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Framed Book Page Pumpkins

By: Michele McDonald56 Comments

I’ve had mixed feelings about book page art since I first started seeing all of the fabulous crafts being done with it. On one hand, the art looks fabulous! On the other hand, I’m an avid reader (when I can) and couldn’t imagine cutting into a precious book. Even one I don’t care for (*ahem* I’m talking about you The Old Man and the Sea!).
But as you can see above, I managed to overcome my fear to make my
Framed Book Page Pumpkins! 
Supplies
book
(mine is a dictionary I’ve had since the early 90’s. since its outdated anyway, I gave it a go!)
scissors
ruler
pencil
scrapbook paper
frame
binder clip(s) (not pictured)
stapler (not pictured)
orange ink (not pictured)
Beacon’s 3-in-1 adhesive (not pictured)
ribbon (not pictured)
twigs (not pictured)
I found this frame at Home Goods, but immediately ran into a problem. The glass was glued to the frame! I needed it off for my 3D art. Enter the hubby and his heat gun. Popped that glass right off of there! Then I let it cool down again and picked the glue off.
I trimmed some scrapbook paper to size and inserted it into the frame. I kept the glass with it and used it as backing in the frame.
Let me show you how I made the pumpkins:
1. I measured the width of my frame to figure out how big my pumpkins could be and drew one onto the first page of the dictionary.
2. I only cut 10 pages at a time and used a binder clip to keep the pages together. I cut out a square of the dictionary to make it easier to cut out the pumpkins.
3. I used anywhere from 1-2 binder clips while cutting the pumpkins. I didn’t want any slippage! I just rotated the clip around my drawing as I cut.
4. I kept a binder clip around the cut pumpkins to keep them lined up.
I used my original drawing to continue to trace more pumpkins, always cutting only 10 at a time.
5. I cut a total of 30 pumpkins before deciding that I had a thick enough stack for my artwork. To keep them together I stapled them in the center.
6. Now its time to fan the pages out. You can see we have a gap in the middle.
7. To cover the gap in the middle of the pumpkins, we’re going to make a filler.
We will need 5 more cuttings. Fold them all in half.
8. Cut 2 of the 5 pumpkins in half.
9. Apply a small amount of glue to along the seam in the center of your 3 folded pumpkins.
10. Stack the 3 pumpkins with glue on top of one another. Do not press them together too hard or the glue will smear.
11. Set the 4 pumpkin halves into the glue on the top pumpkin.
12. Use your fingers to keep the pages fanned out so that they don’t all fall flat.
13. Ink the edges of all of the pumpkin pages.
(I also went back and inked the edges of my scrapbook paper in the frame also.)
14. Apply a thin line of glue along the staple of the large stack of pumpkins.
15. Set the filler piece onto the pumpkin. After allowing the glue to dry, fan the pages of the pumpkin once again.
Repeat steps 1-15 two more times.
Time to make the stems!
I gathered some small twigs from the yard and grabbed some thin green ribbon I had in my stash.
I glued the pumpkins to the scrapbook paper so I would know how long to cut my stems. I trimmed them with scissors.
I tied the ribbon in a knot on the base of the stems.
I used a small amount of glue on the bottom and the back of the base of the stem
 to adhere it to the scrapbook paper.
I’m loving how it turned out!!
Doesn’t it look great next to my pumpkin vase?
And I can change out the artwork for other holidays!
I’m thinking Christmas trees for December… 🙂
And this is how my poor dictionary looks. The pumpkin cuttings only took me to the E’s!
I’m still reluctant to cut into a real book.
But its growing on me!
What do you think?
Would you cut into a book to do a project similar to this one?

Comments

  4. Diana Rambles says

    Congratulations! This post is going to be featured over at Diana Rambles tomorrow and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest and shared on Twitter. Please grab a featured button via the post guidelines graphic. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!

