Part 2

Make them either accurately or freehand as described in Problem I. If the latter method is used, some sense of proportion should be observed. That is, do not draw 3 inches as long as 6 inches, nor 4 inches longer than 7 inches. The size of the foundation has already been determined. The front covering should be ½ inch larger on each side than the foundation, to allow for laps which are to fold onto the back of the newsboard. The back covering should be from ¹⁄₁₆ to ⅛ of an inch smaller than the foundation on each side, as the finished product looks much neater if no raw edge is visible from the front.

In Plate IX, the first drawing is of the face of the completed model showing the location of the calendar. This also shows the size of the foundation. The other two drawings show the size of the two pieces of vellum. If the first drawing seems too complicated, omit the location of the calendar, and draw and dimension only the outside rectangle to give the size of the foundation.

The pieces of material given out should be a little larger than the finished size, although unnecessary waste should be avoided. No attempt should be made to cut these pieces carefully or regularly. Each pupil should be led to depend on his own initiative in the use of the rule and triangle. An irregular edge which is not a guide, is more educational than straightedges and right angles which are of considerable assistance.

With rule, triangle, and pencil, carefully lay out each part from the drawings already made, and cut the coverings with the scissors.[2] The foundation is more successfully cut with the paper cutter, as to cut it with scissors is a very difficult task for little hands and likely to loosen the scissors at the joint. The most desirable way is for each pupil to cut his own newsboard, in which case the ruler fastened to the cutter may be used to insure the correct size without any preliminary measuring. If the cutter is deemed unsafe for the pupils’ use, the proper size may be marked on the newsboard with pencil and the pieces cut by a large boy or by the teacher.

[2] Selvage should never be allowed to remain on a covering of vellum. A “raw edge” pastes down more closely and is, therefore, less apparent. Vellum tears very easily lengthwise, and a torn edge may be allowed if it is to be covered. If not to be covered, all edges should invariably be cut.

When the pieces have all been cut, place the newsboard on the back side of the front piece of vellum, with the margins equal, and draw around it. Cover the surface inside the pencil lines with a thin, even coat of paste.

Much of the success of the work depends on the pasting and rubbing. The paste is of the right consistency when put up by the dealer, and if it dries somewhat after being opened, a little water thoroughly stirred in will make it all right. The brush well filled with paste should be passed over the surface of the covering material with long even strokes. No dry spots should be left, and especial pains should be taken to cover the surface close to the pencil lines. Look across the pasted surface toward the light to see if it is entirely covered; looking directly down upon it does not reveal the dry places. Rub the brush rather heavily over the surface to make the paste sink into the cloth.

While pasting, several sheets of newspaper are invaluable to protect the desk, the model, and the fingers. With a few quick strokes of the card-cutter, cut off the folds of a newspaper, leaving loose sheets the size of half or a quarter page. Each desk should have several sheets, placed one on top of another. When the top sheet has become sticky, discard it. A perfectly clean surface beneath it is ready to be used in the same way. Press the newsboard on the pasted surface, turn it over,[3] and rub it down very hard on the right side of the vellum. When rubbing the vellum on the right side, a small piece of cloth for each pupil prevents finger marks, and enables the pupil to rub harder as the cloth protects the hand.

[3] When turning over any part of the model which has a pasted surface, take hold near the center as far as possible, as handling by the edges or corners is likely to remove paste from the places where it is most needed.

Before pasting projecting parts, the corners should be cut. Two methods are shown in the illustrations. In the first, two adjacent projections are turned onto the back of the foundation. Be careful that they fit very closely to the sides of the newsboard, press down with the fingers, and hold them very firmly. At the corner will be a surplus piece which should be pinched to stand upright. Slanting the scissors very slightly upward, cut from the corner toward the center. (See Plate X). The second method is to make slanting cuts from the outside of the vellum toward the corners of the newsboard. (See Plate XI). Apply paste to the projecting sides, fold over and rub down; treat the ends in the same manner.

If it is desired that the completed mount shall hang on the wall, make a loop of ribbon, tape, or vellum. If tape or ribbon is used, choose the color very carefully; that which matches the vellum is the best choice; but, if a contrast is preferred, choose a soft color which has some quality in harmony with the vellum. Paste this loop to the back of the foundation, allowing it to project above the top. Apply paste to the back covering and rub it down very firmly, being careful that no loose edges are left. Instead of pasting on a loop, a hole may be punched near the top with the eyelet punch, and an eyelet inserted. This should be done after the back is pasted on.

