Not all books, just those already-read,
can't-sell-at-a-yard-sale, obscure little books that end up at the thrift
store collecting dust. I keep waiting
for my brain to kick in with all sorts of wonderful inventions. Every once in awhile a new idea crops up,
but alas, I feel there must be more creativity stuck inside my gray matter that
just hasn’t surfaced yet.
Maybe some of my already created treasures will
inspire someone else to save a few trees, and a few written words from ending
up in the recycle bin.
Crackle finish memory book trio
Burlap covered book duo - Spray paint burlap using an old lace curtain as a stencil
You can use your printer to create a fabric accent on muslin.
Another pretty book. I printed the burlap on my printer then stitched the fabric layers before gluing to the book. Highlited with a rhinestone and a ribbon.
If
you are in the mood for a little more effort, see what you can create after you
pull some books apart.
Hard cover text book repurposed into a journal for my sister. (PS, we're dutch)
Nothing is useless. Even if parts are missing...even if a substantial part is missing. When you are willing to look past what others might see as limitations or defects the possibilities become wonderful.
I am sure that this piece when it was in it's full form was quite pricey, but after all is said and done, when half of it became worthless the other half became almost as much so. For $12.50 we picked this fancy Armoire top up at the local Goodwill store. Ponder, ponder, ponder. It was beautiful, but what could be done with only half of an armoire.
Confession time. My daughter and son-in-law actual came up with the idea and the 3 of us pulled it off. A little sanding, a few balled feet, some paint and a miraculous fabric find at another Goodwill and voile'. We turned this left-over, half baked idea into something beautiful.
What little girl would not want this in her room. I wish I was 8 again.
Look beyond the defects and let the child in you see the perfection.
Talk about keeping stuff out of the landfill...I found this great coffee table at Goodwill. I had obviously been chewed on a little by a dog, and three of the four bolts holding the table to the base were missing bolts. The regular price of this table was $25 but it was half-off day so I picked it up for $12.50.
The heavy base was in great condition and other then some teeth marks the oak was a little scratched but in otherwise good condition as well. With some help from my son and his truck (save more dough by borrowing a friend or family member) we brought it home and dropped it on the back patio.
I pulled out all four bolts and put the base upside down in the yard. This allowed the wood top to extend out over the base and all the sides and corners were easily accessible for sanding. With an electric sander I gave it a once over on the whole table and a little extra focus on sanding where the teeth marks were. There were a few spots with glue or something else dried onto the table, but these sanded right off. I don't think it was more the 15 minutes of sanding overall.
I then used Glidden brand house paint in a Satin finish, in a basic black, painted the inside corners and dips in the wood with a brush then quickly rolled on one coat with a lint free paint roller. I did a final roll from end-to-end without stopping to get rid of "roll over" thickness. The next day I did the same with a second coat of paint. (I waited an extra day due to the cooler temperature) On day three I used a light sandpaper to distress the finish in a few places and then hit those spots with a very light coat of a matte finish spray. I think the distressing helps to "cover-up" the dog's rustic treatment.
After a week or so, I will hit it with some spray pledge to give it some protection. If its gets a little worn down the road I have left over paint and can easily touch it up again.
Here is a great way to go-green with your decorating. Use older hardcover books in your decorating instead of throwing them away.
I picked up a few from a second hand store for about $1 a piece, and chose books with a canvas type cover-not paper. Two coats of basic satin house paint covered any color that was on the book. In addition, I put a nice thick coat of the same paint over the outside edges of the pages. This had the effect of gluing the pages together.
I thinned out some acrylic craft paint with water and cut up one of my son's old t-shirts. (Do not thin the paint too much) Then using a damp piece of "t-shirt rag" is lightly wiped the craft paint until I reached the desired aged look. I touched up the edges of the books using a dry brush technique to a darker tone than the rest of the book.
That's all. Once dry I tried placing them in various combinations. This one worked well with a hardcover book I did not paint. The cover is very attractive so I left it in tact.
