Crafting with The Geeky Blogger is born out of my love of hot glue, yarn, and all things crafty. These posts pop up whenever I want to share something that I have finished and want to share with y’all. The posts will be random from crochet to cooking to paper crafts. They are a way to bring some of my outside of reading hobbies to the blog. I hope that you enjoy them!
This week’s craft was inspired by The Book Nympho who made this wonderful paperback book tree (out of the phonebook):
I decided I would try and give it a whirl (mine is no where near as good but it was fun)!
What you need:
- Paperback book with glue spine (phonebook, old book, 2nd hand book) that is at least 60 pages
- Glue — preferably crafting glue (I used a glue gun and I think this is where I went wrong)
- Topper — anything will work. I used a left over ornament
- Straight Knife (or something to cleanly remove the pages with spine in tact)
- (optional) Glitter
- (optional) Base (I used a cork board tile)
- (optional) Decorations
How It is Done:
- Find a book you don’t mind destroying (phonebook, old tech book, $1 clearance book from 2nd hand store). It needs to have an intact spine that the glue is holding pretty strong!
- Take the cover off the book (yes cringe you pristine book lovers–you are knowingly demolishing a book)
- Count out 30 pages and then remove them from the book still glued together (this is where your straight knife comes into play)
- Take one section and start folding: Each page take the top corner and fold to center and then repeat again
- Here is where you have to make a decision: Cut the ends (will show an example of a quick one I did), Fold the ends (my tree at top), Keep the Ends (I believe that is what Jennifer did) (each works but gives the tree a different look)
- Now repeat the process for the other set of pages (I flip the book over and work the opposite way)
- Next Glue the two sections together (I would suggest a glue stick as I had some problems with the glue gun setting too fast)
- Now decorate and top as you would like! These really can be as festive as you would like them to be 🙂 I used glitter, foam stickies, and an ornament. Also I put it on a cork board base because I folded the ends in and wanted something to put it on 🙂
Have you made one of these? What tips do you have?
Felicia S
Blogger at Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
Felicia is just your average gal from Texas that loves Audiobooks and Libraries with a passion! She can wine them, dine them, and love them forever. Her eclectic reading tastes include: Cozy Mysteries, Thrillers, Swoon-Worthy Romance of all kinds, Zombies, Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and the occasional YA read.
During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.
If you want to follow her DIY, Health, and Life adventures check out Mess to Best
My Google Profile
During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.
If you want to follow her DIY, Health, and Life adventures check out Mess to Best
My Google Profile
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aurian
Twitter: xAurianx
I am so totally not creative, and willingly destroying a book is just not in me. But I do like the look of this Felicia. How long did it take you?
aurian recently posted…Recommendations from Peggy for December 2014.
Felicia S
It took about an hour. Not to long 🙂
Bianca
Your tree looks great! There are so many cool looking things made out of books but I have always been hesitant to try to make anything.
Felicia S
I am going to look for other book crafts as this was fun 🙂
Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun
Twitter: BerlsS
Oh I love this! And i think I could actually do it! Finally a purpose for the phone book! Thanks for sharing – I’m bookmarking for later 🙂
Berls recently posted…Sunday Post | 67th Edition
Felicia S
You can! Totally easy 🙂 Jennifer’s version evidently was even easier!
Sheila (Book Journey)
Twitter: bookjourney
That is fun! I like it!
Sheila (Book Journey) recently posted…2014 in Review – The People, The Events, The Haircuts….
Felicia S
It was a blast!
Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
Twitter: pabkins
Fun! What are you talking about yours looks adorable! No I haven’t made one but I think I’ll do Christmas ornaments for my next craft post perhaps or one of the posts later in the month so I have time to make a few.
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted…Early Review: Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Felicia S
I can’t wait to see those. I am trying ornaments and so far they are getting better. I am going to have to invest in a scrapbooking cutter though. I think it would make it easier.
Kate @ Midnight Book Girl
Twitter: midnghtbookgirl
I absolutely love this, and I think the Hubs and I are going to give it a try. I’m trying to be a more crafty person- I’m even making art to try to win Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle tarot deck. I really never thought that I had any creative talent (the imagination part, yes, but not the actual skills), but it’s really just a matter of trying it. I’m loving all your craft posts!!! I might try to get some members of my book club to form a craft club…
Kate recently posted…Audio Review of My Bluegrass Baby
Felicia S
Crafting is fun 🙂 Even when it is a total disaster (I have plenty of examples of this LOL). It is just a fun way to let out some energy. I do hope y’all gave this a whirl 🙂 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Very cool, I saw a similar one that my cousin-in-law did but they were pumpkins in various sizes and she made the edges orange.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
Felicia S
Oh I bet those were so cool. I am finding out there is a lot you can do if you are willing to destroy a book 🙂
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com
Twitter: talesofwhimsy
I love this! It looks sooooo good.
