DIY Hardcover Book Decor

I recently found out about these beautiful books:

 

They are the Penguin Classics Hardcover collection and the series costs over $200 which is something I cannot afford. Granted, they are wonderful books; classics like Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, etc. I would love to own all of these books not only for their literary value, but ESPECIALLY because of how adorable they would look on my mantle or shelf.

So this got me thinking. How can I re-create something similar to these adorable books but at an affordable price? Here you go: the DIY Hardcover Book Decor Tutorial!

These are the hardcover books I created myself. I think they look pretty good! And pretty cute on my mantle.

The great part? Each book cost me LESS THAN $2!!!! And actually, if you already have hardcover books at home this project can be absolutely free! It won't cost you anything! For that price, I could make 100 decorative books for my home and still beat the Penguin Classics Collection price.

Also, your books will truly be ONE OF A KIND! No one else will have the same decor as you because you made it and personalized it to your taste! Or, you can spend $$$ on the book series above and have the same books on your mantle as everyone else. 

Here's how you start. Get some hardcover books that you don't mind covering. I didn't have a whole bunch just lying around like some people might, so I found a whole stack of hardcover books at Savers for really cheap. And I used a 20% coupon to get them so it was even cheaper. I tried to find a variety of sizes, thicknesses, etc. so they all wouldn't look "cookie-cutter". 

You can also buy some Cardboard Book Boxes like these:

I found these at Hobby Lobby. Small size= $1.99. Large size= $2.99. If you use Hobby Lobby's weekly 40% off coupon they would cost $1.19 for the small size and $1.79 for the large size.

Here are the basic supplies you will need: 
1. Hardcover Books (whether ones you already own, or you can buy them cheap at 2nd hand stores, or at a craft store).


2. Paper- any design that you like! I would recommend cardstock paper because it bubbles up less when using Mod Podge.


3. Mod Podge- most people already own a bottle of this kind of glue. You can use either matte or glossy finish, but I would recommend the matte finish as it makes the hardcover book look more realistic. 


4. Foam brush- you can buy a pack of 4 at Walmart for 97 cents. You may already own one.


Other optional supplies: sand paper and a stamp ink pad (you'll see why later). 




Okay, now for the steps (I don't have pictures for each step since they are pretty basic).


Step 1: Clean each hardcover book using rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. This will clean the cover and spine and ensure a good bonding surface for the mod podge glue. Let each book dry for at least a few minutes.


Step 2: Measure the size of your book cover and the spine. Add on at least 1/4 inch for the book cover measurement and about 1/2 inch for the spine measurement. I liked having the paper I chose for the book spine to overlap a little onto the front and back covers.


Step 3: Apply mod podge to the book spine and slightly onto the front and back covers. Press the paper onto the spine and both book covers. Allow to dry.


*Tip- use a credit card or something flat to rub over the paper to smooth out any bubbles. 


Step 4: Apply mod podge to the front and back book covers as above and press paper onto each cover. Allow to dry. 


Step 5: One the paper on the book has dried, apply another coat of mod podge over the paper on both covers and the spine. Allow the book to dry.


The final steps are optional:

Take some sand paper and rub around the edges of the paper on the book. This gives it a more finished look.

Then, with a stamp ink pad (you can use any color you want, but I would suggest a brown or black color), gently brush the edges of the paper all around the book to give it a slightly weathered and used look. I like how it made my books look more vintage.

The final product!

As I did this project, I found that I liked using real hardcover books versus the cardboard book boxes simply because the actual hardcover books have real pages.

However, what I do like about the cardboard book boxes is that they open up and you can use them for a myriad of things. You could keep little treats inside, pencils, stationary, or best of all, give it as a gift to someone! Include a cute neighbor gift, girlfriend gift, or anything inside the cardboard book box then the box becomes the wrapping! Include some cute ribbon or any type of embellishment on the outside for an authentic and individualized look!

I LOVE how these books turned out. I am excited to try other paper combinations!

Projects

Man alive I love this girl. I am so lucky to be her mom!

