Creative Bookbinding
Unleash your creativity with
an all-inclusive arts & crafts holiday
Available Dates
Dates 2026
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £985 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
DATES 2027
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £985 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
TESTIMONIAL
“Over four inspiring days, Marion guided us through a variety of techniques, including pamphlet books, hardback books, books, slipcases and Japanese stab binding - all with remarkable patience and a genuine passion for her craft".
About The Course
When there aren’t any bookbinding courses near you, then sometimes the best thing to do is to do it on holiday!
CREATIVE BOOK BINDING - INTRODUCTION
The four days are loosely planned as follows but allow time to explore different options and ideas for making books.
Monday
Folded, cut and folded, and simple, sewn books. On the first day you will learn about paper grain and good practice for folding paper and card. You’ll discover how to make lots of simple book structures and find out how they can be used to make interesting, fun and stylish books. You will learn how to create a hard cover for your books using decorative papers and cloth.
You’ll learn how to sew simple pamphlet books and build on that technique using decorative stitches. We’ll finish off the day making a single-section hard-back book using the sewing and covering techniques you learnt throughout the day.
Tuesday
Making a hard-back book. Using techniques that touch on traditional book binding, you’ll learn to sew a book block using the French Link stitch, add headbands and a marker ribbon and attach the block to a hard case that’s covered with decorative paper and book cloth.
Wednesday
Making boxes for books: make a hard slipcase for your hard-back book. You will learn the technique for making the box strong and cover it in book cloth.
You’ll also learn how to make a lidded box with a ribbon closure, decorated in book cloth and decorative paper.
Thursday
Morning: Developing your skills folding and sewing books, you will make several small notebooks using, for example, Japanese Stab Sewing and Long Stitch techniques.
Afternoon: The final part of the course is over to you! Using any of the materials available, take time to practice your favourites from the previous days and hone your book-making skills; be creative and have fun!
Kit List
Your tutor will provide all the materials and equipment for your course. There will be lots of decorative papers, coloured book cloth, ribbons, buttons etc. to work with but please feel free to bring along any of your own you might like to include.
CREATIVE BOOK BINDING - IMPROVERS
Building on the basics learned on the Creative Book Binding this four-day Improvers course acts as a refresher for the techniques learned there. The topics included will take into account those covered by guests on their first visit as each course is a little different!
Throughout the week, you’ll get the chance to experiment with alternatives such as Bradel spines, decorative stitched bindings and more. There will be samples on hand to hopefully motivate and inspire you.
The four days are loosely planned as follows:
Monday
Making a hard-back book: refreshing and extending the techniques you learned on the first course, you’ll make an A5 hard back, half-bound book using the French Link stitch, add headbands and a marker ribbon. You’ll add space for a title and attach the block to a hard case that’s covered with decorative paper and book cloth.
Tuesday
Decorative Spine Bindings: learn how to make 1, 2 and 3 section notebooks with hard covers and decoratively stitched spines.
You'll learn how to measure, cut and fold for each style and explore a variety of different hard cover options including a soft spine cover, a full book cloth-covered cover and a Bradel spine cover.
You will also learn how to read a stitching pattern to create attractive binding designs.
Wednesday
Making boxes for books: make a lidded box with several compartments covered in book cloth and decorative papers.
Thursday
Morning: learn how to make more complex, folded book structures such as crown binding, lotus flower, and flag books. You’ll make hard covers for your books that incorporate titles and apertures and cover them using decorative papers and cloth.
Afternoon: The final part of the course is flexible and up to you! Using any of the materials available, take time to experiment, practice and hone your book-making skills; be creative and have fun!
Kit List
As before, all the materials and equipment for your course will be provided, but please feel free to bring along any of your own materials or projects you have been working on.
Course Inclusions And Coverage
Tuition
Booking for this course includes 4 days of specialist tuition from Marion Archibald.
Equipment
Food & Accommodation
Full board catering and 5-nights accommodation are included when you book.
Transfers
Here's what a previous participant has to say about this course:
Picture Gallery
tERMS & DETAILED INFORMATION
Your Course Tutor: Marion Archibald
Marion Archibald was born a stone’s throw from Gartmore House but now lives outside Perth and has studios in Thornton, Fife.
Faq
Where can I find out more about the course?
If you need any further information about your course that is not on our website, please get in contact with us and we can provide you with the tutor’s contact details who can assist with your query.
What do I need to bring on my art, craft and activity break?
Your required kit list for your specific break is shown on each course’s webpage. Your tutor will also be in contact with you, prior to your course to confirm kit lists and questions you have.
Should you have any queries, then please feel free to contact us.
What is the art, craft and activity holiday booking terms and conditions?
To confirm your holiday a non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
Holidays are subject to availability and subject to change. There is a minimum number of guests required to run each course. If a course is cancelled due to low numbers, you may transfer any monies paid to an alternative date or a full refund will be issued. We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
What time do your transfer services for the art, craft & activity holidays operate?
We offer a complimentary transfer services to and from Stirling train station. Collection is at 3:30pm from the station on the day of arrival, and our drop-off service departs from Gartmore House at 9:15 am on day of departure.
The closest airports to us are Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. If you require a transfer to and/or from either airport, please select this option at the time of booking. Transfers to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are available at an additional cost. After booking your flights, please update your Customer Portal with the time you wish to be collected from the airport on the day of arrival and the time of collection at Gartmore House, returning to the airport, on the day of departure. Please allow 60 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Glasgow Airport, or 90 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Edinburgh Airport.
Can I bring a partner/friend to stay with me while I am on an art, craft or activity break?
If you’re coming on one of our art, craft or activity holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. Please add them at the checkout stage.