How-to Tuesday: A Roundup of DIY Bookish Crafts
Posted by
Whitney Penn
Paper Flowers via the Tiny Painted Blog
Books are a wellspring of DIY inspiration– whittling all the amazing stuff out there to our top 10 was no easy feat! This list has a variety of crafts at varying skill and book-destruction levels for everyone's skill and comfort level, so hopefully you'll find a way to get your creative juices flowing.
However! Before you start, we recommend that you to do a little research, especially if you're working with an unfamiliar garage-sale find. A quick google search of the title, author, and year should affirm that you're working with a book that could use a second life and not a priceless first edition. After you're certain, let the crafting begin!
1. Paper Flowers (Tiny Painter Blog): These are all the rage right now, and while they do look beautiful with colorful paper, the book worm in our hearts wants to chomp on these blooms from the Tiny Painter Blog. Om nom nom!
2. Book Vases (Confetti Sunshine): The nice thing about these book vases is that as long as you don't mind a little water in your book, you don't need to rip it apart to make these flower arrangements. We think they would be perfect centerpieces at a book lover's wedding.
3. Stacked Books Lamp (HGTV): This project takes more than a little technical know-how and comfort with power tools, but at the end of the project you have a completely custom lamp! Try this with vintage children's books for a unique nursery piece.
4. Paper & Stitch (Paper n' Stitch): These little book page crowns are for a baby shower, but any whimsical book lover would smile at this precious garland. You could also make more & string them vertically for a unique and playful photo booth backdrop.
5. DIY Secret Book Box (Clad & Cloth): We've seen tons of variations on this project, and for good reason! It's super easy and a great way to hide storage around while making you look like the well-read individual that you are.This tutorial from Clad & Cloth is a great run-down on how to turn a book into a box.
6. The Book Bag (Crafter the Merrier): The award for largest book craft goes to Anna at Craftier the Merrier with this DIY. She takes the phrase "book bag" to a whole new level.
7. The Book Case (Stamped in his Image): Another pun on book-related objects, Julie at Stamped in His Image shows you how to make a "book case"– a gadget case that is! This tutorial shows you how to turn a vintage hardcover book into a case for your iPad or Kindle.
8. The Book Clutch (Made In Home): This two-part sewing-intensive project draws inspiration from the iconic orange Penguin covers to make a slightly more practical book clutch.