These are some fabric covered button bracelets I've created! I am very proud of my work. My favorites are the vintage-looking ones!

And I made a felt wreath! It turned out great.

Baggage

Okay, I've got some serious baggage I need to unload. It's been over a year now since my daughter was born, and I'm still holding onto something that has made me frustrated  for a while. I'll simply state it here: my work never threw me a baby shower!

Okay, let me explain a little. I have worked at my job for over 5 years now. In that time, every co-worker of mine who has been pregnant with their first child has been thrown a baby shower. Until me, that is.

Now fast forward a little bit. Like I said, it's been over a year since my daughter was born. These feelings resurfaced recently when I was invited to a co-workers baby shower being thrown for her by two other co-workers of mine. This is her first baby, and she has been employed at my work for less than a year. I've worked there for over 5 years. Now I know that your personality has a lot to do with how you are perceived/liked by your coworkers. And my personality is very introverted while this other girl's is very extroverted and outgoing. So in the one year she's been at my work she may have made better relationships than I have in my 5+ years.

And to top it off, another co-worker of mine who recently had a baby quit her job and went to work somewhere else before she was even pregnant. And even she was thrown a baby shower by my work. And she didn't even work there!

Is it just me? Do my coworkers not think I wouldn't notice when NO ONE offered to throw me a baby shower?

I am pretty shy at work and I don't talk a lot or go out of my way to join conversations like everyone else. I listen to others, that's what I do. But just because I'm not as out going as every other employee doesn't mean my feelings won't get hurt when I'm not thrown a baby shower.

I know....I know.....

I'm thinking about this WAY too much and whining and complaining. But it is just something I had envisioned happening for so many years as I struggled to get pregnant. And many of my coworkers knew it was a struggle.

Rant over.

Living in the Moment

My entire life I've been trying to learn this lesson- to live in the moment.


It's not an easy thing to live by! Too often we feel like we aren't satisfied with the present, that we will be happy only when we achieve something.


All too often we fall into the thinking rut of "I'll be happy when I graduate......I'll be happy when I'm married......I'll be happy when I have kids.......I'll be happy when my kids are older.........I'll be happy when I retire........"


But I find myself wishing each day that I could just pause life. Just stand still in the moment for a while. Maybe it's because each day is so precious with a little one your home. They grow so much so fast. And you begin to wish that child could just stay the age they were when they were born, and then again at 6 months, and then at 1 year. But it's incredibly fun watching my girl grow up and develop. I just miss those other moments when she was younger!


We need to evaluate why we say we'll be happy in the future, and not in the present. I think it's because we take the present moment for granted. It's not until it's passed by us that we yearn to go back!


So I'm going to try to live in the moment. Right now.

Wanting What's Best

We all want what's best for our children right?

And I think most of us would agree that part of making our children strong is watching them go through adversity and learning from those experiences.

But how do we ensure that those adversities aren't "too" adverse? Do you know what I mean?

For instance, my baby girl is crawling all over the place. She is now starting to pull herself up to a standing position on furniture and to crawl up and down things. So this means more falls, and more bruises. More owies and bumps.

But I know that this is necessary for her to learn about the dangers around our house. For her to learn how to properly crawl up a stair and back down again without breaking her head.

At first I tried staying right next to her so that if she was going to fall, I could catch her. But I quickly learned that I can't hold her hand through everything. She needs some independence. This got me thinking about when she's older how I can give her some independence, but yet help her through those tough times.

My girl's not even in school yet but I find myself wondering about how to protect her during those vulnerable years. How do I protect her from all the bullying, name-calling, violence?

How do you other mothers do it? How do you teach your children independence and the importance of overcoming adversity without your child (or children) succumbing to those pressures?

I obviously don't want my child getting seriously injured as she learns how to walk, but I also can't be by her side constantly. I guess this is a predicament for all parents, one that must be learned perhaps through experience and trial-and-error.

I'd sure like to get a head start on this though! I just want what's best for her.