SOMETHING CRAFTY WITH PAGES OF OLD BOOKS!
by Brooklyn Skye
Warning: If you think ripping a book apart is blasphemy, you’re not going to want to read any farther. But if you’re perfectly happy with repurposing old books, this post is for you!
I’ve been eyeing these great book-page wreaths for a while now, and finally got around to making my own last weekend.
All you need is a book (or several, if you’re using skinny paperbacks), a stapler, a foam board or wreath, and a glue gun.
I used this tutorial as a starting point, but didn’t exactly follow it.
- I started by rolling a Rubbermaid container’s worth of paper cones while watching Parenthood, stapling them to hold. I rolled the cones for the outer layers fairly loosely, and the cones for the inner layers a little tighter.
- I used a foam board instead of a wreath as my foundation. I used a dinner plate charger as a template, and cut a circle 13″ in diameter. I then cut out the center of the circle. My center was only 4″ wide, but I recommend making yours a little wider, say 6-8″. (There wasn’t enough space to work the glue gun in that tiny center circle, and I still have the glue gun burns to prove it. Ouch!)
- When it came time to actually start gluing, I was really intimidated. Here’s my advice: just get started. It will be fine.
- Glue your layers in concentric circles, working from the outside in. Start by gluing the first layer around the outer edge of the foam board or wreath, then flip the wreath over and glue a layer or two to its back side. This gives you added dimension and fullness.
- Tip: your first layers won’t look good. Don’t worry about it.
- As you move toward the center of the wreath, your paper cones will start to hang into the center of the circle. Fold those tabs back over the back of the foam board and glue in place.
- For my final layers in the center of the wreath, I shortened my paper cones with scissors before gluing. Do what you need to do to get those last layers in place.
- When you’re done and the glue is dry, attach a binder clip to the wreath to use as a hanger. You can also glue something cute or special to the middle. I found this bird charm at Michaels.
I’d love to hear about book art projects you’ve tried—or want to—in comments.
Pick up A Moment of Weakness by Brooklyn Skye for just 99¢!
He can fight anything…except his need for her.
Until her new job starts in September, buttoned-up elementary school teacher Laurel Harris is at loose ends and in need of cash. Fortunately her best friend’s older brother is a single dad and desperately needs a nanny. Or so she’s told. She doesn’t anticipate him being such a menacing, muscled, and undeniably gorgeous man…or that he has zero interest in hiring a nanny.
Micah Crane will do right by his young daughter, no matter the cost. And right now, that cost is juggling parenthood with long hours at his bar and working as an enforcer for a notorious crime boss. He doesn’t need another complication in his life, but the sweet, frustratingly opinionated little blonde hell-bent on caring for his daughter stirs his blood like no woman ever has.
All it takes is a moment of weakness to ignite the lust blazing between them. A moment that will unravel their self-control and unleash all of Micah’s darkest secrets…
Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. She writes young adult and new adult fiction. You can follow her on Twitter as @brooklyn__skye or visit her web site for updates, teasers, giveaways, and more. www.brooklyn-skye.com
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