INSIDE: How to turn a hardcover coffee table book into an easy photo frame. Fun gallery wall decor for home.
My house is in Round Two. No, I’m not talking about some neighborhood ‘dukes up’ action; I’m talking decor. The first go around involved painting walls and simply dropping furniture into a room. Now a couple years later, I’m revisiting each room and making it feel more like “us”.
It is in this second pass through each room that I came across a beach-y hardcover book tucked in tightly on a shelf. This coffee table book would be the perfect addition to the beach themed gallery wall I was putting together in our family room.
So grab a hardcover book and an exacto knife in order to turn any book into a neat wall frame. Like this…
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How To Hardcover Book for Easy Photo Frame
The older I get, the more I realize I don’t want my home to look like everyone else’s. I want it full of fun and interesting dust collectors knick knacks.
And this hardcover book turned picture frame fits the checklist!
Supplies:
– Hardcover book
– Ruler and pencil
– Exacto knife
– Clear tape
– Craft twine
– Picture hook and super strong glue
how to decorate with old books
Determine how large of a frame you want on the front of the book.
Use a ruler to trace out a square or rectangular shape.
Use an exacto knife to cut through the book jacket, if your book has one.
If not, cut through the cardboard book cover.
My book had a solid green interior page. I used this page as a photo mat and cut it slightly smaller than the hardcover.
Repeat cutting through multiple pages of the book.
Tape a photograph big enough to fit within the shape you cut out of the book.
I printed out a photo, added some text in a photo editing software, and printed it out on my home printer.
Glue a picture hook to the back of the book. Let it dry.
If desired, wrap the book tightly in some decorative twine to help hold all the pages together.
Knot at the back of the book.
Hang and enjoy your totally unique wall frame!
What interesting things have you ever hung on the wall?!
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Toni says
Great idea to take advantage of a pretty book cover.
Heather | Made In A Pinch says
What a fun and wonderful idea! I love how yours turned out, and how simple it seems to do! Thank you for such a creative, useful, and easy project!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Heather!
Erlene says
What a fun idea to make a photo frame from a book. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.
Ariel says
This looks amazing! Books and photos, two of my favorite things now combined into another one of my favorite things: decor!
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
Great idea and tutorial. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle.
Helen at Pleasures of the NW says
I love this – pinned! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW DIY party – and thanks for being a part of the fun since the beginning!
Mary says
This is such a fun idea Victoria. Not only do you get to reuse a cool book cover but it looks fantastic with the beach lettering on the front.
Teresa says
That’s a cute idea, would make a lovely gift too. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
Heart says
You have a powerful mind, Victoria. Very wise and imaginative. I like how it turned out.
Kathleen says
That is a gorgeous cover and a great idea! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Rhonda says
I love this idea. Makes me want to scour thrift stores for the perfect book. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Aletha Oglesby says
This immediately caught my eye since I have that same book! As a book lover, I like the idea of using one to highlight a cherished photo of my family. I can imagine matching the book theme to the theme of the photo. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Too funny! Thanks for stopping by.
Susan says
Really great idea. My shelves are full of books I’m not going to read again, but they are surprisingly hard to get rid of – many places won’t take them anymore and they are heavy to move. But turning them into a craft frame would be much better than just tossing them.
jodie says
GREAT idea! It really makes you look at books differently before you toss them …
Thanks for sharing at Reader Tip Tuesday. Hope to see you at this week’s party: http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/09/05/reader-tip-tuesday-weeks-craft-recipe-party-2/
xo
Leanna says
Book covers are often really pretty, what a great idea for repurposing them. Your frame looks amazing.
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
Great idea! And a lovely book cover you picked. I do like the twine embellishment on the top.