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com recently posted…Fall
Felicia S
It was so much fun 🙂
blodeuedd
Very cool 😀
Felicia S
Thanks! 🙂
BookaholicCat
Twitter: BookaholicCat
I love your little tree. You are very talented!! 🙂
BookaholicCat recently posted…Early Review: Storm Fall by Tracy Banghart
Felicia S
Thanks 🙂 It was fun!
Karen
Twitter: teamsheltie
So cute! That would be a fun gift idea using a favorite book. Even though you have to destroy it!
Karen recently posted…Review: Mortal Heart (His Fair Assasin #3) by Robin LaFevers
Felicia S
Oh that would be fun. Or if you could make one from like favorite passages hand written in a bounded book 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
Twitter: BooksThings
Oh I like this craft! I think I prefer the cut ends. I just like the shape a bit better. Your tree rocks!!
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…My Puppy’s B-day!
Felicia S
Thanks! They do all sit a little differently which makes it fun 🙂
Heidi
I saw these on Martha Stewart a few years ago and I have always wanted to make one and cover it with glitter. How long did it take you?
Heidi recently posted…Friday Forecast December 14th-20th
Felicia S
Once it clicked how to fold the paper–it took less than an hour from start to finish. 🙂 It really is a quick craft that is fun to do!
Melanie Simmons (@mlsimmons)
Twitter: mlsimmons
Very cute. I’m not much of a crafty person, but I appreciate it. I just don’t have a creative bone in my body.
Melanie Simmons ( recently posted…2014 Audiobook Challenge Wrap-Up Post & Giveaway
Felicia S
That is me with drawing, painting, ect. I love it but I just can’t do it!
Jennifer @ The Book Nympho
Twitter: TheBookNympho
WOW you put a lot more work into yours! All I did was fold the pages and the curled it around to make a circle and clipped it to stay put. Not cutting or gluing required. LOL
Yours is cuter. I didn’t add any stickers or such to mine.
Jennifer recently posted…Chatting with Jeaniene Frost about Vlad and the Holidays
Felicia S
Well dang! I didn’t even think of that! I should have just asked you how you did it instead of trying to figure it out LOL I watched 2 You Tube videos and kind of made it like them but dimplier. Yet yours worked out better LOL
Stormi
Twitter: BMReviewsohmy
Oh I cringed looking at the pictures, even with an old book I don’t think I could do it..maybe a phone book..lol You did a great job with it. 🙂
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Jennifer @ The Book Nympho
Twitter: TheBookNympho
I’m doing the same. That’s why I used the phone book that was at my door step. Who needs a phone book in 2014? LOL
Jennifer recently posted…Best in the Series! Hard to Come By by Laura Kaye
Felicia S
You pristiners LOL 🙂 I almost did it to a new book but I didn’t want to be responsible for a bunch of fainting around the book world 🙂
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
Twitter: sprntrlsnark
Wow, how cool is that Felicia! I think yours looks awesome:) This is far too crafty for me, I’m not a crafty person, but I love, love, love it!
Jenny recently posted…Friday Flourish: Whispers from the Dead
Felicia S
I will do crafts and you can do graphics (cause I suck at those big time). Together we make a whole creative person LOL
Michelle@Because Reading
Twitter: Limabean74
This is adorable! I am now going to rummage through my house to find a book I don’t need and make this with my daughter, she will love it. Maybe even cute trees to decorate my kids rooms with. Awesome post thanks for sharing!!!
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Felicia S
Oh I think this would be a really fun kid craft. Make they write on or color the pages. That would be an awesome and something you could keep 🙂 🙂
Jen Twimom
Twitter: twimom227
Another cute project!! I wonder what it would look like if I let me daughter color on the pages before I made it.
Jen Twimom recently posted…Mistletoe Madness 2014: Paige Tyler
Felicia S
I bet that would be awesome 🙂
Jennifer @ The Book Nympho
Twitter: TheBookNympho
I found this on Pintrest and some pictures showed trees with glitter and some was painted. I almost grabbed my kiddo’s paint and painted the edges but got lazy after all the folding. LOL
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