sixteen years of being a student, four years of teaching swimming for the Boston School Department, twenty-plus years of teaching bookmaking, and twenty-three years of kids' education (two kids six years apart), the year starts in September.

This Wish Scroll (which is based on scrolls from Ethiopia and one of the sixteen projects in Handmade Books For A Healthy Planet) contains wishes for the new. The idea is that if the scroll is worn, the wish will come true. You can make a scroll for yourself or one for someone else.

I used to use film containers but they have become less available. Now I often use used prescription containers. If you collect them from others, I suggest you ask them to remove the label. For paper, I used used copy paper with writing on one side, folded in half the long way, and then glued together. Whatever paper you use, you'll cut it to be a little taller than the container.

I made the scroll before the case but in workshops, I make the case first. You'll also need tape, a piece of yarn about an arm-length long (36"/91.4 cm for those who like to measure), and a piece of paper to wrap around the case a little shorter than its height. I decorated mine before but you can also do it after the case is complete. For more decoration, I strung buttons (you can also use beads) onto a piece of crochet cotton and tied it to the yarn.

Make the case:

With a small piece of tape, attach one end of the yarn to the one side of the container at the top. Do the same on the opposite side.

Wrap another piece of tape all around the top to help secure it.

Put glue on the back side of the cover paper and attach it to the case.

Add Buttons or Beads:

This is an extra touch which is fun but not necessary. If I were doing this with a group of younger children, I wouldn't do it unless I had a lot of extra adults to help.

Thread buttons or beads onto a piece of thread. I used crochet cotton. For most buttons you need something thinner than yarn.

Tie the end of the thread around the yarn on one side of the case near the top.

Tie the other end of the thread to the other side. This is a little trickier because you need to keep the beads on the thread and have the thread an appropriate length when you tie it.

And Finally:

Roll up the scroll and put it in the case.

You can find ideas for a Wish Scroll here.

GIVEAWAY!

A signed copy of Handmade Books For A Healthy Planet to a randomly drawn commenter. Please make sure your email address is in the comment so I can contact you. You can write out the word at to avoid spammers. The Giveaway will close on Saturday, 9.3,11, at midnight.