    Reply

  10. Sande says

    Like you I can’t/couldn’t bring myself to cut into a book. It’s just on my list of no, no’s. But using one that is already beyond hope as far as damage might be all right. My daughter and I had this conversation that other day, it got a tad testy actually. She is not attached to “material” things and can cut, trash or it or burn it without giving it a second though…and how old it is or special in her life..cut it or trash she will. Me..I can’t part with anything or cut it up to make something it wasn’t intended for. The way crafter’s are going these days…there will be no antique’s or vintage items for the next generation. It makes me hurt when I see people cutting up vintage tablecloth or such.

    Okay…sorry ladies I got sidetracked. I could use a magazine or a telephone book would work though. Jesus think about soon there won’t be any telephone books…with less and less people having a home phone. Though I don’t understand that at all…but another subject. lol!

    Reply

  11. Sande says

    Like you I can’t/couldn’t bring myself to cut into a book. It’s just on my list of no, no’s. But using one that is already beyond hope as far as damage might be all right. My daughter and I had this conversation that other day, it got a tad testy actually. She is not attached to “material” things and can cut, trash or it or burn it without giving it a second though…and how old it is or special in her life..cut it or trash she will. Me..I can’t part with anything or cut it up to make something it wasn’t intended for. The way crafter’s are going these days…there will be no antique’s or vintage items for the next generation. It makes me hurt when I see people cutting up vintage tablecloth or such.

    Okay…sorry ladies I got sidetracked. I could use a magazine or a telephone book would work though. Jesus think about soon there won’t be any telephone books…with less and less people having a home phone. Though I don’t understand that at all…but another subject. lol!

    Reply

  12. Jen says

    How cute!! I was hesitant about cutting into books at first, but I actually made a book page tree for our playroom that turned out amazing and it got me over cutting up books! I love that you added that touch of orange to the edges and the frame you picked is perfect!

    Reply

  23. Jilly says

    Well, Using an old dictionary was a good call, Michele! I have been wanting to make some book birdhouses but didn’t have any books I wanted to part with! These came out adorable! Thanks for sharing step by step guide.
    Solvency II

    Reply

  30. Ruth says

    I love this idea. It looks fantastic. I don’t like tearing up books either but there are some at thrift stores that need a new life.

    Ruth

    Reply

  34. Audrey says

    So pretty! LOVE how it turned out!! I’ve had mixed feelings about cutting into books too, but I know they’re are some I wouldn’t mind using. Thanks for the great tutorial! 🙂

    Reply

  36. Aimee Steckowski says

    this is such a well-done tutorial AND i LOVE LOVE LOVE the wee pumpkins. i will be pinning and adding to our list of projects this weekend- thanks for linking up to 504Main so i could find you! 🙂

    Reply

  42. June Scott says

    Using an old dictionary was a good call, Michele! I’ve been wanting to make some book birdhouses but didn’t have any books I wanted to part with! These came out adorable! Thanks for sharing how you did it!

    Reply

  44. Kimmy says

    I think this is an adorable craft, and the frame really makes it awesome 🙂

    I’m a member of paperbackswap.com, so I know first-hand how many books there are that can only be destined for destruction. It sounds terrible, I know, but some authors (John Grisham comes to mind) are just ones who EVERYONE reads once, then never again. Romance novels are another type, especially the series-ones like Silhouette.

    Books with wavy pages are good to use too, since that indicates water damage and even the library will toss it directly into to their “take one-leave one” pile.

    I’ve loved books all my life, and while I love actual books very much, I do linger over Amazon’s Kindle ad every time I see it….

    Reply

  46. The Answer Is Chocolate says

    It took me a while to “destroy” my first book but I pick up ones that are on their last legs and figure I’ll save them from a worse fate.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! Such a fresh take on book page art and everything about it from the frame to the background is just wonderful! Sharing on FB !

    Reply

  53. Tammy says

    Oh wow! This is absolutely gorgeous! I know what you mean about cutting up books. It was drilled into me in school not to damage a book in any way 😉 I could cut up an old phone book without any problems though.

    Reply

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