I can’t wait to show you my latest project…my Eiffel Tower book bundle! Notice anything? The photo extends across all of the books! Love it!
Sooo…my first task…find five books of the same size. I found a set of children’s classics at Goodwill for $3.00! Perfect! I knew I wanted mine to have a more vintage look, so I opted for brown paper to cover the books. I dusted off my very rusty school girl skills and managed that. Next, I found a photo that I liked of the Eiffel Tower on Google images and gave it a sepia tone. I printed five or so copies in a size that would work with the width and height of the book bundle and went to work.
Hmmm…it seems that my usually curious co-host is not into covering books. I am sure he will check in later when the camera comes out for some serious shots!
I lightly drew vertical pencil lines on the backs of the copies spaced about an inch apart…the width of the spine…and used three widths for each book, progressively moving over one strip each time I cut. Now you can see why I needed five copies. The part that will show on the spine will be in the center each time. Then I wrapped each strip around the spine of the book, using rubber cement to adhere them. I highly recommend using it since it doesn’t cause the paper to wrinkle and can be rubbed off if it seeps out on to the book.
And here is the finished product! I tied them with a little jute twine to add to the vintage look.
And just as I suspected, our handsome co-host decides to join us for the photo shoot…such a ham! Hmmm…either he’s really big or those books are really small..or both! lol
You could also display the books on the side…love this look, too! Now I am thinking…it would be easy to make another set with a different photo! Fun!
And here’s a final look at my Eiffel Tower book bundle…so easy and almost free! My only cost…$3.00 for the books! Not bad, huh? What do you think?
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my project! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!
I like it!!!
ReplyDelete♥'s
Sherry
You are so clever and do such a neat job. You have managed to line the photo up perfectly. Great ideal. Richard from My Old Historic House.
ReplyDeleteThese turned out so good. You did a great job on them. that IS a big kitty but it's just more of him to love! :)
ReplyDeleteYou come up with the best ideas, Debbie, not to mention the DIY cost vs the retail cost!
ReplyDeleteThese really did turn out perfect, Debbie! HOW CUTE! I love how you figure out how to DIY with these projects. You are so clever. Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteLove you...
XO,
Sheila
Hi, Would you mind giving a link to where you found the picture? I would LOVE to try this!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
shabbyrose@windstream.net
Oh! You are so clever! Hmmm.....might have to be a copy cat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your talents :-)
Debbie, The books are fabulous..love them! Thank you for linking this wonderful project to the Open House party.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sherry
I think you are one creative girl!! Love your bargains & how you transform them!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is truly what creativity is... very inspiring indeed... thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteVisit me if you can
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah
Oh my gosh Debbie,
ReplyDeletethey look fantastic. You did a great job with the printing too,
Char
Brilliant! I am speechless! Now, how about l'arc de Triomphe next.....or le château de Chenonceau??? : ) L
ReplyDeleteGreat project - thanks for figuring it out for all of us. Sally
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderfully unique. You did a fantastic job recreating this in your home.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Debbie!! LOVE IT! Martina
ReplyDeleteThis is a terrific fun look! Great tip!
ReplyDeleteWow - your books are beautiful! And so much better than the $135 price. Who pays that much? It's crazy that someone out there would. Meanwhile, yours are perfect for so much less!
ReplyDeleteJeanine
I am in love with it and am definitely pinning it! What a fabulous idea and such a savings too! Sometimes the price they charge for something is just ridiculous! This would make such fun gifts too. Ooh, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI am now following you on Pinterest too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great project Debbie. My daughter just returned from Europe and has some wonderful pictures she took of the Eiffel Tower, I'll have to pick out a good one and give this a go, I know she'll love it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteso cute!
ReplyDeleteYour books look sooo good! You are so creative and always amaze me with your projects. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWow!! Such a creative decorating idea and it looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, those look great. Such a better deal than what OKL was charging. Sent you an email earlier today about Sue's brunch. Not sure you got it. You are more than welcome to ride with me. Babs and my sister are going, too. Just let me know anytime.
ReplyDeleteHow clever -- I think there may be one of these in my near future! :)
ReplyDeleteHow clever!! I love it!! You did an amazing and very neat job!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Fabulous and so clever! I would be willing to bet a lot of Blogland will be copying your idea this week! Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteReally a cool, cool idea, Debbie!! The books look wonderful. A knock-off is always better, I say. And much more economical. :-)
ReplyDeletehugs, Sue
A so ingenious cute cute idea!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for share!
