Upcycled book card holder

I took an old book that I had and created this beauty for my friend's birthday! He could take it to his office and use it as a business card holder {those aren't his actual business cards, I just made those for effect} or he could use it at home as a bill/mail sorter. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the final project, after I had glued it onto a small piece of stained wood.

You should try this one! It's super easy and very low cost.

{1} Get a book. If it's hardcover, get rid of the cover. If it's paperback, you can leave the cover on.
{2} Open up the book to the first page and start folding each page in half lengthwise. Continue doing this for all the pages in the book.
{3} If you are going to glue the book to a piece of wood, trim down the front and back cover to fit your piece of wood. Glue the book to the wood with wood glue.
{4} Smile and admire your work :)

I got my instructions from Andrea Rodgers website here, where she has wonderful photos of each step. Let me know if you make this one!

Book Page Headband

I don't know what's more exciting for me as a crafter, making something myself or making something for myself that was also originally my idea!

There's lots of cool stuff being made with books and book pages. Last week I made a little chalkboard with decoupaged dictionary book pages on the frame {I still have to post pics of that!}. But most of the things I've seen are for home decor and very few book page crafts for hair accessories. So that means I just had to come up with my own!

What I used...
{1} Dictionary pages
{2} Mod Podge
{3} Leftover vinyl material from our ottoman. There is a TON of this stuff still in our house! I think that's one of the biggest motivators for coming up with ideas to use it up!

What I did...
First, I cut a piece of vinyl out and a dictionary page in the same size {8" x 1.5"}. Then used Mod Podge to glue the page on top of the vinyl. You can do a second layer of Mod Podge on the surface of the paper like I did to ensure it stays on.

Be patient and wait for it to dry completely! I am so bad at this but I'm getting better.

Then I accordion folded the vinyl and sewed it on to a stretchy headband


I kind of liked it but it made me feel like a French maid. Justin suggested I add another ruffle and make it into a round shape, like a flower.



So that's what I did! I thought about hot gluing a button or round black circle into the center but I think it's cute just the way it is.


Can't wait to wear this one to work! Well, I'm actually just wearing it around the house right now, ha!

Chalkboard with Dictionary Page Frame

From an artistic sense, I just adore things that are timeless: clocks, calligraphy, typewriters, mason jars and anything in nature. It reminds me of a slower and more simplistic life.

This project was a combination of two timeless things: book pages and chalkboards. I decoupaged the frame with dictionary pages and used Krylon chalkboard spray paint on the glass that came in the frame.






Before I could get a chance to primer the surface with chalk, my hubby wrote me a little love note...




Isn't he awesome? Thanks, Babe!