Monday
Apr112011
DIY Repurpose Books into Picture Frames
This clever project created by Lauren Elise for Papernstitch shows us how to repurpose books into creative picture frames. To many it might seem a little "out there" to cut into a book in this way, but old bookstores and libraries are regularly disposing of unused/unwanted tomes...and it seems that this is one way to breath new life into something otherwise destined for the rubbish bin. I think this idea would look especially lovely used as decor for a wedding reception...maybe filling the frames with images of the bride and groom, with meaningful trinkets, or even numbers for each table! What do you think? Have you ever repurposed a book in a creative project...or does the idea of pulling one apart make you cringe? xo Ez
10 Lovely Comments | Email Article | found in D.I.Y. + Projects, Weddings + Events Print Article | Share This | 
| by Ez Monday, April 11, 2011 
Reader Comments (10)
I used a hymn book to make a ring box for my daughter's wedding last September. The ring bearer carried it down the aisle just like he would a pillow. It worked well. Unfortunately, the book box disappeared after the ceremony and hasn't been seen since. Sigh.
http://fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com/2010/08/finishing-things.html
really nice... i like!
Hmm, this is new, I like it. I once carved out the inside of a book, then glued all the pages together and made a "secret" stash box; I still have it, it lives on my bookshelf, looking like an old book. Lately I have been ripping apart old books and using the pages for collage; it's great fun. Maybe i'll try this next time. :)
Poor books =( That looks like it was a lovely copy of The Vicar of Wakefield! But I guess if the cover is intact but the pages are crumbling and/or written on, then I wouldn't be so opposed to the idea of cutting them up.
This looks like a lovely idea - but I couldn't pull a book to pieces unless it was already falling to bits and I had a replacement - or unless it was a really bad book, like a Harlequin romance. My current decorative papier mache needs are being served by a very old and battered dictionary without a cover, a Mills and Boon romance paperback, and an old paperback Lord of the Rings that has finally split right in half, poor thing. I'll buy hardback next time...
I LOVE deconstructing books, although the funny thing is I can't bear to mark or underline things in the ones I actually read! Decoupage, mixed media, book purses I have tried. I'm about to undertake turning old books into new notebook pad covers, if I can find all the right materials. Decorating with text is just fascinating.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58708670/mixed-media-book-cover-art
How did I miss this Ez? Thanks so much for sharing Lauren's project with your readers. I really adore what she came up with. And this will probably make some people cringe, but I don't really have a problem with repurposing books like this if they are not going to be used otherwise. I used an old book as a ring holder for me and my husband's rings at our wedding (cut a hole through the pages, so the rings could sit in a mini cubby hole type thing) and we also used books as the table numbers for our reception. Sounds like we are on the same page, with the ideas you came up with. :)
Thanks again!
Brittni
papernstitch
Thank you so much for posting my project EZ! I'm so glad you like it and that most of your readers seem to agree. I usually don't like destroying books either and this was definitely a hard project to execute because of that. These books weren't in the best of condition and I found them in the depths of an antique store. I figured why not appreciate the beauty in their covers by breathing new life into them. Instead of just collecting dust in some antique store they are on my walls and they make me happy each time I walk by them and admire our family photos. But I can understand why someone would not want to destroy a book. Thanks again for the post!
amazing idea!
Ah, what a waste of books! Ha ha, but seriously, that's a pretty cool idea. Those book picture frames look so hip and stylish.