So when I saw the Grand Tomes set at Restoration Hardware, I fell in love. They are intended to be copies of the books produced in France in the late 1700s with couvertures muettes…blank covers…to disguise books that were banned. Only one problem for me…they cost $195! Whaaaat? 
So I mulled over the best way to create something similar and, with Baby Kitty’s help, I came up with a plan! Here’s what you will need:
- Large size paperback books…Mine are 6” x 9” and came from Goodwill at $2.00 each
- Jute twine
- Elmer’s glue
- Muslin fabric, cut to cover the books
- Mod Podge
- Small flat paint brush
- Wax paper
- Gesso
- Black craft paint
- Wet tea bag
- Print out of graphics below:
Graphic for the front cover
Graphic for the spine
And here’s what you will do:1. Wipe the books to be sure they are free of dust and dirt.
2. Cut two small pieces of twine for each book and glue them to the spine, using Elmer’s glue, and let them dry.
3. Place a large sheet of wax paper between the cover and the pages to protect them. Brush on a generous layer of Mod Podge.
4. Smooth the muslin fabric onto the books. You may make a few small cuts on the fabric at the base of the spine if you wish to resemble wear and tear. Let it dry a little, pull out the wax paper and then let it finish drying.
5. Once it is dry, add more cuts along the length of the spine with a razor blade if you wish.
6. Mix the Gesso with one or two drops of the black craft paint and stir well, adding more if you wish one drop at a time, until you achieve the shade of grey that you desire. Once again, place a large sheet of wax paper between the cover and the pages to protect them and paint the muslin. Let it dry a little, then pull out the wax paper and let it finish drying.
7. Brush a generous amount of Mod Podge on the back of the smaller graphic and smooth it onto the spine.
8. Brush a generous amount of Mod Podge on the back of the larger graphic and smooth it onto the cover.
And…taaa daaa!…here they are! You can dab the edges of the pages with a warm damp tea bag to loosen them up and darken them if you like. Tie the books together with jute twine for an added vintage look.
I love the frenchy, vintage-y look that they will add to my décor and they only cost $6.00 for the books since I already had everything else that I needed! That’s waaaay better than their $195, huh?
And just in case you are in the mood for even more book bundles, here is my vintage book bundle with antique Paris postcards for you to copy…another Restoration Hardware inspired project!
Or how about my vintage Eiffel Tower book bundle that spreads a vintage post card photo across all of the spines. Of course, you could use any photo that you like for this one! And that’s it! Now I hope you are just about ready for fall because after Labor Day I am declaring it unofficially here and I will be sharing some fun fall projects with you! Soooo…stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing my vintage book bundle! 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.
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for the Show and Share Party , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday
See you next time! À la prochaine!
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