Chipboard

Grey chipboard is a strong, practical board used for making book covers, spines, and structural parts of handmade books. It is easy to cut, glue, and cover, making it a popular choice for journals, sketchbooks, albums, and general bookbinding projects.

Our chipboard is available in A4 and A5 sizes and in a range of thicknesses to suit different types of books and binding styles. While this board is not acid free, it is well suited to everyday bookbinding, craft projects, and functional books where durability is important.

Thickness guide:

• 1.5 mm – A flexible but firm board, ideal for lighter covers, notebooks, and journals where a bit of movement is desired.
• 2 mm – A strong, general-purpose book board, slightly thicker than an exam pad backing. Suitable for most hardback books and covers.
• 2.5 mm and 3 mm – Heavy-duty boards for larger or more robust books, albums, and projects that need extra strength and rigidity.

Grey chipboard is suitable for:
• Book covers and spines
• Journals and sketchbooks
• Albums and memory books
• Repair and rebinding projects
• Craft and paper constructions

It works well with:
• Book cloth
• Novalite
• Decorative papers
• PVA and cream adhesives

This board provides a reliable foundation for handmade books and allows you to choose the level of stiffness that best suits your project.

Book Block Paper

Good paper is the foundation of a good book. Our book paper has been tried and tested by hundreds of happy bookbinders and is chosen specifically for making books that feel right in the hand and open beautifully.

Books are usually taller than they are wide. Because of this, bookbinders look for paper that is wider than it is tall and has a short grain direction. This allows a large sheet to be folded in half to create a section (signature) without resistance or cracking. The result is a book that opens easily and turns smoothly, giving a professional, finished feel.

Our paper is an uncoated, high-quality book paper designed for writing, drawing, and printing. It provides a pleasant surface for pens and pencils and works well for both handwritten and printed books.

Available as:
• A4 short-grain paper
• Colour options: Bare Cream, Bond, and Starlight White

This paper is suitable for:
• Journals and notebooks
• Sketchbooks
• Printed books
• Handmade bindings
• Practice and production work

Paper

Bookplates

Book plates, also known as Ex Libris, are decorative labels placed inside a book to show ownership. Traditionally printed and pasted inside the front cover, they add a personal touch while helping identify a book as part of your personal library.

Book plates have been used for centuries by collectors, scholars, and readers who wanted to mark and protect their books. Today, they remain a beautiful way to personalise journals, sketchbooks, novels, and handmade books.

They can be used in:
• Personal libraries
• Handmade journals and notebooks
• Gift books
• School or studio collections
• Special or limited-edition books

Book plates can be simple and classic or decorative and artistic, depending on the design. They are usually glued into the inside front cover or onto the first page of a book and can be written on or left as a decorative feature.