Tutorial: How I paint my book covers!

Hi everyone, as requested here is the tutorial on how I paint my book covers. I hope you enjoy.

[@lindaswoveland8515]

Your tutorial was not silly at all, it was exactly what I was looking for. I want to paint some old books to use in a big basket that I'm going to hang from my front door for my autumn front porch decor. I'll also wrap the books with twine, fill the basket with sunflowers and autumn leaves. The basket has a leather hanger on the back side and a lid that I'll leave open.

[@scotishcovenanters]

I loved the turtorial! Don't edit this. I need to see it in real time to see the process fully! Thank you so much for making this. NONE of it is boring. Thanks again. Love LOVE your color combination.

[@brendafochtman-paperbitsba4003]

Love it - thanks for the tutorial. Really like how it makes ho hum books look great.

[@MarinaWilsonSaySomethingCrafty]

This was not boring at all! My old chair used to sink. My fiancé broke it because he kept using it for his gamer chair. I had to leave it on the lowest setting. It would hurt my back after a while to craft so low. Definitely get a new chair if you can. I love the way the cover turned out! The color choices went together beautifully. Thank b you for making a tutorial. You've inspired me so much!

[@elemeniah]

Marina Wilson MarsArt thanks so much Marina, I hope you give this technique a go….it's SO much fun! TFW… :)

[@porchswingdesignsmarilou7323]

Thanks for sharing this with us! I will definitely try this out. I've already made a trip to my library and am set to start some new projects, so this was a timely find for me!

[@RuthsInkwell]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm definitely going to give it a try! Very inspiring!

[@arkansasfamily6088]

I love this! Thanks so much.

[@susanbroussard2754]

That was awesome!! I never thought about painting them!! Duh! lol! Great tut and thanks so much for sharing!!

[@elemeniah]

+Susan Broussard thanks Susan, I love painting the covers....so many color options! :)

[@YvonnePrestonsjournalcreations]

I love seeing the process of anything, I would of been happy sat watching the paint drying too lol love how the cover turned out ! Tfs... Yvonne :)

[@elemeniah]

Yvonne White hehe, that's good to hear and that I didn't put you to sleep…LOL! TFW… :)

[@mariagutierrez4721]

Great job Love the color is Beautiful ❤️

[@edithhaddiedesigns542]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@primfranful]

So quick and easy and it looks totally vintage. Love it. Thanks Lori. Hugs, Fran

[@elemeniah]

Fran Glinsky Thank you so much Fran, you have to give it a try!!! TFW… Hugs!

[@freelife4i]

I love this tutorial!

[@LindaLap]

Very cool! I love to use old books. TFS

[@elemeniah]

Linda Lapotka Thanks so much Linda…old books are the best… TFW.. :)

[@paprluvr]

Looks really nice. Love the reddish undertones in the finished project. Great tutorial. Tfs. Tere

[@elemeniah]

paprluvr Thanks so much Tere…I'm loving this technique….tfw… :)

[@adascraps]

Hi Lori. Thanks for the tutorial. I always love to see people being creatively busy. It is almost as if i am busy myself but instead i am just hanging on the couch and learn ;-) I don't think it is boring at all and your videos make everything very clear. Hugs Ada.

[@elemeniah]

adascraps Thank you so much for your lovely and supportive comment…..I really appreciate it…. Hugs!!!

[@MsFadedTV]

Im totally trying this today!!!

[@annemillion1501]

I really enjoyed this video...I guess I am as bad as Yvonne, I probably would have sat here and watched the paint dry, too, as long as you kept talking....LOL! Thank you so much for sharing this video...

[@elemeniah]

***** hehehe, glad to know I didn't put you to sleep….hahaha! Thanks so much Anne! :)

[@tiinahimmanen1012]

Very vintage and colors are perfect

[@elemeniah]

Tiina Himmanen Thanks so much Tiina…and TFW..

