This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Lindsay Daneen. Find her on Instagram at @_lindsay_daneen. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Apparently, books exist for more than reading these days. I have always been one of those people who lets their latest read collect dust in a closet or on a shelf after completing it. But, whether you prefer thought-provoking literature or fun and fiction, now there’s a way to get even more joy and entertainment out of them. Have you heard that people are bedazzling books? Yes, this is a real thing. They are not only bedazzling books though. Thanks to a recent social media trend people are also embroidering and doing various crafts with them! And I have to say, I am genuinely intrigued. I’m not sure if I’m convinced enough to do it myself, but I am definitely not opposed to going through a bedazzled and embroidered book social media spiral or deep dive. Feel free to join me!
Book Crafts
Book crafts are part of a recent trend that has hit social media which allows book lovers and enthusiasts to get the most out of their favorite reads and their most aesthetically pleasing books. There is a wide range of what can be done, and people of all ages and backgrounds seem to love it! While these may not be completely new ideas that have never been thought of it does not mean we can’t appreciate the sudden wave of book crafts that has hit us. It’s never too late to have fun!
Bedazzled Books
Bedazzling books is the book version of what Millennials were doing to their jeans in the late 90s and 2000s. Applying rhinestones to just about any and everything was the thing to do and it seems like we’re reverting… I’m here for it! So, here’s how you do it. Make sure you have all of the necessary tools. This includes your favorite book or the one with your favorite cover. Grab your tweezers, glue, and some mood music, and go to work! You can match the rhinestone colors to the book cover perfectly or just choose your color scheme. This is a time to show your creativity with a splash of literary sophistication.
Embroidered Books
Embellishing your books with Embroidery can be just as fun and rewarding! But it may not be as easy as bedazzling books. While bedazzling books require glue and rhinestones embroidering books requires a needle and thread along with skill. But don’t let that discourage you! You can still join in on the fun. Just have patience. There’s nothing wrong with learning a new skill too!
Choosing your stitch is very important. Based on the TikTok below, you must remember that you are not working with fabric. Fabric is forgiving meanwhile putting holes in paper can prove to be a mess as you risk creating one big hole if you’re not careful. But have no fear. There are plenty of videos to help you figure out what the best strategy for your intended artwork may be. Once you choose the best stitch, decide what you’d like to embroider. Would you prefer to have stitching on the words? Or would you like to focus on the images on the page? You can also do both! Maybe you’d like to create your design? The sky is the limit. It’s your creation and your personalized keepsake.
Book Gardening
If you don’t mind never reading your book again but instead appreciating it in a new form, this is for you. Gardening does not have to be done outside on your hands and knees. You can keep it cute and minimally invasive if you’d like with this craft. I’m not talking about the process of pressing flowers, although this is an option as well. Simply cut a sizeable hole in the pages of the book. Choose your favorite house plant seeds (or repot one) and garden! The back cover of the book should stay intact as it will act as the bottom of your pot. Gluing it will help it stay in place as you don’t want your “book flowerpot” to fly open and ruin all your hard work. It will be a great conversation starter and a way for others to admire your literature in a unique way.
Other Book Crafts
Old-fashioned stickering will always be an option. It may seem like a very high school, but who cares? Stickering does not have to stop with laptops and scrapbooks. Go crazy! You can also use the pages to create other works of art like wreaths, origami pieces, or believe it or not, trinkets and jewelry boxes! Have you ever considered repurposing your favorite book’s cover into a tablet or iPad case? You can use them as wall hooks and wallpaper too! These crafts may be a lot more involved and complicated, but the options seem to be endless! This truly does bring into question, “How did we not know about these things sooner?”
Who?
Book crafts are great to do for anyone. There is no specific age range for who will enjoy these crafts. But they are great for birthday party crafts or a friend’s night in. It’s a great way to recycle or repurpose books you know you won’t reread or books whose covers inspire you to create. Bedazzling books are a perfect way to use that bedazzler that has been collecting dust in your closet. And embroidering books is a great way to dust off your embroidering skill cobwebs. In other words, start planning your book craft event now!
Why?
You may be wondering why this is a craft worth discussing. Books are a form of entertainment already, right? Although this may be true it does not change the fact that you can make art with anything. Also, we can’t limit books and their ability to spread joy, inspiration, mystery, and more to what’s inside their pages. If people want to take the inspiration and joy a step further by bedazzling books, embroidering, or creating a tiny garden with them, why can’t they? So. while you’re asking why, I think the better question is why not? We can all enjoy books well beyond their intended use. I may even try one myself!
Which book craft would you like to try? Bedazzling books or embroidering? Let us know in the comments!
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