DIY: Covered Book


Covering books with fabric has been on my to-do list for a long time now, but I was never really sure how to do it.  Luckily, in my research, I stumbled across the ahhhmazing Mod Podge Rocks! blog by Amy Anderson. I left a comment on this post asking her about how to use Mod Podge to cover a book and in no time at all Amy responded. She directed me to this tutorial by Erin Bassett, who apparently has her PhD in Mod Podge. (I mean, how cool is that degree?!! And, hey, where do I get one of those??!!)  The tutorial was super helpful and really took a lot of the guesswork out of the how to. I felt fully prepared to tackle the project on my own. Here's how it went down...

HERE'S THE HOW TO:

 Stuff you'll need:

Fabric

Book to cover

Matte Mod Podge

Paint brush

Card (Optional - I used a store discount card so that it wouldn't matter if it got messy.)

Scissors

Wax paper (not shown)

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Just a few tips on supplies: 

 -You can find lots of fun fabric at the thrift store. This fabric is from a shirt I thrifted. Just be sure there is enough fabric in the garment for your project. You'll also want to make sure no darts, pockets or buttons will get in the way of your project, unless, of course, that is the look you are going for.

 -I also got my book at the thrift store, but you may already have some books at your house that you'd like to cover.

Method:

 1. Trace your book onto the fabric.  You could use fabric chalk.  I didn't have any on hand and found that a pencil worked fine on my fabric.

2. Add an extra inch to the outline you traced to allow you to wrap the fabric around the book cover. Cut the fabric along the outline you drew.

3. Coat the book with Mod Podge.  You will want to do one side at a time.  If you use a paint brush like I did, be sure to clean it before the Mod Podge dries so that you don't ruin the brush.

4.  Place the fabric on the book and smooth it out over the Mod Podge.  You can use the card to help you press the fabric down in the tight spots. Do this for the front of the book, the spine and the back of the book.

5. Cut slits in the fabric on both sides of the spine to allow you to fold in the fabric edges.

5. Fold the edges over the book and adhere with a bit of Mod Podge.

Super Awesome Tip From Erin: Wax paper can be used to keep the Mod Podge from sealing parts of the book you don't want adhered. Just slip it between the Mod Podged sections and those you want to keep from being glued together. Like so...


6. Snip the extra fabric near the spine leaving just enough fabric to fold it over the spine edge and adhere it with a bit of Mod Podge. 



And now, you've got a book with some serious style...


I'm completely smitten with how this project turned out and a great big thank you to Amy of Mod Podge Rocks! and Erin for her fabulous tutorial.  If you are ever in a sticky Mod Podge situation, these are your girls.  These ladies definitely rock (...with Mod Podge)!  ;)

Have you had adventures in Mod Podging?  

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58 comments:

  1. Thanks for your comment darling :) I'm following you now, hope you can follow me back!

    xx Olivia

    http://0liviaschoice.blogspot.com

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  2. Cool idea! This would be great for gift giving ( cover plain journals with nifty fabric)

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  3. This looks reaaally cool, you did a great job! Thanks for the idea.

    Click here to visit my blog and participate in my giveaway - you can get a bracelet from Gogo Philip's newest collection!

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  4. hello dear... I just foun your blog wich is great, I loved all your DIY preojects so I´ll start following right now, come visit my blog and you can follow back if you want to ok!
    kisses
    www.petitgraphie.blogspot.com

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  5. Great tutorial! I also want to cover my notebooks with fabric but I'm scared of messing them up. This helps totes! Thank you. :)

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  6. I've always wanted to know how to make fabric book covers, this is amazing! Thanks for the DIY. and a PhD in Mod Modge? I didn't even know that existed!

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    1. Ha ha! I think I'm gonna start with my master's degree in Mod Podge first. ;)

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  7. I did a tutorial on this a while ago as well. Isn't it fun and easy? Love how it immediately makes any book more funky :D

    x

    Marielle

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    1. I was kinda intimidated by this project at first, but it ended up being sooooo much easier than I anticipated.

      I'd love to see the books you made too. Heading over to find your tutorial :)

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  8. your blog is so sweet, and I love this...i've always wanted to do it but i'm so clumsy sometimes, so this is perfect, thank you;)

    so nice to meet you!

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    1. No worries, no fancy skills are required for this one. It is really simple to do :)

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  9. we have a book case with gloomy looking book covers....i'm picturing all the cool covers i could make! your step-by-step photos in this post are key! doesn't look sooo scary for a non-diy person like me HA! as always thanks for sharing!

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    1. Girl, I'm gonna turn you into a crafty girl yet! ;)

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  10. Erica! These are oh so beautiful! They are going on my handmade Christmas list for sure! The options for customizing this project are endless! Thank you for sharing! :)

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    1. These would make great Christmas gifts! You could even cover blank journals. So much fun!

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  11. So crafty! This is a great project.

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  12. wow..the cover is so pretty miss:)))....I want it:)
    good job:)


    EDGYMIX-TRAVEL FOR FASHION

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  14. i LOVE this! Looks so simple too and something I could certainly try.

