Turn a Book Into a Picture Frame

Search the basement, the attic or the back of the bookshelves for an old book that has not been opened for years. Make sure that it isn't a valuable antique or first edition! Follow the steps below so you can insert a favorite picture into the frame. Place the book on the end table to be enjoyed and shared by everyone.

Steps

  1. Find an old book with a cool cover. Browse bins of books on sale for a low price at used bookstores, garage sales, or a used book sale at the library. Better still, try to find them for free if possible. You want to find an old book with a sturdy cover that will look good with a frame cut out of it.
  2. Open the book. On the inside front cover, place the photo you want to frame. Lightly and carefully trace it with a pencil.
  3. Use a strong knife or a box-cutter to carefully cut along the traced lines down to the book cloth, but not through it.
  4. Peel away the book board, leaving the book cloth still attached to the book.
  5. Cut a smaller opening in the book cloth, leaving a one-inch (2.5 cm) border of book cloth around the frame opening.
  6. Cut the cloth diagonally in each corner and fold the book cloth over the edge and tape or glue to the inside cover. This gives the frame opening a cleaner look.

Tips

  • Make a white border by cutting out a smaller opening from the first page in the book and taping your photo to the back of this page.
  • As an alternative to taping the photo in the book, use photo album corners (photo mounting corners). Cut your hole just a little bit smaller than the photo and use the corners on the inside of the book. If you are feeling particularly constructive, you could even make your own by cutting the corners off of old envelopes.
  • Use a favorite book that you enjoyed reading in your youth. Add a picture of yourself at that age to the book frame, and have a memory book, complete with the picture and book.
  • Check out your bookshelves to find if you have an old hardcover that no one reads anymore.

Warnings

  • When working with sharp objects, always pay very close attention to what you are doing.

Things You'll Need

  • A hardback book that you don't mind defacing.
  • A photo you want to frame.
  • A pencil or pen or other marking utensil.
  • A box knife or other razor sharp knife.
  • Tape or glue
  • Photo album corners (optional)

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Sources and Citations

  • Fototiller.com - Original source of this article. Shared with permission.
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