The Enid Blyton Society

The Rubbalong story is now in the Cave.

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... book+A1%29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I really enjoyed reading that - I just wish I could see in the book now, it sounds lovely.

Thanks, Tony - it's interesting to read the introduction to the scene.

I found a photo of the made-up book online, Katharine:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rp ... xSWqS6L9oQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also found some instructions on how to make a "peep show" from heavy paper or thin card:

http://wp.robertsabuda.com/pop-make-new-york-peep-show/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those with artistic talent could perhaps use the same technique to create their own Blyton-related peep show based on a book of their choice. Personally, I'd love to see a Galliano's Circus one!

Thanks for the link Anita. I think a circus themed one would work very well.

Anita Bensoussane wrote:Those with artistic talent could perhaps use the same technique to create their own Blyton-related peep show based on a book of their choice. Personally, I'd love to see a Galliano's Circus one!

Me too!

Split from another topic.

The showbooks look really good, I wish they'd done the Famous Five and Faraway Tree ones though . I'd have loved something like this as a child as I was forever making things, but I must admit it doesn't look the easiest thing for a child to assemble and I'd imagine it's the sort of DIY art project that could quickly turn into a big sticky glued up mess fit for nothing but the dustbin. My adult self however thinks it would be quite easy to make your own; some good copied illustrations of the Five, Kirrin Island, the wreck and villains to use as templates, cut out and assemble into a 3D decoupage card effect to make up the picture. I might have to give it a try at some point .

I made one based on The Sea of Adventure but I'd like to remake it at some point as there were one or two things I wasn't quite happy about - e.g. I cut out too much on the right hand side of some of the pictures, so you can see several of the white folds of the "concertina" unless it's held at full stretch.

That looks great! I'm very inspired to try one based around The Famous Five now!

By the way, by far the best way to view one of these show books is by standing up and looking down into it, holding the front 'cover' and letting the rest drop down towards the floor. You probably won't see the concertina parts then!

Edit: you can see the white folds of the concertina even in the 'proper' showbooks if they aren't opened 'at full stretch'.

That looks great, Anita. I could tell that you use the Thames dj.

I am never the creative one. Everything I did in art class when I was younger was all disaster looking arts.

It would be great to see a Five Find-Outers and Dog showbook.

Make one, Eddie!!

We should have a Showbook competition!

Rob Houghton wrote:We should have a Showbook competition!

Game on! I'd like a Galliano's Circus one. Not that I have the time to do a complicated piece of art and craft like that at the moment, mind you, but it's fun to think about...

I've already chosen some illustrations from Famous Five books. I'm going to photocopy them, then colour them and see what I can do!!

Rob Houghton wrote:

Eddie Muir wrote:It would be great to see a Five Find-Outers and Dog showbook.

Make one, Eddie!!

Maybe I will, Rob.

Rob Houghton wrote:...you can see the white folds of the concertina even in the 'proper' showbooks if they aren't opened 'at full stretch'.

Thanks for letting me know. That's reassuring!

sixret wrote:That looks great, Anita. I could tell that you use the Thames dj.

Yes, I did. I had to decide whether or not to leave the title on or cut it off. In the end I left it on because I like the look of the vintage lettering. I took all the pictures, including the Thames cover, from the Cave of Books.

Good luck to Rob and anyone else who decides to make one of their own!