Before we get started on this technique…you might like to pick up my 30+ page STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE that will help you “get the look” and capture it…whether on your iPhone or regular camera! It’s just a $5 investment and you’ll receive this book via your inbox immediately! Just click on the I WANT THIS below…
It’s no secret that I love to create vignettes and many times I use books in my styling. Old books with ruffled pages set my heart on fire. I have picked up bunches in my travels over time. These particular books date to the 1800’s and are French. We will be recreating the look here shortly.
They just add that je ne sais quois to this autumn mantel setting for me! I even stuffed some books and pumpkins into a lantern for autumn…which you can see in THIS post of my HOME TOUR fall 2015
If you don’t have a trip to France planned in the near future to find books are from the 1800’s, it’s pretty simple to create the look with this little DIY.
HOW TO MAKE NEW BOOKS LOOK OLD
Use Old Outdated Travel Books
Make yourself a pot of strong coffee and pour it over the books, as shown. If you have enough to cover them that’s better. Open up the pages and get them soaked really well. This will help the pages absorb the liquid and ruffle up nicely. Leave the books to soak for several hours if possible for more stain…
I know that some people use tea for staining but I prefer to use coffee. As a result of using coffee you can achieve a deeper stain.
Wonderful Janet, thanks for the Tutorial. I plan on sorting out my books this weekend for this project. ?
I'm doing this tomorrow! Love this idea.
Thanks for the tutorial. I've been wanting to do this but I was thinking I'd have to scour garage sales, find old books, and with much guilt, rip off the covers. Your method is much better.
Thanks for sharing ! Love the results !!!
Love this tfs♡
Gorgeous…I love this idea, going now to give this a try. TFS, you ROCK!!!
Love your display. What a great idea for a fall display.
OMG I love this idea, they came out so old and pretty! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on Fb & pinned! Have a great week!
Kim
I love project that use stuff I already have. And what a great idea to turn old paperbacks into a cool decor piece. Thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks for posting. Hello from Treasure Box Tuesday.
Thanks for how to on the books. Will be using Pinterest to save so it on the party with my ftench country cottage.
Great idea and so simple! Thank you for sharing with Dream. Create. Inspire. Link! I hope we'll see you again next week!
Cat
How exactly do you “ ruffle the pages “?
They should ruffle somewhat naturally if you use this technique. Some of the books pictured are genuine antiques and we are going for the look in this tutorial.
This weekend I am going to try this aging process on some no longer needed books I have. Then I am going to cover the covers with Christmas design paper. Thank you, Janet!
That sounds like so much fun Odessa and will look great for the holiday season!
Will the pages stick together in this process? I am wanting to make a book look vintage, yet still readable without taking it apart and putting it back together.
This would not be a great process if you still want to read the book, as it may indeed cause some stuck pages
So, I have been looking for some way to age only the pages of a new sketch book that I got, and I was curious if you know of any other ways to dry the books faster after staining it? I am just worried that my brand-new book will mold before the sun dries it.
You can try a blow dryer and that should help
Great! Thank you very much!!