Vintage book repurposed into a bi-fold picture frame. BTW…this is ME and my twin bro!
Isn’t it wonderful to discover a pairing as good as chocolate and peanut butter? Well, with today’s post, I believe I have! On a recent bits ‘n bobs hunt at a local flea market, my DIY eye caught the similar shape and era of two separate items: a vintage book and bi-fold frame. Put your hands together and you’ve got yourself one double-duty way to stylishly show off your brain as well as your beauty!
Supplies:
• vintage book
• exacto knife or scissors
• decorative Washi tape
• white craft glue (both regular and super tacky – we used Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue)
• bi-fold or two same-sized frames
• optional: spray paint (Note: if you’d like to change the color of your frames to better match your book, do so the day before, so they have time to dry.)
Instructions:
1. Mark the thickness of your frames onto the edge of your book pages. Open to the middle of your book, then place the edge of one of your frames onto the edge of the separated pages. Mark the thickness of the frame – this will tell you how far you’ll want to remove the pages. Repeat on the other side.
Mark the thickness of your frame onto the pages of the book.
2. Using your exacto knife or scissors, start removing the pages from the spine. No need to be super neat, just be careful to not tear the pages you’ll be keeping. You only want to remove enough pages so that when your book is closed, the frames will maintain the original thickness (and shape) of the book.
Remove the marked pages.
3. Remove the paper headband (that covers the spine of the book). Once you’ve done this, you’ll expose the inside of the exterior spine of the book and see rough edges and cut binding threads along the remaining pages.
Remove the paper headband.
What your prepped book, down to the spine, should look like.
4. Using your Washi tape, cut a piece the exact length of the pages, then fold over the pages to seal and cover and inner rough edges.
Select a decorative Washi tape to fit the style of you and your book!
Place Washi tape along the inside of your pages.
5. To add more pizazz!, cut another strip of Washi tape and run it down the inside of the spine.
Stick a strip of Washi tape down the middle of your book’s spine.
6. Using your tacky glue, apply to the back of each frame, then press onto each side of the pages.
Apply tacky glue to the back of your frame – be sure to keep the opening at the top.
A new twist to this project! You may insert photos or frame the pages! If it’s a picture book, this could be super cute!
7. Using your regular Elmer’s glue, run a bead along the rest of your pages so that they do not separate. Use your tacky glue to keep the end papers and cover glued together as well (if that doesn’t hold…use your trusty glue gun!). Note: all this gluing will stabilize your book once you’ve inserted the glass and photo, then stand it upright.
Apply glue to keep pages together.
8. Insert the glass and photos into your frames and you’re done!
Your vintage book can be styled closed…with a little secret inside!
DIY a vintage book picture frame.
A vintage picture frame framing vintage photos.
This project would make a fantastic gift for anniversaries, baby showers (insert grandparent’s or you and your spouse’s baby pictures), landmark birthdays, or just to give one to someone who has (or needs) style in their home!
Now It’s Your Turn!
What do you think about this project? If you have any opinions, ideas or suggestions…we’d love to hear them! Leave your comments below!
All photography by Skaie Knox, HomeJelly