According to plan, paste on the calendar or picture. Dry all under a weight. If several mounts are to be placed under the same weight, it is better that each should be separated from the others by a sheet of blotting paper, or several thicknesses of newspaper. Allow them to stand over night. In the morning they will be found sufficiently pressed.

B. MOUNT FOR MEMORANDUM PAD

Secure a small pad, and plan a mount to extend beyond the pad ⅛ inch or more on each side. Draw plans, work out, and paste as in A. Instead of a loop by which to suspend the pad, make a holder for a pencil to be placed on the right side of the mount. Cut a strip of vellum one-half or three-quarters the length of the mount. At each end of the strip turn about ⅛ inch onto the wrong side to give a finished edge. To secure the correct size, fold the strip over the pencil to be used, and, with the pencil still folded in, paste the two long edges of the strip together, and then to the back of the newsboard, having it placed midway between the top and bottom edges. The pasting of the back covering then follows. Remove the cardboard back from the pad before pasting it to the mount. Dry under weight.

C. POCKET MEMORANDUM PAD

This is intended to be carried in the pocket, and its size should be governed by its use. Avoid rectangles which approximate the square, but choose rather such proportions as 2 × 3 or 2½ × 4. As in A, make working drawings for the three pieces. If desired, the first drawing may be of the completed face. (See Plate XII.) Lay out and cut all parts.

On the front piece of vellum lay the newsboard as in A, and draw around it. From the corners indicated by the pencil lines measure equal distances along adjacent lines, and connect the points by straight lines. Be careful not to make these lines too near the corners, ¾ of an inch to 1 inch being a good measurement for a small pad. Cut on these lines with a sharp knife, or folding the ends of the line together, cut along the line with scissors.

Apply paste to the front piece, being careful not to paste outside the slanting lines at the corners, for this space should be left free to hold the sheets of paper. One way to protect these corners is to insert a piece of newsboard or paper in the slits, from the right side of the vellum, so that the corners on the wrong side are covered. The paste may then be applied with freedom. Remove the protecting piece of newsboard and paste the vellum to the foundation. Finish as in A without the hanger, or, if desired, add pencil holder as in B. Cut several sheets of white paper ⅛ of an inch smaller than the newsboard, and, when the paste is thoroughly dry, insert them in the slits.

D. BLOTTER

Like C except that it should be large enough to hold a school blotter. Increase the size of the corners to be proportionate to the size of the blotter.

Problem IV

TIME: 8 hours.

MATERIALS: Newsboard, vellum, and lining paper.

Note: As in Problem II, each of these models has a foundation of a single piece of newsboard, covered on the front with vellum, but on the back with lining paper.

A. A NEEDLECASE

As shown at A in Plate XIII, the needlecase should be planned to hold four papers of needles, two at each end. The size of the case will depend on the size of the papers of needles, and must be planned accordingly. Make the width a little more than twice the width of a paper of needles, and allow a little space lengthwise between the papers of needles to permit their easy removal. The pockets are formed of strips of vellum pasted on to each end of the foundation, and their depth should be a little more than half the length of a paper of needles.

An accurate working drawing of the completed case should be made (see Plate XIV). From this, mark out and cut the newsboard to the correct size. The front covering of vellum should have laps on the sides only and may well be a little shorter than the foundation. Make freehand, dimensioned sketches of this piece, of the vellum pockets, and of the marbled paper. The pockets should have ½ inch laps on three sides for pasting to the back. On the other edge, which is to be free, allow at least an eighth of an inch to be turned over like a hem onto the wrong side for a neat finish. The paper for the back should be one-fourth of an inch narrower and shorter than the foundation.

Mark out and cut with the scissors, the pieces of vellum and marbled paper. The front covering should be pasted on first. Before pasting the pockets (which should be fastened to the back only) turn over the hem, and crease it hard, but do not paste. The hem will extend onto the side laps. From these laps cut off the under side of the hem that it may not be double. Paste on the pockets and the back. Dry all under weight.

B. A CHECKERBOARD

First decide on the size of the small squares, remembering that there are eight in each direction. Also allow for a margin, outside the squares, which should vary in proportion to the size of the squares. A single or double border line enclosing the squares is a desirable addition. (See B, Plate XIII.)

Make working drawings of the foundation, the front covering of vellum, and the back covering of lining paper. In selecting vellum for this model, have in mind the application of a color which is to be used on alternate squares. Either a deep red vellum with alternate squares of black or a dull green vellum with alternate squares of red is a good combination.

Lay out and cut all parts, using the card cutter for the newsboard, and the scissors for the vellum and the lining paper. As in previous models, lay foundation on the back of the piece of vellum, draw around it, and cover with paste the surface enclosed by the pencil lines. Again place the foundation on the vellum, press it down hard, turn over both pieces and rub the vellum on the right side until it is smooth. When thoroughly rubbed down, paste laps, being careful to make neat corners. Paste on lining paper and dry under weight.

