Tweak It Tuesday - Book Page Columns

Written by: Cathy Carroll

Today I am going to start a new weekly series - Tweak It Tuesday.

This is a series that will spotlight posts and/or projects I have done in the past and for whatever reason have decided to tweak them by taking better pictures, updating the content and or showing new ways to use them.I am going to start the series with my Decorative Book Page Columns I made in February of 2012.  Even though they are two years old I still use them all the time in my decor.  Because they have appeared so much  I have several requests as to how these were made and thought I would give you a little updated tutorial on them...

I have a love for books and the printed word.  I love anything that has words printed on it - fabric, wood, paper - anything.  So it was a given that these would be something I would love to have in my decor.  These are so simple to make and I use them for everything.  I actually have two sets of them - one that is beachy and one that is plain. When I was younger we used old Reader's Digest Magazines to make doorstops quite similar to this.  Maybe you remember those.

These are the tools you will need:

An old paperback book with at least 350 pages with nice aging/yellowing of the pages

                 A pair of scissors

                 A glue gun and glue sticks

                 A craft knife

                 Ribbon and embellishments of choice

                 A Distress Ink - I used a Tim Holtz tea stain one.

The first step is to fold the pages of the book individually in half into the spine. This is a little time consuming and I do it while watching TV or sitting outside while Miss A is playing.  A 350 page book will make a nice full column when completed  but if you only have smaller books do two and glue them together.  If you have a hardback book that has the wider pages just fold them twice to make the column the size you want - you can also get by with a smaller book when doing this.  I have also cut books in half cross ways to make even shorter columns.  Just use your craft knife and a ruler to keep your cuts straight.

It will look like this when you are halfway through.  I removed the cover on my book on the first one I did but, found it was more stable if you left it in place and removed it after I was done folding.

Just use a craft knife to cut the cover away on a hardback book.  On a paperback book it is quite easy to just tear the cover off. I save my hard back covers to paint and alter for scrapbook album covers.

Now glue the front and back pages together. I also glued down the spine to make it more stable. When done gluing use the Distress Ink to lightly rub all over the sides and top of the column.  This will give it an even more vintage, worn look.

Now it's time to add your embellishments.  I used a length of brown grosgrain ribbon with a length of blue check satin ribbon.  I placed mine about 11/4 inches down from the top of the column.  Glue them in place, overlapping them in the back. You can add whatever you like now to go with your individual decor or just leave them as they are.

I chose to leave the two taller ones with just ribbon on them and the shorter one I glued a starfish I had gotten in Florida. I have a set that is tied with raffia and have thought about making a set for my craft room embellished with lace, burlap and buttons. These actually remind of old pier columns found at the ocean.  I have to give credit to Simply Kelly B at:

    http://www.simplykellyb.com/2011/09/book-page-decor-on-studio-5.html        .

I saw her on Studio 5 one day showing all sorts of book page art which inspired me to start doing some of my own. I am so glad I did because these have become a staple in my decor whether  I am doing a beach theme, a holiday them or just an everyday theme.  I use them all the time.

I love displaying all sorts of things on top of them. I usually use these in a "beachy" theme vignette with assorted shells on top.

What do you think?

Maybe there are some folded book page columns in your future?

Tell us in the comments below I love to hear what you are doing....

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Until next time

have fun creating something you love....

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