Unique Book Art

One of my favorite blogs is Dude Craft.... he finds some of the coolest art! I keep going back and looking at this book origami done by Isaac Salazar.

I really want a book done like this for my living room. It's so unique and unexpected! We have a painting of the ocean above one of the couches, and I think it would be awesome to find a hard cover copy of something like Moby Dick, and do a nautical word. Hmmm, maybe one day...

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Family Meal Planner

I was perusing some of my favorite blogs this morning, and I came across this great meal planner at Brown Paper Packages. I am definitely one of those people that has a bazillion magazines and recipe books that I scan through everytime I plan my shopping list. This would be perfect, considering I only use a couple out of each book... though lately I have been expanding my repertoire.

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Mod Podged Books

I love the look of these books! The very creative and crafty ladies over at Drab to Fab came up with a great new way to display books for decorating. You can get the complete tutorial by visiting them here.

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Pretty New Cover

So, I needed a new mileage log, but they are not pretty, and something that I am going to be using almost every day has to be pretty right? Of course it does! So, I decided to pretty mine up! I know that not everyone needs a mileage log, but this would work for a pocket calendar, or any little thing that has a cover stapled on. It's very easy....

Remove the cover by taking out the staples in the center of the book. Measure the cover and cut a new one out of your desired cardstock or paper.... if using paper, make sure to give yourself a little bit of an overlap so you can trim to the exact size of the cover.

If you are using a cardstock, simply score the piece down the middle and decorate it. Now, just restaple it to the book and you're done!

If you want to use a paper like I did, there are a couple of extra steps. Paint over the cover with a white acrylic paint. This gives you a "primer" coat so the writing and graphics do not show through your paper. (You may need 2 coats.)

After the paint is dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the entire surface and adhere your paper to the cover. Turn it over, and using an exacto knife, trim away the excess paper.

Now, you can decorate it to your heart's delight. When you are done, fold it along the existing crease in the cover, and restaple it to the book. Voila! A new pretty mileage log... calendar... etc.

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