Making book sculptures is an easy way to create space in your home or workspace. All you need is a handful of materials and a little bit of talent.
Making book sculptures is a little artistry-based, so we will take a break and go more in depth after telling you how to make them!
They are very beautiful items to create, so if you are into artistic creation and/or making things, you will love this.
They can be useful as functional art ornaments, either hung on an existing tree or tree structure or made as decorations by adding several printed out pages and wrapping it around the tree.
Contents:
Find a book that resonates with you
Maybe you find a topic of interest that others don’t, like in the case of a book that people have positive experiences with but no one else seems to, or like someone else says it works for them, so you should try it. Or maybe you just have an innate desire to learn and create, like we do.
Then it’s time to get down to business. Create a book sculpture by laying your paper inside the book you want to use. Use your creativity and design skills to come up with a clever way to hold the book in place.
This is where the theme of your book comes into play. If the content of the book is happy and sunshine, then use bright, sunshine-coloured paper to hold up the book. If the content of the book is serious and danger, then use darker coloured paper so that people can see what is going on inside.
Decide what shape you want your sculpture to be
There are two main shapes that books take: the A-Award-winning triangle and the circle. Both shapes are wonderful, so you do not need to stick to one when creating your sculpture.
The circle is the easiest shape to make. You can use any size paper and a pencil to create a circle. The hardest shape to make is a triangle. You must decide whether your book will be closed or open before trying to figure out what shape you want your sculpture to be.
Many people use electronics boards as the base for their sculptures. These can be painted with some high-quality paint and glue and then decorated with some pens and decorations.
Cut out the pages of your book
Once you have your book done, it is time to add the text and pictures! You can do this by cutting out some of the pages of your book, or by adding new pages. Either way, do it before you run out of space!
To cut out the pages, first locate the page edges. They are usually marked with a line down the middle. From there, use a sharp knife to carefully cut out the page.
Then, fold in half and place on your worktable. Using a ruler or protractor, crease both sides of the book hard enough to get a good paper match. Trim off any extra paper and leave it in place if you wanted more space for pictures.
Fold your pages into the shape you desire
Now it is time to fold your pages into the shape you want. You can do this in many ways, but we will show you one more way.
The best way to make a book sculpture is to start with a thick sheet of paper and fold it in half, then round, then square. This is the process of unfolding the page and turning back up.
Once you have made several booksculptures, you can add some glue or sew on decorations such as septa or drawers. You can also add some textures such as suede or wool!
How Many Books Can You Make?
You will notice as you make books that they get bigger and bigger. This is because when you fold them in the correct way, they expand again! If you stop making them after that, they will be very large.
This is not a problem though! Instead of having to buy new books every month, you can create huge collections that stay fresh.
Find a sturdy base
When sculpting your book, you will need a soft and yielding base to which your designs are attached. This can be something as simple as parchment paper or plastic ware that holds the book in place.
If you choose something more substantial, make sure it is safe to use! You may want to consider using one of the alternatives listed below.
Make sure the base is large enough to hold all of the books you wish to sculpt together. Some models can be quite small, so do not underestimate how much space you will need.
Try your new art creation method out before posting it online to see if you have any critics. You could also try painting or printing some examples first in case there is a lack of artistic talent involved.
Book sculpture is an interesting and unique way to make art.
Layer your pages, one by one
Another tip for making book sculptures is to layer your pages, one by one. This means you can put the last page of your book on top of the first page, or the first page of the next book on top a new page.
This is useful if you end up adding some extra material to your books over time.
It also makes for a fun effect to look at as you turn the pages.
Use glue to hold together certain parts9) Finish decorating your sculpture10) Display it proudly!
Making sculpture is a fun way to do some quick decorating. There are many ways to make sculpture, so there is no wrong way to use glue to hold the pieces together. You can use velcro, fabric, posters, or even plastic cups or bowls as the base.
Make sure they are the right size too! If they are much smaller than your recipient, they may not look like anything is holding them together. If they are bigger than your recipient, they may be offensive or inappropriate- the person should have the option to take them out!
You can also add decorations such as handprints, flowers, or other stuff for a more realistic look.