Top 15 'Dog-Eared-to-Decor' Book Art Projects to make for giving unloved paperbacks a second chapter at home. - Goh Ling Yong
We all have them. That dusty box in the attic, the wobbly stack by the bedside, or the forgotten bottom shelf of the bookcase. They are the paperbacks of yesteryear—the beach reads, the once-loved series, the impulse buys. Their spines are cracked, their pages yellowed, and while we can't bear to throw them out, we know they'll likely never be read again. What if I told you those books aren't at the end of their story? They're just waiting for a new chapter.
Welcome, fellow book lovers and craft enthusiasts, to the wonderful world of book art! This isn't about destroying literature; it's about transformation. It’s about honouring the physical object of the book and the memories it holds by giving it a new purpose. By turning dog-eared pages into stunning home decor, you're not just decluttering—you're creating unique, personal pieces that tell a story in a whole new way.
Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe creativity is found in the most unexpected places. So, grab a cup of tea, pick out a paperback that's lived a full life, and let's explore 15 'Dog-Eared-to-Decor' projects that will breathe new life into your unloved books. We'll start simple and work our way up to some truly show-stopping pieces.
1. Rolled Page Shadow Box Art
This is a fantastic entry point into book art. It's meditative, requires minimal tools, and the end result looks incredibly sophisticated. The idea is to take individual pages, roll them into tight scrolls, and arrange them in a pattern inside a shadow box frame.
To start, carefully remove pages from a paperback. Roll each page tightly around a thin dowel or skewer, apply a small dab of glue to secure the edge, and then slide it off. You'll want to create dozens, or even hundreds, of these little scrolls. The magic happens in the arrangement—you can create a heart shape, a monogram of your initial, or an abstract wave pattern.
Pro-Tip: Play with the orientation! Glue some scrolls standing up (so you see the spiral) and others lying down (so you see the length). This creates a wonderful texture and depth. Using pages from different books will also add subtle variations in colour from cream to soft grey.
2. Themed Book Page Garland
Perfect for parties, holiday decorating, or adding a touch of whimsy to a reading nook, a book page garland is simple, cheap, and utterly charming. The concept is as easy as it sounds: cut shapes from book pages and string them together.
Use a craft punch or a stencil to create consistent shapes. Hearts are classic for weddings or Valentine's, stars for a festive feel, and circles or leaves for everyday decor. Once you have a good pile of cutouts, you can either use a sewing machine to stitch them together in a line (leaving a few inches of thread between each shape) or use a needle and thread to manually string them.
Pro-Tip: For a 3D effect, cut three identical shapes, fold each one in half, and glue the folded halves together to create a multi-faceted ornament before stringing them. This adds body and movement to your garland.
3. The Classic Hollow Book Safe
Everyone loves a good secret. A hollow book safe is a time-honoured classic for a reason—it’s a fun and functional way to hide small treasures in plain sight. This project works best with a thicker paperback that has a bit of heft.
Start by leaving the first few pages loose. Then, using a mixture of white glue and water (about a 3:1 ratio), brush the edges of the remaining book block, clamping it shut to dry. This creates a solid block. Once dry, use a ruler and pencil to draw the rectangle you want to cut out, and then carefully begin slicing through the pages with a sharp craft knife. Take your time, removing a few pages at a time until you reach your desired depth.
Pro-Tip: For a polished look, line the inside of the hollowed-out cavity with a piece of felt or decorative paper. It hides any rough cuts and makes your secret compartment feel extra special.
4. Folded Book "Hedgehog"
If you've ever seen folded book art, it was likely this charming little creature. The "hedgehog" or "pinecone" is a foundational project that teaches the basic, repetitive folding techniques used in more complex patterns. It’s the perfect project for a lazy afternoon.
The process involves a simple, repeated fold on every single page of the book. Typically, you take the top right corner and fold it down to meet the inner spine. Then, you take the new top edge and fold it down to the spine again, creating a point. Finally, the small triangle that hangs off the bottom of the page gets folded up and tucked inside. Repeat this on every page, and you’ll see a beautiful radial pattern emerge.