During a subsequent lesson, mark out the checkerboard, accurately, with rule and pencil. Only alternate squares need be colored, and this may be done with water colors, crayon, or pencil. If water colors are chosen, they should be used with as little water as possible. Before applying the paint to the vellum, the glaze of the surface may be reduced by rubbing over it the powder which comes from common white chalk. Rub the powder in with the fingers and lightly brush off what remains. On a separate piece of vellum, practice the application of color before applying it to the checkerboard, both to test the color itself, and to become somewhat familiar with the best method of application. After the paint is thoroughly dry, the surface may be cleaned by rubbing carefully with a piece of cloth. Finish by putting on the outside border line with pencil.

C. A BLOTTER

This is to be a more elaborate production than the blotter described in Problem III (D). Compare C, Plate XIII.

First determine the size of the foundation, which may vary from small-blotter to desk-blotter size. Consider proportions very carefully. A small blotter admits greater variance between length and width than one of larger size. Make dimensioned drawings of foundation, front covering of vellum or cover paper, and back covering of marbled paper.

When the foundation has been cut and the front covering pasted on, plan the corners which are to consist of separate pieces. Determine their size by setting off a triangle at one corner with a rule or pencil, moving the rule or pencil to vary the size of the triangle until one of satisfactory size is decided upon. Lay out on paper a triangle of the chosen size. The thickness of the foundation, plus the thickness of the one or more sheets of blotting paper which are to be placed under the corners, must be taken into consideration. Before adding the laps which are to extend onto the back for half an inch or more experiment with patterns cut from paper (see Plate XV).

The corners may be made of linen, vellum, cover paper, or skiver (a prepared leather which has been split by machinery). Cut them out by the pattern. To give a finish to the edge which is to be free, turn it over about ¼ of an inch. If leather is used, a portion of the under side along the edges should be additionally skived off, before turning over, to make the laps very thin. Cover paper, if used, may be re-enforced by pasting a piece of muslin onto the back.

These corners present an opportunity for applied design. The most satisfactory decoration for leather is “tooling.” On the other materials suggested, a design may be applied by stenciling or block printing.[4]

[4] Simple directions for these processes may be found in the _School Arts Book_ as follows: Tooling, June, 1908; Stenciling, June and October, 1908, March, 1912; Block-printing, June, 1907.

The designs should be simple and appropriate (see Plates XVI), and the color scheme carefully planned. Unless a special study has been made of color harmonies, a combination of analogous colors or complementary colors is a wiser choice than a more complicated combination. Practise on paper until a pattern is secured, and apply it to the corners by the method decided upon.

When pasting on the decorated corners, the sheets of blotting paper should be placed on the foundation so that there will be room for their use. Paste the laps to the back of the foundation, being very careful to place the corners in exact position. Leave the sheets of blotting paper under the corners until after the whole has been pressed; otherwise the weight would crush the corners. When putting in new sheets of blotting paper, they can be more easily slipped under the corners if a small triangle has been cut from each corner of the blotting paper. A sheet of lining paper about ⅜ of an inch shorter and narrower than the foundation should be pasted to the back. Dry all under weight.

Problem V

MOUNTS AND COVERS

TIME: 6 hours.

MATERIALS: Newsboard, vellum, and lining paper.

NOTE: Each article in this problem has two foundation pieces covered by a single piece of vellum, which forms a hinge between them, and the whole is lined with marbled paper.

A. A CALENDAR STAND

First make or secure a calendar, which should be of small size. If desired, a picture may be used with the calendar, but it should harmonize with it in size and color. In such a case plan to have the space between the two much smaller than the margins, so that the eye will take them in as a group, and not as two separate objects. Decide on the margins as described in Problem II, and thus arrive at the proper size for one of the foundation pieces of newsboard. (See Plate XVII.)

Make a dimensioned sketch of this piece, and plan to have two made of newsboard. For the outside covering plan a strip of vellum which shall be long enough to cover both pieces of newsboard when placed about one-eighth of an inch apart, and to make half-inch laps on each side and end. Plan a strip of vellum about an inch wide and as long as the width of the foundation pieces to form the back of the hinge; and two pieces of lining paper, each one-eighth of an inch smaller in both directions than the foundation pieces. Make dimensioned sketches of these pieces (see Plate XVIII), lay out and cut all parts.

