The DIY Garland That Adds Beauty To Any Book Lover's Home

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Sometimes, no amount of book glue or binding tape can hold together the pages of your favorite novel. Don't even think of throwing away your dog-eared paperback or even recycling it when there are scores of creative ways to decorate your home using repurposed books. For instance, you can make yourself a decorative reminder of the enjoyment that the book gave you by converting it into a leafy garland. It's sure to imbue any space with a bit of literary spirit.

If your favorite book still has many reads left before crumbling, choose any underappreciated tome on your shelf that you probably aren't reading anymore (think college textbooks or outdated travel guides) or a book from a thrift store that is better served as art. Along with many, many of its pages, you'll also need a glue gun with plenty of sticks, scissors, a pencil, grapevine wire, and a leaf template. You can freehand your own leaf shape onto paper to cut out and use, or you can find an image online that you like to print and cut out. Our inspirational DIYer Stephanie Leleux from Returning Grace Designs and Decor also recommends outfitting yourself with silicone finger protectors to keep digits safe from burning hot glue.

Smooth-edged cuts will take the least amount of time, but if you have decorative scissors, like these Mr. Pen craft scissors, you can create patterned edges that resemble the teeth on a leaf as they slice. Do note that sometimes these tools don't cut as reliably as standard scissors, and doubling up pages for cutting may be difficult. As an alternative, you can always reach for your trusty Fiskars pinking shears for that lovely crimped edge.

As you're settling on a leaf design, make sure it has a stem piece about 1 inch long and ½ inch wide; you'll be gluing each leaf to the grapevine wire at the stem. Any leaf works, but keep in mind that more intricate ones like Japanese maple shapes will take much longer to prepare. Leaves like birches, aspens, ashes, and cottonwoods are good choices, since they are simple and symmetrical.

Trace leaf shapes onto as many pages as you want. Leleux opted for a very full garland with leaves filling the entire length of the grapevine wire. However, groupings of a few leaves with spaces between them may also give you a pleasing effect. Cut out each leaf, and fold each one in half lengthwise so that they'll have more dimension.

Uncoil the grapevine wire, and reserve 6 to 8 inches at the ends for hanging. Armed with a screaming hot glue gun, work your way up the grapevine wire, attaching the leaves at the stem and overlapping them as closely as you like. Set yourself up for a better hot gluing experience by dabbing a bit of petroleum jelly onto the cool tip of your gun with a cotton swab before starting; this eliminates the stringy, gloppy mess on the nozzle. Attach each leaf stem to the wire with glue, wrapping the stem around the wire for security. Continue in a pattern you like until you have 6 to 8 inches left of wire. Curve the wire ends of your garland into hooks you can hang from the ceiling, along the edges of a bookcase, or around your windows.