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5 days of favorite projects {day 2}

    Did you all make some flowers yesterday? I hope you were inspired by one of my current favorites!

    Now on to day two of

    favorite projects

    This one is fun and while I’d like to think I made it up, I’m pretty sure it’s out there somewhere else.  Again, it is a simple and inexpensive project and makes a delightful gift or custom art.

    canvas

    Here’s what you’ll need

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    :: a canvas {purchased at any craft store}

    :: a book

    :: scissors

    :: mod podge & paint brush

    STEP ONE: tear out pages

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    I take them from all over the book so that the page numbers and content varies.

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    STEP TWO: arrange the pages

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    make sure to overlap the page so that there is enough paper to cover the edge of the canvas

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    STEP THREE: fill in the little spaces

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    until the canvas is completely covered

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    STEP FOUR: glue them down

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    Gently lift the pages to get the glue under, then press down.  This is the trickiest step because the pages are arranged in an overlapping fashion. Just keep lifting and gluing and don’t worry too much about the paper wrinkling or air bubbles – that’s what gives it charm {or at least that is what I tell myself}

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    STEP FIVE: seal the top of the pages with Mod Podge

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    STEP SIX: glue the edges

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    STEP SEVEN: fold over the corners

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    STEP EIGHT: trim the excess

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    STEP NINE: glue the pages to the back

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    Now on to embellishing {although it is perfectly lovely in it’s simple un-embellished state}

    Here’s what you’ll need

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    :: a print out of an image {a bird, in my case}

    :: pencil

    :: glue

    :: paint brush

    :: glitter

    STEP ONE: select your design, decide how big {or small} you want it and print

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    There are so many possibilities with this. I did a bird because I’m fully into the trend, but you could do a silhouette of a different animal, a chandelier, a chair, a lamp, etc. If you search in google images for “bird silhouette” or “umbrella silhouette” you should find an image.

    STEP TWO: transfer the image to the canvas

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    scribble on the back of the print-out around the edges of the design

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    trim the edges

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    place in desired spot on the covered canvas and trace around the design

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    pull up the paper and your design will be transferred

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    STEP THREE: paint in the image with glue

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    STEP FOUR: glitter

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    STEP FIVE: brush off the excess

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    and here it is:

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    One thing I love about this project {besides the fact that I am crazy about anything using book pages} is that the possibilities are endless.

    You can use pages from different books:

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    as seen in our bedroom:

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    or sheet music:

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    as seen over the piano:

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    silhouettes of your darlings:

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    paint a monogram:

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    or embellish with scrapbook paper flowers and ribbon.

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    How cute would it be to do it with pages of a vintage magazine? Or a favorite children’s book with the word ‘read’ painted on it? Or  sewing patterns with a big silhouette of scissors? How about an assortment of maps? Or a cookbook? Now my mind is spinning :

    I hope you are as inspired by this as I am!

    Come on back tomorrow : day 3 is a good one.

    ::::::::::..

    Have you signed up for the giveaway?

    sealsm

    {click on the picture for details}

    I’ve entered this project at:

    Visit thecsiproject.com

    72 thoughts on “5 days of favorite projects {day 2}”

    1. Pingback: My Favorite Things – KC Parent

    2. Am a 2nd year graphic design (mature) student, photographer and avid scrapper….and this is BRILLIANT!!!! You have just solved this years Christmas present for my daughter…Thank you!! :-)

    3. An add-on to this: If you have a book that you really want to do this with but don’t want to destroy it, (eg, love notes between your grandparents, etc) take it to a copy shop and have it photocopied in color (to keep any yellowing of the pages etc.) Then you can do the project and keep the originals intact!

    4. My mom ssw our friend do this and she made her own! Something unique that she did was burn a little bit of the edges of the pages and then glued them on. It looks so antique.

    5. Thanks for the inspiration! I made a very special “just because” gift for my son in law…I took an old hymnal and tore our all of his favorite hymns. Laid them out on my canvas following your steps. Then I went to Artco where I bought a sheet of shinny black vinyl, there they let me use their dy-cut machine. I spelled out “THEN SINGS MY SOUL”…the vinyl is sticky on the back. Around the edges I hot glued a shinny black ribbon. It is now hanging in his office. He is a Worship Pastor in Puyallup, Wa… and loves his art piece!

    6. I have ALWAYS wanted a tiny powder room, that I wanted to wallpaper with black and white horse themed children’s books! I just think, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a quick little read and would look amazing! PLUS I love how you can get away with being over the top creative in a powder room.

    7. OMG!!!! I’m head over heels in LOVE with this idea…I’ve been looking for something small to put over my kitchen sink…I can just picture three of these with glittered utensils on them!!!! This is a must do…RIGHT NOW!!!!

    8. I love this tutorial and the rest of yours…I finally attempted to make my very own book cover canvas last night and I love love it. I posted it on my FB, in the link above. Later I plan to paint a large letter of “M” in the center. (its the first letter of my family’s last name) Thank you so much for the inspiration and the tutorial =)

    9. I was thinking how cute this would be with recipes from different books and even a few hand written ones, then write ‘eat’ or ‘cook’ or something like that for a kitchen! Thanks for the idea springboard!!!

