DIY Book Jackets

I love using old books in my decor.  I think they just give it a little more of that vintage look I love.    I also like to use different techniques to make them fit into the style I am using at the time.  Today I thought I would show you how to do a DIY book jacket that I use to change those books up in all sorts of ways. This jacket gives you the ability to customize those old books to fit your decor no matter the color or style.

Last week I showed you our Spring Entry with the wire basket filled with books.  I  DIY'd those book jackets from brown packaging paper  I buy at Dollar Tree and embellishments I have on hand.  Each one looks different but together they make a cohesive unit for the vintage look I like so well.

This is an easy project I used to do when I was in grade school.  I love it because it can be customized just by changing the color or type of paper you use and/or adding interesting embellishments.

You will need:

- An old book (any size) or a new one

- A role of paper - I used brown packaging     paper for this tutorial($1/roll at Dollar     Tree)

- Scissors

- Embellishments - I used ribbon for this       tutorial 

 Step 1:
  you want to lie your  book on your paper and fold it over from the spine to the opening leaving a 3 inch overhang to make the fold that goes on the inside of the book.

Step 2:
    Cut at arrow 1.  Then using your fingers crease along the books edges on all sides like arrow 2.

This is another view of how the creases will look when you have done all the edges.

When you open the paper up it will look like this.  Basically it looks like an open book.

Step 3:  fold along both long edges where the arrows are pointing to.

Step 4:  fold along both short edges where the arrows are pointing. 

These folds will form two pockets as shown by the arrows.  This is where you will slip the cover of the book into.

Step5:  Slip the book into the little pockets on each side of the book jacket you just made as shown above.

When you close your book it will look like this.  Now I leave a lot of my books just this way so they don't compete with my decor but blend in.  Especially if I am using them as lifts for other items such as candles or flowers in vases.  However, you can go one step further and embellish them to match your decor even more.

With this book I added a ribbon with a quote and a black checked ribbon. 

With this one I added two rows of blue ribbon with brown polka dots.  This is three different ways the same book can look and fit into your decor.  

With this stack of books the back one was covered with a white flower design on brown packaging paper.  The middle one was left plain and the front one has a wide French typography ribbon added to it.  Very simple ideas that add some great vintage pizazz to your decor.  

I will be sharing more ways to use books in your decor in the future.  It is a very simple and budget friendly way to add to a vintage look or any look as far as that goes.
What simple item do you like to use in many different ways in your decor?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Until next time enjoy creating something you love.

I will be linking up to the parties that are listed on the Where I Party page.  Be sure to go and visit them and check out all the great creativeness and inspiration you can find there.