With the lazy, hazy days of summer slowly coming to an end, and the colorful display of autumn only a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about school again. From shopping for school supplies to shopping for the latest fall fashions, the back-to-school ritual can be found in kindergarten classrooms and college dorms across America as students young and old stock up on the trendiest folders and backpacks, and the hottest jeans and sneakers. Over the years, some things change while others stay the same. One of the most nostalgic age old traditions is the covering of the school books. Back in the day, it was done with paper bags. Then as manufacturers got more creative, they came up with funky waxed paper coverings, designer print wrappings and even stretchy textile shells for those thick science books and boring English journals.
To jump on the bandwagon, we at J&O decided to take the art of book covering to the next creative level with the implementation of fabric. Not only can you make great clothing , upholstered furnishings and home crafts; but what fun you will also have garmenting your boring evergreen lab books with hot pin up girls, fast race cars and cool retro prints. Add a little color here, a little design there, as your stack of much disliked studies turns into a much admired reflection of the many faces of you!
In just 10 simple steps, your cut novelty prints will turn into unique works of art that you will love. Not only will your professor approve, but your pockets will be happy too.
What you will need:
Brown paper bag or brown crafting paper
½ yard 45” fabric
Fabric spray adhesive, fabric glue or regular elmers glue
Scissors
Decorative trim (optional)
Fabric Book Cover Instructions:
Step one
Cut open your paper bag from top to bottom along one of the sides. Cut off the base so that you are left with a rectangular shaped paper that will serve as your shell.
Step two
Grab your book and place it in the center of the paper. Wrap the paper up across the bottom of the book and make a crease along the bottom cover. Do the same thing for the top of the book. Now take the book off the paper.
Step three
Fold the paper up at the bottom crease and down at the top crease. If you are using brown crafting paper, cut back the paper so that it extends no more than 3-4” from the top or bottom of the book.
Step four
Place the book back at the center of the paper and bring the left side of the paper shell/cover over the book and line it up with the right side of the paper cover. Fold the overlap around the front cover of the book and make a crease. Then insert the front cover of the book into the slot that is formed by the folded top and bottom sides of the shell. When your book slides all the way until it hits the crease, stop. Now do the same with the back cover.
Note: You really should not have more than 3” worth of shell covering around the perimeter of your book. If you do, then you might want to cut back some.
Step five
Once a firm fit has been established, take the book out of the shell and put it aside for the moment.
Step six
Take your shell and unfold the sides again.
Step seven
Now lay your piece of fabric flat and place the shell on top of it.
Step eight Cut the fabric out to fit the shell. Leave about 1” around the perimeter for give when folding.
Step nine
With your selected adhesive, affix the back of your fabric to the paper shell and allow to dry
Step ten
Once secured, fold the shell securely in the same manner as you did originally, and slide book into slots again.
Voila! Your fabric book cover is complete at this stage unless you want to embellish it with fabric paint, trims, sequence or some other finishing that tickles your fancy. 
These simple handcrafted book covers are not only easy to make, but are also inexpensive too. With just a little bit of money and a half a yard of fabric, your classmates will know you're a fan of Scooby Doo and football in no time.From young to old, fabric book covers are a unique and great way to personalize and protect your cherished, or not so cherished literary works.
Check out our great novelty fabric here!
Check out our hot college fabric here!
Check out our fun children's fabric here!
Posts by J&O Fabrics Store
Labels: back to school crafts, book covers, children craft, college basketball, fabric crafts, novelty fabric craft, school, school.
Many of you who visit us and purchase our fabulous fabrics, are seamstresses and crafters yourself. Whether you are male or female, young or old, an expert or a novice, most likely after your project is complete, you are left with pieces of material too large to throw away, and too small to make anything with…… until now.
The J&O Family has put together a small list of neat craft ideas for your cotton novelty, dress, upholstery, decorative or tapestry fabrics that will awaken the artist in all of you. Birthdays, holidays and home / garment décor will never be the same once these crafty ideas are manifested by your own unique hands.
Book covers
Photo albums, scrap books, baby books, even grandma’s secret recipe book could all use a facelift over time. Customize it for that special someone or even just for yourself. A half a yard is all you need for a nice sized cover. Select from our multiple novelty fabric categories, even mix and match for that perfect reflection of you.
Check out our African fabric here.
Check out our Children’s fabric here.
Check out our Maps of the World here.
Quilts
One of the easiest and most popular craft ideas for scrap fabrics is a quilt. With a little needle and thread, you can customize a truly unique quilt for family, friends or loved ones. If you have a child who loves spider man, pokey man, baseball, horses and the color blue, search your scrap pile a little deeper to see what you can find. Or maybe you have a companion who you met in the winter in Paris and you went on a date and had a wonderful pasta plate that both of you enjoyed and later he gave you red roses and a kiss… and maybe you h
ave fabrics lying around that could symbolize each of these moments in time. Imagine what a thoughtful and sentimental gift that would make. Just from scraps of fabric.
Simple or intricate, small or large, quilts can be a great way to say “you’re special” and free up some of that closet space for more important things in the meantime. Cut your fabric scraps into the standard 4” squares, or create your own unique look.
Check out our Quilting fabrics here.
Check out our Novelty fabrics here.
Check out our Holiday fabrics here.
Sachets
Sachets are small bags usually made of fabric or mesh material with a draw-string closure. They are traditionally used for holding potpourri, but you can create one to hold your jewelry, precious stones or coins, incense or even gift items. With those small fabric scraps, you can create several and personalize them for family and friends. Even use them to hold spices or teas in your pantry. Our cotton knits, sheers and food themed novelty prints are great fabrics for such a project. And the looser materials would allow for the scents to come through. A sheer chiffon or netted fabric will allow you to see what’s inside as well.
Doll Clothes
For those of you who have children, fashionable custom made attire for that Barbie, Dora or GI Joe doll can be made from those camo’s and silks. Create great fatigues or beautiful evening gowns for your little one’s fantasy play. Even let them design the outfits themselves. Make play time an opportunity to learn and share with one another. Even something as simple as a skirt or vest is enough to spark the creative juices in their little minds and give them a taste of what they can fashion with a little imagination and their two little hands.
If you want to make a little money with your creative talents, create to sell. For instance, Barbie is a fashion icon and she has been around for a long time, her miniture wardrobe is stylish and hip and just keeps growing season after season. Her fan base consists of young and old collectors and admirers alike, who love to dress her. In fact, there are shows throughout the nation that are dedicated to dolls in general. Creating unique ensembles out of your fashionable fabric scraps for them to model could prove quite lucrative & fun.
Applejack Hats
The last fabric scrap craft gem the J&O Family has to share with you is the Applejack Hat. This hat is constructed out of anywhere from 6 -8 triangular shaped fabric pieces and a fabr
ic band with elastic running through it. Create unique hats for your family and friends both young and old. Personalize by using fabrics, prints and colors that hold some meaning or sentiment for the receiver. You can use fleeces, denims and wools with a light lining in it during the cooler months, or colorful cotton solids, novelty prints and lightweight denims for fun wear in the warmer months.
So don’t be so quick to throw those year old red satins, embroidered tapestry or $25/yard designer prints in the garbage. And please don’t let your pile grow taller than you before you put that good scrap fabric to use. With a little help from the J&O Family, we can help make your wonderful fabric selections work magic for you, ‘til the very last thread.
Labels: applejacks, book covers, doll clothes, quilts, scrap fabric