    10. I was just talking with my friend Rachel, telling her I needed to do something different with my bedroom. This is exactly what I will be making for above my bed. Thank you! I love your ideas!

    11. My father died five years ago, he was an avid reader. I still have some of his favorite books and the bible he used for church, which has notes with his own writing’s and favorite verses underlined. You just gave me the greatest idea to display some of his books and old bible to display. My mother will love it too! Love your ideas, their great!

    12. Once again! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! A friend of mine introduced me to your blog and I’ve been hooked ever since! Our group of crafting gals is having a get together to especially modpodge with your ideas! Can’t wait!

    13. So excited, I just went and bought everything I needed… except… Do I need a special glue? Elmers Glue? Can I use the Modge Podge to glue down the pages? Clearly I’m not usually very crafty, but your pictures make be believe I can really do this. Just need a little help :)

    14. This is such a good idea! I’m thinking about doing it on an old cork board I have so that it can be a message board! I also love the children’s book idea!

    15. I love all your ideas. I saw the book page done in large scale for on a wall for a booth and it looks great. I just finished some book page cork boards and the work great. Love your creativeness.

    16. I just did this project this weekend for my baby’s nursery and love it! I embellished with a glittery ‘a’ – thanks for sharing! It turned out so sweet and def adds a unique touch to her room.

    17. I love this idea, especially for using sheet music. I was a piano major in college, and I have a LOT of old sheet music (aged, stained, and crumbly) that I can’t really use for playing, but would be perfect for decorating. I am itching to try this, but have to wait a few days for company to leave :-) Question–what do you put under the project so that the Mod Podge doesn’t stick? I know some people can do it without making a mess, but that isn’t me! I tried newspaper, but of course the newsprint stuck to my project. What should I do?

    18. Loved this tutorial so much that I decided to try making one for my 11 year old son’s bedroom! He loves Star Wars so I used pages from an old Star Wars book! I used an 11 x 16 canvas. It is currently drying! I plan on painting on the letter J this evening in red paint! I think the contrast will look great! Thanks so much for the inspiration!!!

    19. Hi, just dropping in from your link over at The Inspired Room. What a fabulous blog you have!

      I love this idea! As I am a book, text, and typography fanatic, this really appeals to me. I’ll have to give it a go soon. The music sheets look brilliant too!

      Linda. xox :)

    20. I love this! I am redecorating (vintage schoolhouse) a bedroom for my grandkids and was going crazy about what to do for the artwork. The possibilities are endless. Also, I can use the cover of the book as a roof for a birdhouse. Thanks so much for the inspiration ;}

    21. What a creative idea. I love that it can be so easily customized to your own interests or the design of your room. I have a music room in my home that I may use this idea for.

    22. I love this project! I just created a reading nook in our living room (furniture actually being delivered today!) and this will make a perfect piece of art for over the chair!

    23. Oh bless you! I needed a wedding gift for this week and was trying to make it with “on hand” supplies. I use to own a used book store and LOVE print…thanks for being the inspiration to get me started.

    24. i did not go out to eat with you ladies tonight because sue and I were going to do your canvas pages but we ran out of steam. Bought the supplies and excited to try it before the fam gets back from camp!

    25. Jo in New Prague, MN

      this is a great idea. i have an old wardrobe with a cubby hole that isn’t real pretty. i painted it but it was lacking something. i took sheet music and tea dyed it in various colors of tan – some light, some darker – and waited for them to dry. i then fitted them onto the walls of the cubby and mod podged them in. i put one coat over the top and it looks just great. thanks again for another great project. can’t wait for #3.

    26. Just love this idea! You can also put grosgrain ribbon across it or in a diamond pattern and have a very cute picture holder ot message board.

    27. Emily!!! Thank you SO much for sharing! I LOVE this. I am picking up a canvas today after work. I am so excited to try this. I am already picking out spots in my house to hang this art.

      Thanks Again! Can’t wait until tomorrow!

    28. Wonderful project – such a lovely idea. I love decorating with old books and the library-ish look they lend to our home – pages on the wall would be so fun too. Thank you again!

    29. I am thoroughly enjoying your projects! Each day I am excited to see what is next! And the projects are just fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing!

    30. ooh! I LOVE the monogram! I was just thinking how a monogram would look lovely on my “picture wall” in my upstairs hallway. I was just going to buy a wood “a” paint it, and hang it, but I like this idea MUCH better!!! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial! :)

    31. love Love LOVE the one over your bed! the sheet music is another great idea. this was like 5 projects in one with all of your great variations. thanks for the inspiration!

    32. gah! you are SO awesome! i just LOVE this idea. we were just reading a children’s book last night that i thought would look so fabulous framed. it’s old and a few of the pages are ripped, so i thought i’d order a new copy – and now i can use the old copy to do this project!!! LOVE it!

    33. thank you! i love love LOVE the canvas in your room and have wanted to replicate it ever since i saw your pic of it with the sweet berry wreath. i’m in love. i just bought an old book of maps the other day…i think i’ll make a mappy canvas and transfer the word ‘explore’ on it. thanks again!!

    34. I am way inspired! I can’t wait to get my craft on this week! I told my husband to just be expecting it! :) Thanks for all the amazing ideas! I will be using some of your stuff as a jumping off point! Can’t wait for tomorrows!

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