[@siskjan4483]

Thanks for the tutorial..Love it! ~Jan

[@elemeniah]

***** no problem and thanks for stopping by Jan! :)

[@practicemakespretty]

Hi Lori, thanks for the tutorial. I hope to try this soon. See you over at JJJ

[@elemeniah]

practice makes pretty Thanks so much Denise…I really love this technique…you can make so many different stained looks… TFW.. :)

[@alicraft562]

nice tutorial! i hope u give us a peek at ur completed journal! TTYL Lori! tfs ~ Ali

[@elemeniah]

alicraft562 Hey Ali, thanks for stopping by….I will definitely give you a peek when it's done….TFW… :)

[@sydneytrudel9415]

I am SO glad I found this and that you're still replying to people!! I had a quick question about what to do on my book. So I'm adding embossing (I believe that's what you call raised edges) around my book on both the front and back. I don't want the embossing and cover to look like different materials so I plan on covering them both with fabric and smoothing it down. Once I get the new fabric cover secured on the book can I paint it with acrylic? None of the fabric I have is the shade of purple I need and I'm on a budget so I'm wondering if acrylic paint will do the job or if I should reconsider? Thank you so much for your time and I apologize if I worded this poorly and you don't understand just let me know and I can rephrase!

[@MiniatureMadnessofcherylg2696]

Great technique! Thank you for sharing! Hugs Cheryl

[@elemeniah]

CeeGee4U You're very welcome Cheryl….hope you give it a try. TFW… :)

[@MiniatureMadnessofcherylg2696]

I did try it, and it worked out great! Thank you.

[@mamiejeanne1]

Thank you Lori !!! I love it !! Hugs, Sabine

[@elemeniah]

mamiejeanne1 thank you Sabine….. hugs!!!

[@kimleon-guerrero9980]

Thank you !

[@fluorescentpinkglass]

Great tutorial, tfs

[@elemeniah]

fluorescentpinkglass Thanks Phyness…..and tfw.

[@lindaswoveland8515]

I won't remove the pages of the book. Just want to use 3 books in a basket arrangement.

[@suebrown7882]

Thanks for the demo - I have some books that have red covers that I would like to paint white before decoupaging with pictures. Do you recommend a base to paint it with first? Thanks

[@elemeniah]

any white paint will do, you might have to do a few coats. Good luck!!!

[@Scrapart_by_Zelinda]

What method do you use to attached the pages ? Love this idea of using an old book cover.

[@elemeniah]

***** Hi Joanie…I sew in the signatures using a pamphlet stitch. Have a fab day! TFW… :)

[@janellekm]

That was what I wanted to know, how to get the pages in.

[@monyscell8352]

Hi Lori, just wanted to ask you about the metallic tooling on the spine. I've searched all over youtube-dom but can't find any answers about whether the acrylic paints will cover it completely and whether they will stick indefinitely or does the paint eventually come off the metallic foiling? I've tried sanding it off but it seems too much sanding can just wear books in the bookcloth. I'd appreciate any insights you could give. Thanks in advance. Great tutorial and your cover turned out lovely. Tfs.

[@elemeniah]

Mony's cell , if you seal the cover it won’t come off! I use collage pauge, it’s great! TFW!

[@elvees.corner]

Hi great video thank you for sharing. I have a question when using modge podge do you find you work is sticky after it drys and if so do you recommend anyway to stop it from happening thanks again. Lesley

[@elemeniah]

elnjays Hi Lesley, I haven't had any trouble with things sticking to the mod podge…I have heard people say they rub powder over the surface and it lessens the tackiness! TFW… :)

[@elvees.corner]

thank you :)

[@palmofviolets8467]

If I don’t have mod podge, can i water down some PVA glue instead?

[@elemeniah]

palmofviolets yes, that would work! If the cover is a little tacky, I’ve heard crafters use baby powder afterwards to decrease the tackiness on the cover! Good luck, have fun!

[@beverley-memawmawclarkwhit5102]

hello, Lori, I really like how you do this!!! BS and BU aren't the only colors you use, though, are they???? I have a red book that I want to make as a calendar journal for my son. it has gold writing on the book cover....I was thinking of coloring over the gold letters, and maybe using red as the base coat, like you use the BS, and then covering that in the same way you use the BU....what do you think of those two colors??? Bev White

[@elemeniah]

+Beverley Clark White I think that's a great color combo...since this video I've used many different color combo's....pink/white, aqua/grey, and it's so much fun to mix and match...have fun,

[@dianemoore7235]

I prefer a tutorial than a craft share. So it's not boring. Thank you.