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  15. i love modge podge my next adventure with that amazing stuff is glitter. also i remember covering all of my text books in high school except i couldn't modge podge then because i had to return them at the end of the school year bummer!

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  16. So cute! Love your fabric choices,

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    1. The pink floral fabric is from a vintage dress and the blue and white farbic is from a thrifted shirt. I love repurposing things like that! :)

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  17. absolutely love it! ah, nostalgia...covered books takes me back to grade school. i remember loving to cover text books. it would usually be with the back side of a brown paper bag and then i would decorate it with my own drawings...i think that today i would opt for your super cute fabrics instead ;) XO brynn

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    1. I used to doodle on my paper book covers in school too! Gosh, I forgot a bout that.

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  18. Oh, beautiful!! I'll definitelly make this! :)

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  19. oh wow, sweetie, thank you so much for comment on my blog. i'm in love with your blog and i already follow you <3.
    this cover book is amazing <3 i remember that i did same when i went to primary school. it's very good idea. love your blog! lots of kisses <3
    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/
    http://www.facebook.com/CoeursDeFoxes

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  20. I loved this tutorial. I'm definitely going to do it- I'll let you know how it turns out! Thanks! x

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    1. I'd love to see how your books turn out! :)

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  21. This is such a perfect tutorial. Love this!

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  22. THANK YOU for this tutorial ! I want to do this for our wedding guestbook, now I don't have to troll the internet to find out how.

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    1. Glad you'll be using the tutorial. I hope you share how your wedding guestbook project turns out :)

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  23. Wow, I love this and your other DIY's I've seen so far! Thanks for your comment on my blog. I've followed you - can't wait to see more!

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  24. What a cute idea :) This would be great for leftover fabric scraps. ♥Lindsay

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    Replies

    1. It is a great way to put those fabric scraps to work. :)

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  25. I mod podge every chance I get! your book makeover is seriously great! I think it's a stunning transformation. Thanks for sharing your steps...I'm inspired.


    ciao bella
    your newest follower
    Creative CArmelinA


    stop by sometime!

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  26. i love this! we made similar ones for a class in college (we had to bind them though!)

    <3 katherine
    of corgis and cocktails // current giveaway

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    1. I've never bound books before. I'm going to have to look into a project like that. Sounds fun! :)

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  27. Ooooh you have convinced me to finally get Mod Podge. There is only one store that sells them in my city and I always feel quite lazy to make the trip. Haha

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    1. You must get some Mod Podge. I'm dying to see what you'll create when you get your hands on some... :)

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  28. this is really pretty! and kind of easy to make i guess:)
    always love your DIY ideas!!

    chooohanna.blogspot.com

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    1. It is really easy to do, Hannah. Hope you give it a try. :)

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  29. I've been wanting to do that for such a long time now,
    because ti looks so pretty,
    but due to lack of time I can't.
    Now you get me inspired again, thanks.
    Maybe I'll do one this week to keep the inspiration alive.

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  30. thanks for sharing, Erica! it's very cute!
    btw we're hosting a giveaway on our blog this week - join if you're interested ;-)

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  31. This is great!
    I really love the prints that you choose.

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  32. This brings back MEMORIES! One semester in college, one of our projects was book binding. I was never very good, haha. When covering the hardcover with fabric, I never got neat corners. And sewing the pages together? Let's not even go there... but you should check it out if you're feeling extra crafty! :) What I'm wondering is, did the mod podge leak through the fabric at all? I also used specific bookbinding glue, but sometimes it bled through the fabric which can be incredibly frustrating after spending hours making the book.

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    1. Hi Emily! I did have some places where the Modge Podge seemed to leak through the pink fabric a little. You can tell a little bit in the photo where it looks a tad streaky. It wasn't terribly noticable though. I think the key is to spread the Modge Podge out evenly before you apply the fabric. Still, the minor imperfections I had in making my books didn't stand out enough to bother me. Hope that helps.

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  33. Cuuuute! ^^ I need to do this to some old books that aren't in their best condition anymore. :) Nice tutorial!

    Satu
    Indie by heart

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    1. This is a great way to preserve old books. :)

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  34. so great! I definitely have a book in mind that I'm going to try this on! books with serious style, I like it!

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  35. Me again! Just wanted to let you know that I'm hosting a giveaway at my blog today for Sedwick Studios, hope you enter! http://www.underlockandkeyblog.com/2012/08/sedwick-studio-giveaway.html

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  36. That is such a great idea! I'm definitely going to do this with my books for my last ever year at university, ahhhh i will have such pretty books:)!

    Rachael xx.

    theteacozykitchen.blogspot.co.uk

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  37. They look so beautiful! You are one very talented lady! :)

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  39. This is very awesome! I can definitely see this happening at one of my crafternoon get-togethers :) I shall add it to the list! Oh, did you mod podge the outside of the book at the end to seal it or did you just use the mod podge to stick the fabric down?

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    1. I didn't use the mod podge to seal the outside of the book when I made these, but I'm sure you could. I'd just be sure not to do too many layers to make sure the book will still open and close. Hope that helps. :)

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  42. This comment has been removed by the author.

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