Vintage Book Picture Frames

This particular project is one of my absolute FAVES!!! I went to an arts and crafts show almost a year and a half ago and I saw one of these and had to have it. I couldn't quite figure out how they had managed to turn this book into a frame, but I was going to figure it out. I didn't hop on google, I committed to figuring it out myself. So, after a little trial and error and a few hits and misses, it came out a little better than I even anticipated. And it was easy peasy- 5 steps to be exact!

Materials:

-A vintage or nostalgic hard back book

-Scissors

-Hair Dryer

-Ruler

-Hot glue gun

-Exacto Knife

-One sheet of card stock

-A tube of E6000 glue adhesive 

-Aleene's or Elmer's spray adhesive

-Pen or pencil

-A paper crafting flower or embellishment

-Modge Podge

-A foam brush

-Rubber bands

-A large binder clip or two
-A sheet of card stock or hearty paper

While this project requires quite a few materials, let me reassure you that it is going to be worth it! 

Before we can get started, you must first find yourself a vintage or antique hard back book. You may have some of your own lying around, or you may have to do as I did and go to your local resale, thrift, or book store that resells used books. I chose to go to Half Price Books and they actually have a nostalgic book section. Some of them were super pricey, while others, like mine, were very reasonable and in good condition. I chose a medium size book with a bright teal cover and solid pages. It is imperative that your cover is durable and in good condition, as you will need it to be strong enough to cut on. Also, make sure that the pages are sturdy, and not falling apart. You will be cutting the pages as well, and they must be strong enough to endure the cutting process and remain in tact for the most part. 

Step 1: Decide what size picture that you are creating this frame for. Using your card stock, a pen or pencil, and a ruler, measure and create a pattern the size of your photo. The most common sizes are 4X6 and 5X7. I always print photos from my phone or camera in the 4X6 size, so that's what I selected. Once you have finished creating and have cut out your pattern, flip open the front cover of your book and trace the pattern onto the back of the cover. (You can also just trace it on the front of the cover, but it is just a bit more risky in that you can make a flaw during cutting that could be hard to patch up. Whereas on the back of the cover, you have more room for error.)

AN EXTRA STEP IF THE SPINE OF YOUR BOOK IS A LITTLE WOBBLY

(In a well ventilated area (-AKA- outdoors) and wearing a durable pair of rubber gloves, use the E6000 tube of glue to seal the binding if it happens to be detached in any way at all. Just squeeze it into the peek a boo holes if they exist on the spine, and then press it down to make sure that the glues adheres. Then, use a hair dryer on high to help better seal and dry it.)

Step 2: Carefully use your exact knife to cut the pattern out that you traced onto the cover earlier. DO NOT RUSH THROUGH THIS STEP! It is so important that you focus on safety and precision here. Once you have successfully severed the cover completely, remove the portion of the cover that you cut out. Then, take 25-30 pages behind that cover, and use a binder clip to hold them together; leaving approximately 80% of the remaining pages. Then, with the 80% portion of the pages, using your adhesive glue spray, glue the back page to the back cover, and continue, 2-4 pages at a time, spraying and gluing them together. Continue this process until you have glued all of the pages together. Secure a rubber band or binder clips on them to hold them in place as they dry. Use your hair dryer on high to seal and dry. Next, do the same thing with the remaining 20% of the pages in the binder clip. But, keep both sections of pages separate for now (We will put them all together later).

Step 3: At this point, 20% of your book is glued together, and the other 80% is glued together. Keep them separated still and put an old magazine or thin book in between them for the rest of this step. With the 20% portion of the pages that are adhered to the front cover, use your Exacto knife to sever the pages also in the shape and pattern that you have cut out in the cover. As I stated earlier during a cutting portion of the project, DO NOT RUSH THROUGH THIS STEP! It is imperative that you slowly cut through the pages, as you do not want to damage them or cause them to look rough or raggedy. Once you  have cut the pages, and both the cover and the 20% of the pages are hollow, use a hair dryer to blow out the dust that may have come from cutting the pages. Use your Exacto knife to trim rough edges and smoothen the edges of the pages and cover. Now, where the front 20% of the book and the back 80% are divided, use your E6000 and a foam brush and secure those two portions together. I highly advise E6000 for this as you do not want your book separating. And if you know anything about E6000, anything put together by it, no man can separate ha! Rubber band the book good to hold it in place and to seal it. I let mine then sit for almost one hour to dry really, really good. 

Step 4: Leave the rubber bands in place, and along the bottom edges of the pages and the side edges (NOT ALONG THE TOP OF THE BOOK JUST YET), paint on a coat or two of original Modge Podge. Let it dry for 20-30 minutes, and then repeat this step once more. 

Now, your pages at the top of your book have NOT been painted with Modge Podge just yet, and this is on purpose. Remove your rubber bands from around the book. Grab your pattern that you created earlier and manipulate it in through the top where the pages have not been Modge Podged until it comfortably slides all the way through the front and is exposed in the photo slot on the cover. If you have trouble sliding it through, I recommend using your Exacto knife along the edges of the top to slightly enlarge the slot to slide the photo through and to make an easy entrance and exit for your photos in and out of the frame. Once it slides in and out comfortably, leave your pattern in there and leave a little of it peaking through the slot at the top. Take your Modge Podge and foam brush that you used earlier and paint the edges of those pages now also (paint on a coat or two of original Modge Podge, let it dry for 20-30 minutes, and then repeat this step once more). Wrap rubber bands around your book, and leave your book for 2-3 hours to completely dry.

Step 5: Remove the pattern from the photo slot (If done correctly, this should slide out very easy). Use your Exacto knife to fine tune and smooth out things if needed on the cover or on the severed page edges. If and when all is smooth enough, Use your hot glue gun to adhere your paper craft flower or embellishment onto the spot of your choice on the cover. Then, grab that favorite photo of yours and slide it on in through the top. Exhale, smile, and pat yourself on the back, girlfriend!

You did it again in 5 easy steps!

Until next time,

Check us out on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ahavadesignstx

Follow us on Twitter:
@ahavadesignstx

Shop us:
www.etsy.com/shop/ahavadesignstx

And of course subscribe to our blog:
ahavadesignstxdiy.blogspot.com