Framed Book Page Pumpkins

Grab an outdated dictionary and give these fabulous framed book page pumpkins craft a try!

I’ve had mixed feelings about book page art since I first started seeing all of the fabulous crafts being done with it. On one hand, the art looks fabulous! On the other hand, I’m an avid reader (when I can) and couldn’t imagine cutting into a precious book. Even one I don’t care for (*ahem* I’m talking about you The Old Man and the Sea!).

But as you can see above, I managed to overcome my fear to make my Framed Book Page Pumpkins! 

Supplies
book (mine is a dictionary I’ve had since the early 90’s. since its outdated anyway, I gave it a go!)
scissors
ruler
pencil
scrapbook paper
frame
binder clip(s) (not pictured)
stapler (not pictured)
orange ink (not pictured)
Beacon’s 3-in-1 adhesive (not pictured)
ribbon (not pictured)
twigs (not pictured)

I found this frame at Home Goods, but immediately ran into a problem. The glass was glued to the frame! I needed it off for my 3D art. Enter the hubby and his heat gun. Popped that glass right off of there! Then I let it cool down again and picked the glue off.

I trimmed some scrapbook paper to size and inserted it into the frame. I kept the glass with it and used it as backing in the frame.

Let me show you how I made the pumpkins:

1. I measured the width of my frame to figure out how big my pumpkins could be and drew one onto the first page of the dictionary.

2. I only cut 10 pages at a time and used a binder clip to keep the pages together. I cut out a square of the dictionary to make it easier to cut out the pumpkins.

3. I used anywhere from 1-2 binder clips while cutting the pumpkins. I didn’t want any slippage! I just rotated the clip around my drawing as I cut.

4. I kept a binder clip around the cut pumpkins to keep them lined up.

I used my original drawing to continue to trace more pumpkins, always cutting only 10 at a time.

5. I cut a total of 30 pumpkins before deciding that I had a thick enough stack for my artwork. To keep them together I stapled them in the center.

6. Now its time to fan the pages out. You can see we have a gap in the middle.

7. To cover the gap in the middle of the pumpkins, we’re going to make a filler. We will need 5 more cuttings. Fold them all in half.

8. Cut 2 of the 5 pumpkins in half.

9. Apply a small amount of glue to along the seam in the center of your 3 folded pumpkins.

10. Stack the 3 pumpkins with glue on top of one another. Do not press them together too hard or the glue will smear.

11. Set the 4 pumpkin halves into the glue on the top pumpkin.

12. Use your fingers to keep the pages fanned out so that they don’t all fall flat.

13. Ink the edges of all of the pumpkin pages. I also went back and inked the edges of my scrapbook paper in the frame also.)

14. Apply a thin line of glue along the staple of the large stack of pumpkins.

15. Set the filler piece onto the pumpkin. After allowing the glue to dry, fan the pages of the pumpkin once again.

Repeat steps 1-15 two more times.

Time to make the stems!

I gathered some small twigs from the yard and grabbed some thin green ribbon I had in my stash.

I glued the pumpkins to the scrapbook paper so I would know how long to cut my stems. I trimmed them with scissors.

I tied the ribbon in a knot on the base of the stems.

I used a small amount of glue on the bottom and the back of the base of the stem to adhere it to the scrapbook paper.

I’m loving how it turned out!! Doesn’t it look great next to my pumpkin vase?

And I can change out the artwork for other holidays! I’m thinking Christmas trees for December…

And this is how my poor dictionary looks. The pumpkin cuttings only took me to the E’s!

I’m still reluctant to cut into a real book. But its growing on me!

 

What do you think?
Would you cut into a book to do a project similar to this one?

 

>> See where I party! <<

 

This post was originally shared on this blog in October, 2011.