Don't Toss Those Vintage Books: Transform The Pages Into An Eye-Catching DIY Garland

A lot of vintage books end up in the trash, whether that's because of damage that can't be repaired or because of an overabundance of donations to a thrift store. If you're someone who loves books and hates the idea of them ending up in a landfill, there are any number of craft projects that give old books a second life. You can, for example, transform Dollar Tree books into stunning floral home decor. Making a gorgeous seasonal garland is another of the many activities you can try. There are actually quite a few different ways to turn books into garlands, but one very simple method connects loops made from book pages into long chains that you can drape from shelves, ceilings, or anywhere else you might want to show off your love of the printed word.

To make your own vintage book page garland, you really only need about four things. Obviously you'll need an older book you don't mind tearing the pages out of, a pair of scissors, a stapler, and some staples. Once you've made your book page garland, you'll also need some fixtures to hang it up. Push pins work best; tape is unlikely to be strong enough to hold the weight of all that paper. Consider using a number of push pins in different spots along the garland to create a swag effect and better secure it to the wall or wherever you plan to hang it.

This DIY garland that adds beauty to any book lover's home doesn't require a lot of time or effort to make. The first step is to remove the pages from the vintage book. You'll want to use the scissors to get a clean cut; otherwise, the pages will have rough edges from being glued to the binding. This is also the moment to cut the pages down into smaller strips, depending on how wide you want each loop of your garland to be.

Begin making the garland by stapling both ends of one book page together about half an inch from the top of the page, creating a loop. Repeat this process until you have multiple paper loops ready to go. Take one paper loop and add a second paper loop to it, positioning its straight edge a little above the straight edge of the first loop before stapling. Build the garland up by adding another loop on the opposite side of the original loop, positioned a little above the first two loops. Continue stapling loops on alternating sides until you reach your desired length.

You can make your book page garlands as long or as short as you wish. Just remember that while paper is light, it isn't weightless, and you will need to take weight into account when hanging the garland. If you are using complete book pages and haven't cut them into smaller strips, you may need to use multiple push pins to hang your finished garlands securely.

If you're looking for creative ways to upcycle old books around your home, making these book page garlands is a relatively simple project once you get started. However, there are more ways to staple the pages together that create a similar garland-like effect but also allow you to add embellishments. One option is to form the loops as you staple the garland together rather than making them beforehand.

This method might be a bit more effective if you don't like the large, messy pile of paper loops waiting to be added to the garland, or if you don't know how long you want your garland to be. You'll start the garland with a single premade loop, then staple a flat book page to it. Bend that page into a loop, and staple it in place. Repeat for as long as you wish.

Don't be afraid to get creative with ways to make this garland your own. If you want to add a pop of color, you could add colorful paper loops into the mix, interspersing them throughout the garland to give it a more whimsical look. Another way to add some rustic interest is by attaching decorative touches, such as sprigs of berries, stems of dried flowers, feathers, or fall leaves, between the loops. Just remember that you'll likely need some strong glue to attach these items to the book pages, rather than using staples.