Silvia
Wow, what a neat idea! And $3 versus $135 ~ now that is the deal of the century! Thanks for sharing the how-to for this project. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love it, what a great idea! Really came out fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty neat, Debbie. It looks so simple too. Thanks for sharing it with us...Christine
ReplyDeleteI love this look and I think Baby Kitty has given his approval.
ReplyDeletehugs
Sissie
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteBaby Kitty is such a handsome fella! Your book covers are stunning! When I saw your rubber cement, I had a flash back from my years as librarian! Your creativity is inspirational, dear! Thanks for sharing!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Okay, Okay, I think, no, I know I'm loving it! What a deal and what a unique idea! I applaud you for making it yours, it's totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing, thrifty project that looks like a million bucks!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I think? Well, I LOVE it-of course! What a fun project and like nothing I have seen either. You did a great job! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteGreat job. You lined it up beautifuly.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love it. It's a beautiful idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous! That price was crazy! So glad you did your own. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother one of your amazing crafts! Your Eiffel tower book bundle is wonderful. I love it!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable idea...I am in the middle of conjuring up a Witches Spell book prop for my Halloween collection. Combing ebay, studying everything I can find. So far..nothing is exactly what I want..but I will keep trying.
ReplyDeleteCould NOT find any white pumpkins ths year..OR corn stalks. :(
Your little table top is WONDERFUL!!
:)
Mona
Wow!!! I LOVE it!!! I am creating a little Paris corner in my office and this would be perfect! Thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative and such a good teacher Debbie!
ReplyDeleteLove this, so awesome!
hugs,
Cindy
Now, this is a wonderful idea and you did such a great job. LOve it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Debbie,
Hugs from Rie
Girl, you did good! LOVE it! And your kitty, sooo sweet!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
Wow, now that is pretty neat! Looks wonderful!
ReplyDelete--And great "help" you had. I'm sure your super cute co-hosts did a good job supervising! ha! :)
Wow! I love it! You are an excellent crafter! I admire your persistence for finding a way to create these looks! Great job!
ReplyDeleteYou are so clever! Wonderful project! Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Deb
This looks great! You are sooo clever!!
ReplyDeleteYou're crafty ways strike again Debbie! Take that "one king's lane"!!! lol Really cute project!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, thanks so much for sharing...might just have to try this!!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing. Can I tell you that it would have take me forever to figure out how to line them up and your drawing a pencil line on the back is so simple. I'm going to give this one a try!
ReplyDeleteOMG!, this is so clever and pretty, I would have never known how to start this, or even figure it out to start! Thank you for sharing the how to, I'm really loving this! Have a super week.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
awesome job!
ReplyDeletefound you and your lovely blog via BBC and would love to have you visit and have a great giveaway at the moment!
http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2011/10/rachel-ashwell-on-creating-authentic.html
warmly.
michele
Those are wonderful!! Yours look just as great as the expensive ones and yours were only a few dollars! Visiting from Coastal Charm.
ReplyDeleteThat really is awesome! ♥
ReplyDeleteDebbie, you just amaze me. I can't believe how you see all these things and then just copy them to perfection. I love this idea and it looks fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial and for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteDebbie, you amaze me! I saw this on OKL, and thought it was so good looking, but never thought of duplicating the look. This is awesome! laurie
ReplyDeleteReally neat, Debbie! And so many fun things you could do! It could be fun in a children's room or even a neat idea for gift wrapping a gift of... books! You're always so clever - and I always enjoy hearing Baby Kitty's perspective :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! Would be fun to do w/ a Santa image or wreath at Christmas, cross at Easter, monogram, etc.
ReplyDeleteI like your "Can Do!" spirit. A beautiful job well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy cool!!
ReplyDeleteJenny
http://simcoestreet.blogspot.com/
Absolutely stunning job well done.
ReplyDeleteYou rock, lady?
TY for sharing...
Greetings from chilly Stockholm,
/chie
This project ROCKS!!! Adore, adore... or shall I say j'adore?
ReplyDeleteVisiting from SSS~
Heidi :)
what a great idea!! sook@myfabulousrecipes.com
ReplyDeleteDebbie, THIS IS BRILLIANT! And you know I'm LOVING the Eiffel Tower book bundle! I need to try that one myself! :) I've been doing some crafty things myself with a 100+ year old music book. I need to post about it sometime in the next decade! Ha...the more I wanna post, the less time I find to do it. :( Always someone or some thing needing me. Guess that's a good thing...but sometimes it would be nice to FOCUS on blogging more.
