Book Art Tutorial

Alot of people have been asking me how to make the folded books, so I thought I would put all the tutorials on here. They are super simple, just take alot of time, but let me tell you...if you need some time to just craft and not think, this is the craft for you. Mindless and peaceful. Haha some might not think of those words...but I do. : )

 What you will need:

• Plate hangers
• Hooks (I used adhesive ones for simple removal
• Ruler
• Paper cutter
• Adhesive (I used a scrapbook adhesive dispenser, but you can use double sided tape as well)
• Scrapbook paper

The first step with every book you fold will be to break the binding in the middle of the book. So basically that means to just open it up all the way in the middle. This gives the book more ease in the folding, and staying open flat. 

 This is the first book I'll show you how to make. It is super simple.  I will label each fold with a step # so that you will know which fold to reference. So it's not that they go in order, but just their label.

Starting in the middle  of the book, where you have just broken the binding,  fold the page inwards to the spine and fold down the crease.

Step 1

 Then the next page you will bring the two corners in to meet in the middle like so. They will not go all the way to the spine of the book. Then just alternate step 1 and 2 for the entire book!

Step 2

You're book will end up looking like this!

For this next style you will have two new folds with the step 2 fold.

 Once again, starting in the middle of the book, bring up the bottom corner up to meet in the spine. You will then fold the top corner down to meet the top of the already folded page. Repeat 10 times.

Step 3

Then do step 2 (folding page in half towards the spine) 10 times.
Then do the same thing as step 3, only opposite. So you bring the top corner down, and meet the bottom corner at the edge.

Step 4

Repeat step 4 10 times. Step 1 is done 10 times between each of the triangle sets. 

For this next style, you will simply follow the pattern step 2, step 3, step 4 for the entire book.

And this final style you will need scissors for. Cut every page in half (cutting perpendicular to the spine). 

Then fold the corner all the way to the spine. 

And there you have it!

I felt like the books needed more pizzazz, so I bought some pretty scrapbook paper and simply taped it inside each cover. :) 

Much better. 

To hang the books on the wall in an easy way, buy plate hangars! Super easy, and then you can just use the adhesive hooks for simple removal as well. 

Hang as many as you want. A whole wall would be incredible! I would LOVE to see any pictures you take of your beautiful upcycled books. :)

Happy folding!

Book Art

Hello friends,

I hope that you are doing well and enjoying this early spring weather. I have quite a treat to share with you! I first discovered this craft in a window display. At the time, I worked at J-Crew and they happened to be using alot of books for display. I asked my manager if I could perhaps show him a cool display idea I had seen. He allowed me to use a few of the books and I began folding the pages. He loved the look and we actually got to use them in the display! 

 I was able to get all the books they had laying around in the store because they are closing down that location. So I thought I would make some use of them. You can always mess around and try to figure out new patterns. It takes a long time, but I think they are worth it.  What do you think? 

Well there you have it! You can view the tutorials for each of these patterns on this next blog: http://awhimsywillow.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-art-tutorial.html

My My What a Book Can Do

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.


I absolutely LOVE this. It's sooo cool! I am so in love with anything made of book pages, old books, pretty much anything to do with books. I especially love the trees in this video. It is so creative and neat! Just thought I would share it!