[@elemeniah]

Diane Moore Thanks so much Diane…and TFW… :)

[@shuttergirlUK]

It would have been useful if you'd talked about the types of material used - can you use other paint other than acrylic? Does the type of book cover make a difference to which paint you use and the finish?

[@elemeniah]

+shuttergirlUK I'm not an expert, I can only show what I do. The book I used had a paper cover, I used acrylic paints. I've done multiple books since this video, and I've never had any problems with them. I always seal in the paint with mod podge or matte medium.

[@beehivejournals6446]

This was fun to watch. Looks great! Do you reinforce the book spine at all? tfs!

[@elemeniah]

Beehive Journals Thanks so much for watching…and yes, I reinforce it on the inside with bookbinding tape! :)

[@beehivejournals6446]

Thank you! I need to order some. I've been using a few layers of cheesecloth with Allene's which is ok but messyyyyyyyy. Thanks again for sharing how to do what is now my new personal favorite way to prepare a book cover!

[@angelicabelzeski1243]

Quick question if i just use the acrylic paint without the mod pudge would that be a problem?

[@elemeniah]

Angelica, if you don’t seal it, there’s a strong chance it’ll just rub off whenever it touches or rubs against something. Or maybe do many many coats?

[@jimmytheelonmuskspacexboip5440]

I want to make a heart shapped cut book!!!and i want to color the cover as u did !!Is there a simplest way to do it?plz respont fast...❤

[@elemeniah]

JimmyTHEgr8gamer Well, if you want to make a heart shaped cover, you could use chipboard or cereal boxes, if you use cereal boxes then just layer two or three pieces. Just trace a heart and cut it out. Then I'd use red paint first then go over it with light pink. Hope this answers your question. :)

[@jimmytheelonmuskspacexboip5440]

Lori (Just A Girl From The Bay) thank you very much for your helpp!!!❤❤❤❤

[@sabrinamariesayre]

I'm curious what you do with this after your done painting it?What paper do you put in the book and why? This is all new to me so I'm sorry if these questions seem stupid. 🤔☺

[@sabrinamariesayre]

I see, you are scrapbooking. Okay I answered my own question. Lol Thanks. I want to paint some books and layer them together with glue and stick a bird on them all one color maybe two. I saw this at a Hobby Lobby but didn't want to pat their prices plus I thought it would be fun to do myself. Anyway I loved the finished product of your book!! :)

[@sabrinamariesayre]

Pay*

[@PinkOddBird]

Yes you can totally turn it into a junk journal afterwards! 😊😊

[@elemeniah]

Hi Sabrina, no such thing as a stupid question when you're a newbie...that's how we all started, hehe! I use these covers to make journals, I put a mix of different papers inside, some scrapbook paper, book paper, vellum, coffee dyed papers, etc...I have a bunch of journal videos, I've made tons of them! I will be using my journals as scrapbooks, just putting pictures of my family and journaling...hope this helps :)

[@elemeniah]

great idea...that would work for sure! I hope you show us your book when it's done :)

[@addisonavery_]

I'm trying to restore the cover of a book that has a few faded areas. Would this method be the best approach or is there another technique that can be used?

[@elemeniah]

If it's a vintage book, I'd actually leave it the way it is. If it's a regular book, I'd paint it!

[@addisonavery_]

@@elemeniah Wow I was just thinking about this! Thanks for responding! It's a black canvas style dust jacket. Would fabric dye, acrylic, or fabric spray paint suffice?

[@elemeniah]

@@addisonavery_ Oh yes, fabric dye would be perfect...good luck!

[@jeanmurdock2926]

Do you seal your covers afterpainting

[@jeanmurdock2926]

Wrote my question to soon. Good video.

[@angaramacrafts8564]

Hi! Now that's cool and I'm delighted to find out it is soooo easy! TFS!!! ang @ angaramacrafts

[@elemeniah]

angarama crafts Thanks so much Ang….give it a try, I'm loving this technique… TFW… :)

[@lynettedalton-stitchinmyst7358]

my brother fixed my chair with pvc pipe. after a few years the air goes out and does not work properly. check youtube video how to fix an office chair

[@milkixo3621]

Do you use acrylic paint

[@elemeniah]

Yes, acrylic paint...TFW..