ReplyDeleteMiss you friend...I always look for you when I'm at the GW! Was at Queen of Hearts a few weeks back...LOVELY - I adore that place.
I'm going to Marietta this weekend to see a friend in the rehab center there...she had a stroke. :( I'm thinking of checking out some consignment shops & GW while there. It'll have to be cheapppp, as I'm on a FIXED budget! Aren't we all these days with the economy the way it is?
Later friend...
~CC
Oh wow! They look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteDee
WOW! So clever and attractive. Not to mention thrifty.
ReplyDeleteI love this! You just amaze me! I'm so putting this on my list of things to do. Hope you're having a grand evening. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful, Debbie! So are just so good! I am very good at covering books with brown paper bags. Taught the kids how every year! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I would do pictures of Blarney Castle, or maybe an Irish Pub. After all I am not French! :)
I think this idea is amazing... I can think of all sorts of gift ideas... bride & groom... valentine... the possibilities are endless!
ReplyDeletethanks for the tutorial... it's always easier when someone else figures out the technique for me!
hugs. Dixie
Debbie, I think you are one of the cleverest individuals I know. This is a terrific idea and you executed it to perfection. Love, love, love this one. The fact that it's an image of the Eiffel Tower makes it all the more charming for me. ;-)
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
That was gorgeous - I am going to send this to my daughter who loves Paris. Great job. sandie
ReplyDeleteThis project is amazing!!! I didn't know if to leave a comment or not, you already had enough lol! New happy follower!
ReplyDeleteXXX Ido
adorable, i'm going to feature it on my blog tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteStopping back by to say thank you for linking this fabulous post to Potpourri Friday! Your participation is appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH!!! This is the greatest project!! There are SO many possibilities here! Right away I'm thinking I could use one of my son and daughter-in-law's wedding photos and turn this into a Christmas gift for them! Thanks for the great tutorial!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - this is really awesome! Funny, I was redoing my daughter's one bookcover for her school book....hmmmm....now you got us thinking!!
ReplyDeletethis would make an excellent gift for a girl or boy-changing the picture up to something more their style. I love this idea.
ReplyDeleteI see wonderful ideas on lots of blogs and I can tell you that is really tops the list. So clever!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative idea! I love how it turned out.
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, you did such a great job on creating this. I love it. I have seen this at one of the higher end stores and thought it look so awesome well, until I saw the price tag! Thank you for being part of TTF and have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! So many possibilities are swarming around in my over crowded brain right now. This is a "must do." Thanks so much for the great tutorial. By the way...I like your version much better:-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little project - it looks great!
ReplyDeleteOh your so smart! This is wonderful! Love how this turned out! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteSherry
Love, love, love this!!! I have to to try it!!! ~ Barbara
ReplyDeleteAwesome!! I will definitely be giving this a try!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven’t done so already, I would like to invite you to participate in my weekend linkup. It involves anything related to homemaking: recipes, sewing, decorating, crafts, DIY, a story about what you did today, etc! There’s a button at the top of my sidebar you can grab to help you to remember to come back each week.
Have a great day!
Sarah
This is such a fantastic project! Hope you don't mind, but I've featured it on today's Inspiration Files blog over on A2D. Thanks for the inspiration!! --Kristi
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, I absolutely fell in love with this post you did on the books so I gave it a try and linked back to you today. I am one of your newest followers. Love your projects!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! Came over from Miss Maggie's. She did some adorable ones too.
ReplyDeleteblessings
barbara jean
I love this idea as well. I have a sack of books in the car which is meant for the thrift store. I NEED to go through the stack and see if any books (5 to be precise)are the same height.
ReplyDeleteThen I am going to look through my photos from a trip to New Zealand to see which one can be adapted to your idea.
Do you mind me saying that you are brilliant?!
These are awesome-i never woul dhave thought to do this! I found this on Looksi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!! I've pinned this, I really want to try this with some old thrift store books. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDebbie :)
What can I say but, Wow!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!! I will be featuring it on Sophisticated Yellow tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/FrenchKissed-Postcards-Digital-Scans/218073078275479?
ReplyDeleteLUV this! Shared on my Facebook page. Merci beaucoup for such a great idea!