In the center of the narrow strip of vellum mark off a space one-eighth of an inch wide, extending lengthwise of the strip. Apply paste and lay the two pieces of newsboard on the vellum and with edges against the lines drawn. Press hard on the newsboard, turn it over, and rub down the vellum. A hinge is thus formed for the two pieces of newsboard. Lay these pieces on the large piece of vellum and draw around the whole. Apply paste to the vellum inside the pencil lines. Lay the double foundation on the pasted surface with the narrow strip of vellum on top. Rub down the outside surface very hard, leaving no wrinkles or rough places; clip the corners as described in Problem II, paste the laps, fold them over, rub them down, and line the mount with the pieces of marbled paper. Connect the front and back halves of the mount by a single or double strap of vellum pasted to the inside of each. Finish by pasting on the calendar and picture.

NOTE. If the calendars are made for Christmas, a most appropriate time, the children are sometimes desirous of decorating with Christmas seals. These are not so desirable as a decorative picture, but if the teacher feels that to forbid their use would be dispiriting to the child, she should insist that only one seal should be used and that on the back of the standard where it will carry its message, but will not detract from the appearance of the face of the mount. An envelope might be made in which to present the calendar, and the seals used on the outside of the envelopes.

B. ANOTHER CALENDAR MOUNT

Plan the back standard to be smaller than the front instead of the same size. Plate XIX suggests a suitable trapezoidal shape. In this case the vellum must be of the same length as before, but cut to fit the different widths of the newsboard (compare Plate XX).

Plan a narrow strip of vellum to line the hinge, as in A. Paste this piece and the outside covering as before. Cut the lining paper of the correct shapes and apply to the back.

C. A NEEDLE-BOOK

This consists of covers with leaves of flannel. Decide upon the size of leaves, which should not be too large and in good proportion. One piece of flannel should form two leaves, as in booklets described in Problem I. Plan the covers to be one-eighth of an inch larger in each direction than the leaves. These should be constructed like the calendar mount already described in A, but the space between should be greater, perhaps three-eighths of an inch. Make dimensioned sketches of all parts. The parts should then be laid out, cut, and pasted. Finish the edges of the leaves by pinking (cutting in small points). Four leaves are sufficient. Sew them to the cover as described in Problem I.

D. A COVERED MEMORANDUM PAD

Secure a small pad. Plan covers, as described in B, which shall project about one-eighth of an inch in each direction beyond the pad. Plan to have the space between them about ⅜ of an inch more than the thickness of the pad. When the covers are finished, paste the pad firmly to the inside of one cover. If desired, loops of vellum to hold the pencil may be pasted on the side of the pad, as described in Problem I.

Problem VI

FOLDING CHECKERBOARD[3]

TIME: 6 hours.

MATERIALS: Newsboard, vellum, squared paper.

This checkerboard (Plate XXI) is planned with squares ¾” in size, and of these there should be 8 on each side alternating dark and light. By making a foundation 7½” square, it gives a margin of ¾” on all sides, resulting not only in a satisfactory appearance, but providing a place for extra checkers. This board folds through the center and is small enough to be easily carried in the pocket. The illustration is intended to show the construction to the teacher. Such a drawing should not be attempted by the pupils whose efforts should be confined to simple sketches of the necessary pieces as in the other problems.

Cut two pieces of newsboard 3⅝” strong × 7½”, and a piece of vellum about 9” square. It will be observed that the width of the newsboard is less than half the length in order to allow a space between the two pieces of newsboard without which the completed board would not close.

On the back side of the piece of vellum mark off in heavy lines the positions of the two pieces of newsboard and allow ¼” or ³⁄₁₆” space between them. Paste the newsboard to the vellum as already described, cut the corners and paste the edges. A strip of vellum 2” × 7” should be pasted to cover the space between the two pieces of newsboard and extend well onto them.

[3] From “War Time Occupations.”

The paper used for lining may be prepared in one of several ways, either by machine or by hand, and may be in one piece or two. The former is less likely to be confusing. The easiest and quickest method is to have the squares printed in dark ink on white or light gray paper of good quality, and fairly tough. The use of linoleum is suggested as one method of printing squares, or a line plate may be made, the squares printed from it and finished linings for the checkerboards furnished to those who are making them. The light squares may be left as they are or may be colored with water color, crayon, or oils. All the outside squares should be lined in, either when printed or afterward by hand. A border line about ¼” outside the squares adds very much to the general appearance.

If all the markings and coloring must be done by hand, paper commercially ruled into ¼” squares is recommended. This secures accuracy, and saves much tiresome ruling. Three such spaces on each side form a ¾ inch square and when the checkerboard is laid off by small dots on outside lines, proceed to color alternate squares by one of the following methods: