Have a book with a missing dust jacket? Make your own unique cover!
I made a rustic door, complete with hardware and a wreath.
Materials that you will need:
| Cardboard Paper towels Elmer’s glue Bristol board Air dry clay Decorative silicone mold Acrylic paint + Bronze metal rub + Wax metallic finish Circular plastic mesh canvas Spackling paste, (DAP Fast’N Final Lightweight spackling) Artificial flowers and moss Miniature door hardware |
Cut 2 pieces of cardboard the same size as the front and back of your book. Glue one on the front and the other on the back of your book with Elmer’s glue.
Cut 1 more piece of cardboard, and 1 piece of bristol board, then cut them in 3 pieces.
The 3 bristol board pieces are glued to the front of the book, and the other 3 cardboard pieces are glued to the back of the book.
Cut 1 inch pieces of cardboard and glue around the front of the book, on top of the 3 pieces of bristol board that you’ve already glued down.
Cut a 2 inch piece and glue it in the middle.
Cut the paper towels in small pieces, and glue the pieces down one by one with a generous amount of glue. Use a paint brush to glue down the paper towels.
Next apply the spackling paste.
Do not use your hands to apply the paste! Use a larger brush to apply the paste evenly, and wear nitrile gloves!
This look is achieved by scraping the spackling paste with a toothpick immediately after you apply it, as it drys fairly quickly.
Next, I put my air dry clay in my silicone mold to create the decorative piece in the middle of the door. I also added the miniature door hardware, the handle and the door hinges, which were all applied with glue.
I cut the circular plastic mesh canvas into a smaller round piece, and used it to make the door wreath.
Poke the artificial moss and flowers through the circular plastic mesh canvas, and glue it on.
Trim away the pieces that stick out through the bottom, that way when you lay your wreath down on your door, it will lay fairly flat.
Set the wreath aside and start painting your door!
I used black acrylic paint. Make sure that you get into every crevice. Then let it dry overnight.
You are now ready to add the final touches!
I used a combination of brown acrylic paint, a gold wax metallic finish, and a bronze metal rub to create a “rustic” look.
Then you can glue your wreath to the front door, and that’s it!
Your book cover is finished!