Pro-Tip: Use a bone folder (or even the edge of a ruler) to make your creases extra sharp. This will result in a much cleaner and more professional-looking finished piece. Don't be afraid to break the spine of the paperback to allow the pages to fan out evenly.
5. Rustic Book Page Wreath
A book page wreath is a statement piece that can be adapted for any season. It’s a bit more time-consuming than the garland, but the stunning, textural result is more than worth the effort.
There are two popular methods. The first is the "cone" method: cut pages into squares, roll them into cones, and hot glue them onto a flat wreath form (a circle cut from cardboard works perfectly). The second method involves creating paper flowers (see #7) and attaching those to a foam or grapevine wreath form. Both create a full, lush look that is both rustic and elegant.
Pro-Tip: To add a pop of colour or a vintage feel, you can lightly distress the edges of the pages with an ink pad before folding or rolling. Gold or silver spray paint, misted lightly over the finished wreath, can also add a beautiful festive shimmer.
6. Decoupage Book Page Coasters
Give your coffee table a literary twist with a set of custom coasters. This is a small-scale decoupage project that's perfect for beginners and makes for a thoughtful, handmade gift.
You’ll need some plain ceramic or wooden coasters, Mod Podge, and torn pieces of book pages. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the coaster, arrange your book page pieces on top, and then apply another layer of Mod Podge over the paper to seal it. Make sure to smooth out any air bubbles as you go.
Pro-Tip: Choose pages with interesting typography, small illustrations, or even snippets from a map in an old atlas. Once the coasters are completely dry, finish them with a coat of clear, waterproof acrylic sealer to protect them from drink condensation.
7. Delicate Book Page Flowers
Paper flowers are endlessly versatile, and making them from the printed page adds a layer of romance and nostalgia. From simple rosettes to complex peonies, you can create an entire bouquet that will never wilt.
For a simple rose, cut a spiral shape from a book page. Starting from the outside end, roll the spiral tightly towards the center. When you reach the end, the small circle at the center of your spiral acts as a base—put a dab of hot glue on it and press the rolled flower down to secure it. For other flower types, you’ll cut out individual petal shapes and glue them in layers around a wire stem.
Pro-Tip: Gently curl the edges of the petals around a pencil before assembling your flower. This simple step gives them a much more realistic and delicate appearance.
8. Layered Paperback Landscape
This project turns a deep shadow box into a miniature theatre of paper. By cutting silhouettes from book pages and layering them with spacers, you can create a stunning 3D landscape with incredible depth.
First, decide on your scene—rolling hills, a forest of pine trees, or a city skyline are great choices. For each layer, you'll cut the silhouette from a book page. Place the background layer flat against the back of the shadow box. Then, use small pieces of foam core or adhesive foam dots to attach the next layer, leaving a small gap. Repeat this with 3-5 layers to create your scene.
Pro-Tip: Use pages with different shades of aging or font sizes for each layer. This will create natural contrast and make the different planes of your landscape stand out even more.
9. Woven Paperback Basket
Yes, you can actually weave with paper! This project transforms a flimsy paperback into a sturdy and surprisingly useful little bowl or basket, perfect for holding keys, jewellery, or other small trinkets.
You'll need to cut many long, uniform strips from the book pages (about half an inch wide). Create a base by weaving strips together into a flat grid, like a placemat. Once the base is the size you want, fold the overhanging strips upward and begin weaving more horizontal strips around them to build up the walls of the basket. Use a dab of glue to secure the ends.
Pro-Tip: Once your basket is fully woven, paint it with a generous coat of Mod Podge or a clear sealant. This will stiffen the paper, add durability, and give it a protective, wipeable finish.
10. Book Page Origami
Origami is the ancient art of paper folding, and using book pages instead of plain paper adds a unique texture and story to each creation. The text on the page creates beautiful, unexpected patterns as you fold.
Start by cutting the pages into perfect squares. From there, the possibilities are endless. Fold a flock of classic peace cranes to hang as a mobile, create a string of lucky stars to fill a jar, or make intricate modular origami balls. The contrast between the rigid geometry of the fold and the flowing text is what makes these pieces so captivating.
