Monday, October 29, 2012

Monday Mischief-Simple Project Book Frames

Hurricane Sandy rained out our Sunday Pug-O-Ween party and closed the NYC public schools and trains, meaning a day at home with mom and dad.  A nice day for a craft.  Mom has been wanting to make book frames from some of our old books for a while and she decided to start yesterday. There are lots of techniques on like and mom decided to use this one . Being sloppy and an ameture crafter mom wisely decided to try the simplest technique first.

Book Frames

Materials: 


  • Old hard cover books
  • x-acto knife or box cutter, or both
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • card stock or card board
  • photos 
  • tape
Procedure

1) Place the picture on the book and trace around it with a pencil

2) Use the x-acto knife or box cutter to cut through the cover along the traced lines.  (This takes a bit of work, I started scoring with the x-acto knife and then switched to the box cutter when I was nearly through).
3) Pop out the cut of part of the cover and try clean up any hanging, frayed bits of cover with your knife.


 4) (I didn't photograph this) Cut a piece of card stock a bit smaller then the book cover and tape or glue your picture to it, being careful to center it carefully.  Check the line up by putting the picture against the book frame.   When you have it like you want it, tape the card stock with the atatched picture to the inside of the book cover.




  

I made 3 frames in about an hour, and a better crafter could definitely do it faster.   I used a copy of the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one of my favorite books, and two dog focused books.  The first was the Monks of New Skete's training manual How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend, which was a gift from someone and does not espouse a training philosophy I believe in, but the title seemed to suit a dog picture.

 For this frame I used some dog themed scrapbooking paper for the backing.

The last frame was my favorite, I used Susan Orlean's Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend to frame a picture of my husband and Ping bike riding on the Brooklyn Bridge.   I really like the cover of he book so I wanted to keep that in tact.  I traced the picture on the back cover and first cut the opening in the paper cover and then in the actual book.  After cutting through the book I secured the paper cover on with tape and framed the picture the same as with the other books.



 

The best thing about this project is that you can still read the books after making the frame, as only the cover has been altered.   You can use up old books you have lying around like I did or have fun shopping for vintage books that compliment your photos.  I'm sure with greater craft know how there are lots of ways you could improve on these frames as well.

(Stay safe in the Hurricane!)

23 comments:

  1. They came out great! Hope your staying safe! :)

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  2. Very cool! Hope you don't get hit too badly!

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  3. Wow, what a fun idea! Books are really great and very popular in my house. Nice way to showcase the books and the pix too.
    Grr and Woof,
    Sarge, COP

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  4. Great idea we like those. Stay safe and warm today. We are thinking of you all. Have a lovely Monday if possible.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. What a great idea!!! Time to hit the used book sales...

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  6. Hey Urban Hounds, Jet here. Hi Miss Kate.

    Wowee, you are so creative and crafty! The frames look great.

    PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THE STORM... WE KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES,Let us know if we can help you with any info or tips.

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  7. Cool. Sorry your pawrty was ruined
    Benny & Lily

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  8. Wow, they are amazing, I love them!
    Lynne x

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  9. Absolutely brilliant, will try that, now we have dark evenings, cold and rain :) Sorry your Pawty was ruined. Stay safe, we are thinking of every one xx00xx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  10. How cool!! I love love love the idea of book frames! Gotta try to make myself!
    Please stay safe!

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  11. Hope you are staying safe and warm.

    Thinking of you guys,
    The Idaho PugRanch Gang

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  12. What a great project...especially for a book lover. Thinking of you as it sounds like you are in for some bad weather.

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  13. Goshes--- you are very crafty- and we love what you did.
    I hope you all stay safe from the storm.
    love
    tweedles

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  14. What a great project. Hope you are safe.

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  15. Those look great! I hope you guys are staying safe!

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  16. Thinking of you - heard that Jersey City was hit very hard. Hope you are ok.

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  17. We're thinking of you and hope everything is okay over there.

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  18. Stopping by to say hi...we hope you and your family and friends are all okay!

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  19. We too have stopped by to say thinking of you and we pray you are safe and well.
    Molly

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  20. Those are adorable! Hope you are all OK.

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