Welcome back, sweet friend! It finally feels like spring outside and today I have a very spring-y repurposed project idea where I’ll show you how to decoupage fabric onto old books.
You can see some of my past repurposed book projects here – including where I like to find lots of old books for super cheap! There’s also a short video included below so you can watch me in action doing this project.
*Great news – it’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday which means you can find bonus thrifty makeovers from my blogging friends at the end of this post. Also, this tutorial contains some affiliate links so you can easily find the products I use and recommend. Discover all my favorite brands and tools for doing DIY projects here.
Prepping the books
Since I planned to decoupage fabric over these, I chose three coordinating fabrics from my stash first.
Then I decided to paint the two green books white so the lighter fabrics wouldn’t have any green showing through from underneath.
I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure and one of my favorite Purdy brushes. I’m nearing the bottom of the paint can, so the Chalk Paint is a little lumpy and textured right now. It’s not a big deal for this project though since it’s just acting like a primer.
Psst… Read all my best tips for How to Chalk Paint Furniture: Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Chalk Painting here.
Preparing the fabric to decoupage onto books
Make sure your chosen fabric is clean and ironed. Set the book on top and fold the fabric over, leaving about two inches all around. You will be folding the sides in as shown below. Use good fabric scissors while cutting.
The front and back covers will each have about one inch of fabric folded over like below.
Decoupage fabric onto the books
For this step you will need some matte Mod Podge and a foam brush. I usually buy 2-inch wide foam brushes and then cut the sides of the foam slightly for it to easily fit inside the Mod Podge bottle.
Lay your fabric and book out like below.
Brush the Mod Podge directly onto the book cover, one side at a time. Cover the area well but don’t overdo it! Also, it helps to know that the glue dries pretty fast. (You can watch the steps closely in the video included in this blog post.)
Smooth out the fabric with your hand for about 30 seconds, and then you can flip the book and do the other side.
I set the book aside to dry for a few minutes and left the ends undone while I did the other two books.
For the last part, I applied the Mod Podge just near the edge of the cover (about an inch wide area) where the fabric would lay.
Then I pressed the fabric down for about 20 seconds.
Repeat for the other side and the other books, and let them sit to dry for about 10 minutes. (I propped the pages up so they weren’t touching the glue.)
Finally these gorgeous decoupage fabric books were finished and ready to become part of my spring decor (which would honestly work for summer too).
So lovely grouped together!
You could do this with any type of hardcover books – vintage or even pretty-up some brand new journals to brighten your day every time you use them.
This could also be a great DIY gift idea too.
I’d love to know your thoughts, friend! What do you think of this idea? Would you try this project at home?
Here’s a handy before-and-after image if you’d like to Pin this for easy access later:
I might have become a little obsessed with decoupage furniture and home decor project ideas over the years…
You might also like this project: How to Decoupage Napkins onto Wood Crates
And here’s another helpful post all about How to Decoupage Furniture:
Now it’s time again for Trash to Treasure Tuesday with my creative blogging friends!
Below are the Before photos – visit the links underneath to see the amazing thrifty Afters and to learn how they did it:
1. Confessions of a Serial DIYer
2. Artsy Chicks Rule
3. Salvaged Inspirations
4. Prodigal Pieces
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Such a simple and beautiful idea.
Becky Fischer says
I absolutely love this project and I am definitely going to be trying it. I have the perfect room to put the books in. Thank you for the inspiration!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Cute idea, Jen!! xo
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
They look very spring-eee and so lovely grouped together! Loved your DIY video too Jen! Pinned!
Cathy Kiernan says
I appreciate your inspirations! As soon as my local Library reopens I’m going to buy a few books
to cover. My coffee table has the cutest birds nest & wood statue of a bird but needed something to pull it together , this would be perfect! So now need to find the right fabric!
Thank you soooo much.
Take Care, Cat
Marilyn says
So pretty!
Margaret Aileen Watkins says
I used to work in libraries when I was in school. I love books, my home is testament to that. I hate this new decorating idea of covering up books and using them as decorations. My librarian friends and I shudder when we see this.
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Hi Margaret,
I love books too. 🙂 I have dozens that I’ve collected over the years that are beautiful as-is and I just use as decor. When I use books for projects, they’re usually in rough condition or just plain ugly covers. I happen to buy them at yard sales or at the library for about $1.00 each. Our library has an entire basement full of books for sale that people no one longer wanted to borrow anymore, and by selling those books, the library can purchase new ones and keep their facilities updated (ours just got all brand new flooring). I enjoy taking my kids every week to check out books (before all this Covid mess), and I enjoy browsing the shelves at the book sales. I have a great appreciation for the library, the helpful librarians, and the volunteers who manage the sale. Have a blessed day. 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much Marilyn!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
That sounds like a perfect idea! Thank you for the kind words Cat 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much sweet friend!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
I’m so happy you like it – thanks Becky! 🙂
Karen says
Dear Jen,
The fabric covered books look great! I am an avid reader and collector of books, but there are some old, worn, discarded, and frankly, not very well-written books out there that can get a second life and bring pleasure as a decorated piece of DYI, like yours. Buying these old, discarded books at our libraries’ sales and used book stores is very beneficial to libraries, too. I do cringe when I see many, many books put on bookshelves backwards so just the pages show or when all the books are covered in the same neutral paper….and then it is called a bookshelf! The fabric covered books look great and can still be read! In fact, the appealing fabric just might attract someone to pick it up and look at the first few pages! Who knows…it might even get read again!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Well said, Karen. Thank you! 🙂
Christy James says
Oh my gosh so cute, Jen! And your video explains it so well! I bet you have a ton of cute fabrics to choose from since you do many sewing projects also! XOXO
Edythe Bouquio says
I LOVE this! I decoupage scraps of material onto sturdy boxes for storage………looks more attractive and organized!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Oh yes sounds like a great idea – thank you Edythe! 🙂
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
Thanks so much Christy! Yes I have quite the fabric collection 😉
Sharon says
Love the idea…Im thinking I’ll monogram/ or machine embroidery the spine for an added, personal touch for gifting. Thanks for the start!!!!
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
That is a fabulous idea, Sharon!!
Lyn says
Just discovered and joined your inspiring site! Especially intrigued by your books in fabric decoupage. A friend of mine writes and has published seven romance novels, all of course, in paperback. I will experiment on another paperback first, but thinking about decoupaging each of them for display with some cute bookends. May reinforce the paper binding with a glued-on additional layer of stiff paper first. We will see how the trial paperback decoupage turns out. Thanks so much, and looking forward to getting your emails.
Jen, Girl in the Garage says
What a great idea, Lyn! 🙂 And how cool that your friend has published 7 novels!