Stylish Projects from Vintage Books
Turn the page on old, damaged books' former lives by upcycling pages into simple yet stunning projects for your home.
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To make your own flower bouquet, all you need is an old novel, watercolor, glue, and florist's wire. Cut petal shapes from the paper and crinkle to make them more pliable, then straighten.
To make a petal, pinch the bottom of the cutout piece to create a curved shape. Glue petals together one by one. Let dry. Roll back the edges to open the bloom.
To finish off the flower, insert florist's wire into the bottom of the bloom for a stem. Secure with glue. Finally, gather your bouquet for a beautiful finished product, perfect for a dinner table centerpiece.
Create conversation at the dinner table with this beautifully aged runner. A discarded book with soft, worn pages works best. Lay the pages flat on the floor in the length and width you'd like your runner. On the back, carefully tape the pages together. Use a crafts decorative-edge punch to create a border that suits your style.
Impress party guests with playful book-page pinwheels atop decorated cupcakes. Bend a pin at a 90-degree angle with needle-nose pliers. Cut a 4-inch square from a ready-to-recycle book page. Make a diagonal cut from each corner halfway to the center of the square. Roll every other corner to the center.
With the pin, poke a hole through all the layers at the center of the pinwheel. Add a drop of glue to the end of a hollow lollipop stick, and push the pin into the stick. Use a pinwheel to adorn any sweet treat.
Take a page from the great outdoors with this pretty flower-theme paper garland. Accordion-fold an aged book page. Fold in half and trim the ends into a curve. Repeat with a second page. Using string, tie the two folded pages together at the center, and glue the ends to form a circle.
Repurpose a book with a beautiful cover, but damaged pages, into a frame for a favorite photo. Using a crafts knife, carefully cut a rectangle from the front of the book. To create a mat, cut a few inside pages into a rectangular hold that's a bit smaller than the cover hole. Secure the pages to the cover with glue. Then tape a photo in place. Be creative -- choose a fave photo that relates to the book title!





There aren't too many ideas that are original, even if you did them as long as two years ago. I know I've personally done stuff and thought it was unique... Nope! lol. It's all about individual interpretation or their personal style on an idea... I personally haven't seen the twine connecting the papers like this, so I am glad I stumbled upon this idea.
4/28/2012 08:22:59 PM Report AbuseI'm an avid reader and I would much rather see a book reused and made into something beautiful. Megan, you are not first nor will you be the last to post a tutorial such as this. It's hardly a unique technique. :)
2/24/2012 09:24:27 AM Report AbuseI LOVE to read and I LOVE this runner made from old books. I don't find it disgusting at all.
1/27/2012 11:20:49 AM Report AbuseI am an avid reader, a book reviewer, and lover of a fine vintage book. I find that once a book is ruined, upcycling the pages for paper art is tribute to the book. BEAUTY and honoring the books that have been tattered. Megan. while your design is nice, the crinkle and the roll are somewhat different in design. I learned both in GIRL SCOUTS. These are not original ideas. But they sure are fun to see again. thanks for sharing yours as well.
1/3/2012 06:17:26 PM Report AbuseI guess you people don't read. Readers regard this kind of thing as disgusting.
1/3/2012 05:36:13 PM Report AbuseMegan, I am off to check out your blog. :)
12/9/2011 08:02:55 AM Report AbuseHmm... these ornaments look suspiciously like mine! The ones I posted on my blog TWO YEARS AGO. Why doesn't the Better Homes mag get a better creative team and stop ripping off blogger's ideas? This is not the first time I've caught BH&G stealing ideas... http://larkandlola.blogspot.com/2009/11/antique-music-rosette-ornament-tutorial.html
12/3/2011 08:44:51 PM Report AbuseI'm always looking for something to use as favors for our monthly community meal. Since I make about 120, I like to make a "green" favor and you've just given me two great ideas! Thanks so much.
10/25/2011 03:29:39 PM Report Abuse