Easy Upcycled Book Tree
What can you make out of old books? book crafts are a fun way to repurpose vintage books. craft old books into an upcycled book tree with this easy how to.
Old books can easily be found secondhand thrifting fairly inexpensively. Vintage books are the backbone of my decorating. Today I’ll share a book crafts idea that’s a fun way to decorate with old books. This Easy Upcycled Book Tree is a great way to craft old books into creative home decor!
Easy Upcycled Book Tree
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These repurposed book trees can be used throughout the year; they actually resemble birdhouses and would be cute with garden decor. I love decorating with old books and this is a creative way to enjoy their fun patterned covers in a unique way.
Book Upcycling Materials Needed
3″ log, 5-7″ length We used birch logs (get some HERE)
5/16″ Wood dowel, cut at 7-9″
3-5 Vintage hardcover books (get them HERE)
Decorative bells and tart tins
Evergreen scraps
How to Craft Old Books into an Upcycled Book Tree
Start with a 3′ thick, fairly straight birch log (preferably with some awesome lichen attached;) Or use whatever wood log you can find laying around, but more texture is definitely better. Our logs were cut at 5″ and 7″ in length.
Next cut one end at 45 degrees on either side, leaving a small flat spot in the middle.
Drill a 5/16″ hole 2-3″ deep.
Cut a 5/16″ wooden dowel to fit into hole. We cut ours at 7″ and 9″ lengths.
Next, drill a 5/16″ hole in 3 or 5 old Reader’s Digest books, or whatever books you want to use for the tree (Sorry book lovers, I know this is painful for you). I love decorating with these patterned books, but I never show the binding end, so I won’t glue these in. I’ll easily be able to take this tree apart and use these books to stack around my house wherever, showing the pages side.
Start stringing your books onto the dowel. Three Reader’s Digest books fit nicely on the shorter length log and 5 on the taller log.
Color coordinate your books to be appealing. I grouped the blue/aquas together and the greens, planning out which patterns looked good next to each other, and also which book I wanted on top.
You should have a 1″ dowel left at the top after stacking the books 1/2 way open. Hot glue some type of star at the top. I still had my vintage tart molds out from my last project {“How To Create Vintage Tart Mold Wall Art”} and liked the addition of some sparkle. I hot glued the mold upside down to the dowel and added a metallic bell to the top also. A couple extra pine branches hid the little extra length of dowel I didn’t want to see.
Have Fun Decorating with Old Books Trees
I created 2 shorter trees with 3 books and one taller tree with 5 books. Since they look similar to bird houses, tucking a few woodland animals in with them fits their whimsical style.
These easy Book Trees can be enjoyed all winter long. But they could completely change styles and seasons, depending on the color books you use and what you top them off with.
For more book decorating & craft ideas, see:
“Decorating with Books: 21 Creative Ways to Use Old Books for Decoration”
“Decorating with Old Books: The Different Types You Should Collect”
For more of my vintage-inspired DIY projects, see HERE.
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More Upcycled Book Ideas from my Thrifty Chicks friends!
- Debra from Shoppe No. 5, “How To Create A Holiday Vase by Recycling A Bottle”
- Diana from Adirondack Girl @ Heart, “Vintage Christmas Card Decoration + Free Printable”
- Me;)
- Tania from Little Vintage Cottage, “DIY Secret Book Safe”
- Tuula from Thrifty Rebel Vintage, “Book Wreath Made of Vintage Mini Books”
Sharing at these lovely parties:
LOVED this idea, but I’m betting all the green RD condensed books are gonna disappear real fast after folks see your post! I think I might look for some and then maybe add some scrapbooking paper in appropriate colors to cover the ones that aren’t green. It may or may not work, but that idea popped into my head while wondering if I’d find green RD books.
(Or maybe I’ll look for blue ones and just tell folks it’s a blue spruce tree! ) 😉
Thanks!!
Glad you enjoyed the idea, Linda! They’re so fun to decorate with;) Good luck hunting!
This is the sweetest DIY! I never in a million years would have come up with this idea. I think it’s a perfect way to showcase vintage books in a whole new way!! 🙂
Thanks, Sheila! I never met a vintage book I didn’t like; this project is another way to enjoy them!
i love this! i feel marginal pain for spearing the books, but i love the overall outcome!
b
Thanks! I got over the pain when I told myself I could take the books off & still enjoy the covers & the pages side-the binding ends are kinda ugly anyway;)
I love your book trees. Pinned for next year!
Awesome, Virginia! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Well, now I’m kicking myself for getting rid of my husband’s Readers Digest books. Such a creative idea, Lora!
Oh no; seriously? Throw away nothing!
I absolutely love your book trees Lora! So fun! I made a version years ago by just stacking books of different sizes on top of each other from big to wee, but I like yours so much better. Very cool!
Thanks, Tuula! I did that years ago too, this is my version #2!
So creative…love this.
Thanks!
I think Reader’s Digest books are the ONLY ones I don’t mind cutting up! The old ones have such marvelous end papers, too! Our doll house club used to gut them to make boxes (cardboard or better yet, foamcore sides and made scenes with miniatures! I love how you “styled” the scene with the greenery and raccoon! It’ll be good till February!
Kathy, I love all the varieties of papers on these old RD books & seems like there’s always ones I haven’t seen! And yes, the woodland styling of the book trees spread to my whole kitchen, which you can see next week when I share my house tour! Thanks!
Yes it is so painful for me to cut up a book, But I love what you did so I would go ahead and make these adorable trees.
Guess I’ve seen so many in my life, I’ve gotten over it! I did hold back on using my green bound ones that have been in the family;)