Pro--Tip: For smaller, more intricate models, choose pages with smaller font sizes. For larger, simpler models, pages from a large-print book can create a bold, graphic look.
11. Sculptural Stacked Books
This is less about deconstruction and more about combination. By gluing a stack of paperbacks together, you can create a solid block that can be used as a decorative object or even a small riser for a plant or lamp.
Choose 5-7 paperbacks of similar dimensions. Apply a very strong craft adhesive, like E6000, generously to the cover of one book and press the next one firmly on top. Repeat this until your stack is complete, then place heavy objects on top and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
Pro-Tip: For a unified look, you can paint the entire stack a single colour once it's dry. A matte white or charcoal grey can turn a mismatched pile of books into a chic, minimalist sculpture. You can even sand the edges slightly for a distressed finish.
12. Book Page Wall Art
Move over, gallery walls. A large-scale installation of book pages can create a stunning and affordable feature wall. This is perfect for a home office, library, or any space that needs a touch of literary charm. I've seen some amazing examples that inspired my own projects here at Goh Ling Yong's creative studio.
The simplest method is to use wallpaper paste to apply individual pages directly to the wall, overlapping them for a collage effect. For a less permanent option, you can attach the pages to large, thin foam core boards that can then be mounted to the wall.
Pro-Tip: Before you start gluing, lay out your pages on the floor to get the arrangement just right. Mix in pages with illustrations, chapter headings, or even blank pages for visual variety. Consider aging the pages with a tea or coffee stain for a more vintage aesthetic.
13. Carved Book Fore-Edge Art
This is a simplified entry into the world of intricate book carving. Instead of creating a whole scene, you'll be carving a simple, bold shape into the fore-edge (the side opposite the spine) of a thick paperback.
First, clamp the book shut as tightly as possible. Draw your simple design—a heart, a star, an initial—onto the fore-edge. Using a very sharp craft knife or a Dremel tool with a small sanding attachment, carefully begin carving away the paper within your outline. This is a "subtractive" art form, so go slowly and carefully.
Pro-Tip: Patience is key. It's better to make many shallow passes with your knife than to try and cut too deep at once. This will give you more control and result in cleaner edges.
14. Paperback Headboard
For a true statement piece, why not sleep surrounded by stories? A headboard made from old paperbacks is a dramatic and deeply personal project for any avid reader.
You'll need a solid base, like a piece of plywood cut to the size of your desired headboard. From there, it's a matter of arranging and attaching the books with a strong construction adhesive. You can create a neat grid of closed books, showing off their spines, or an overlapping, chaotic pattern of books opened to your favourite pages.
Pro-Tip: Mix up the orientation. Have some books open, some closed, some facing spine-out, and some facing fore-edge out. This variety will create a rich, textural landscape that invites you to look closer.
15. Advanced Folded Book Art (Words & Images)
This is the pinnacle of book folding and a truly breathtaking art form. It takes the simple repetitive folding of the "hedgehog" to a new level by using precise measurements to make the page folds create a word, a date, or a silhouette.
This method is often called the "measure, mark, and fold" technique. You'll need a pattern (many are available for purchase or free online), which gives you two measurement points for each page. You mark these points on the page and then fold the edge of the page to meet your marks. It’s incredibly time-consuming and requires immense precision, but the result is a personalised sculpture that looks absolutely magical.
Pro-Tip: Start with a simple, short word like "LOVE" or "HOME" before tackling more complex patterns. A book with at least 400-500 pages is ideal, and using a metal ruler with clear markings is essential for accuracy. Trust the process—it might not look like much at first, but the image will magically appear as you complete more and more pages.
And there you have it—15 ways to give those forgotten paperbacks a second act. From simple coasters to a full-blown headboard, there’s a project here for every skill level and every type of book lover. The next time you look at that dusty stack of books, don’t see clutter. See potential. See a wreath, a secret box, a piece of art just waiting to happen.
Now, it's your turn. Which of these projects has sparked your imagination? Have you ever tried your hand at book art? Share your thoughts, ideas, and your own beautiful creations in the comments below or tag us on social media. We can't wait to see how you give your books a second chapter
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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