An easy DIY tutorial on how to make a book page bunting. Using old book pages, you can make a rustic chic banner in less than 15 minutes!
Book page crafts make my heart beat fast and make me giddy inside. It's actually hard to explain how much I love anything made out of the pages of a book.
There's something rustic, pretty, and sentimental about crafts made with book pages. One of my all-time favorite book page crafts is the huge book page wreath I made for our living room. I've also made book page tassels, fringe book page trees, Mod Podge cone trees with book pages, and Mod Podge ball ornaments using old book pages.
Here is a super easy, cute book page craft that takes hardly any time at all: a book page bunting. Some might call it a book page garland, or a book page banner. Either way, it's adorable and a breeze to make. It can also be embellished to fit any holiday or party theme.
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Cutting Up Books - Yay or Nay?
Some people think cutting up books and making crafts out of the pages is horrific. They are book lovers and they think it's a huge shame to wreck a book. I'm a book lover too, but I take a different viewpoint.
The vast majority of old books end up in the recycle bin or the landfill, so to me, making crafts out of old book pages is actually saving books, and giving them new life.
I think it's actually an ode to my love of books; it's in honor of my love of reading.
Plus, the books I've used to make book page crafts have been freebies I picked up from the FREE box outside my local library, and from the overcrowded shelves of thrift stores.
Why You'll Love This Craft
- Book page crafts are so fun (and easy!) and this one is no different!
- If you have old books lying around, or like to go thrifting and can pick up a few forgotten books, this is a way to upcycle them into something new!
- This book page banner is minimal and classic, but it doesn't have to stay that way! You can embellish it more if you want to make it fit a particular season or holiday! (Like we did for this fall garland here!)
Craft Supplies Needed
- Old Book Pages - Give your old books new life, or get some from thrift stores, garage sales, or check your local library for a Free box!
- Scrap Paper - To make a template for the bunting flag.
- A Paper Cutter - Helps cut paper evenly and quickly (you can cut multiple pages at once.) This is one of my favorite craft tools!
- Twine, Yarn, or String - Some type of garland string to string the flags on and hang.
- Scissors, Glue stick, and Scotch Tape - Craft room staples!
How to Make a Book Page Bunting
Step 1. Cut the book pages (and a piece of scrap paper) into 4x6 inch rectangles using a paper cutter to make them even.
Step 2. Use the 4"x6" scrap piece of paper to make a template. Cut a notch into the bottom to turn the rectangle into a flag, using scissors.
Step 3. Fold the top of each flag over about ¼ or ½ inch, and press the fold to crease it.
This is where your twine will lay.
Step 4. Put a line of glue from a gluestick in the crease you just folded, and lay down the twine.
Step 5. Fold the flap over the twine again, and tape it down with clear tape.
The bunting could be made without the gluing in Step 4, but then the flags may slide around on the twine.
Using the glue first and then taping the folded flap down, helps anchor the flags to the twine.
Step 6. Repeat the same process to add each flag, leaving the desired space between the flags.
My flags are a distance of about 3"-4" between each flag.
You can make them closer together or further apart, depending on what you like best.
Once you've attached a few, you can hold the garland up and see how it looks. If they need adjusting, slide them around before the glue dries.
Step 7. Continue adding flags until your book page garland is as long as you want it to be!
Tie a loop at each end of the garland to make it easy to hang up.
Step 8. Hang up your book page garland and enjoy!
You could also use command hooks, push pins, or small nails. Or simply tape it up with washi tape!
Common Questions
First, check your own bookshelves! They might not be very old books, but if you have books you never plan to read again, you can upcycle them! Other places to look for old books are thrift stores, garage sales, the free box at your local library, or even look for worn-out books inside little free libraries.
Of course you can! Scissors work fine, your cuts just won't be as precise as they would be if you used a paper cutter to cut the paper rectangles. But if scissors is all you have, use them!
Sure! You can cut any shape out of your book pages for a garland. My other favorite shape for a book page banner would be triangles. Just like we did in this triangle fabric bunting, but with paper triangles instead!
This book page bunting is classic and simple enough to be extremely versatile. It looks great as an everyday home decor banner. The colors are neutral, so they match EVERYTHING.
The book page garland acts as a blank canvas too, beckoning to be spiced up for the holidays. You can add autumn-colored leaf cutouts when fall comes, and or Christmas colored embellishments when the holidays roll around. The sky is the limit with it comes to customizing this banner!
With an old book, twine, glue and tape, you can make a handmade book page bunting in less than 15 minutes!
More Garland Crafts You'll Love
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DIY Book Page Bunting | How to Make a Banner from Old Book Pages
Materials
- Old Book Pages
- Scrap Paper
- Paper Cutter
- Twine, Yarn, or String
- Scissors, Glue Stick, Scotch Tape
Instructions
- Cut the book pages (and a piece of scrap paper) into 4x6 inch rectangles using a paper cutter to make them even.
- Use the 4"x6" scrap piece of paper to make a template. Cut a notch into the bottom to turn the rectangle into a flag, using scissors.
- Fold the top of each flag over about ¼ or ½ inch, and press the fold to crease it.This is where your twine will lay.
- Put a line of glue from a gluestick in the crease you just folded, and lay down the twine.
- Fold the flap over the twine again, and tape it down with clear tape.The bunting could be made without the gluing in Step 4, but then the flags may slide around on the twine.Using the glue first and then taping the folded flap down, helps anchor the flags to the twine.
- Repeat the same process to add each flag, leaving the desired space between the flags.My flags are a distance of about 3"-4" between each flag.You can make them closer together or further apart, depending on what you like best.Once you've attached a few, you can hold the garland up and see how it looks. If they need adjusting, slide them around before the glue dries.
- Continue adding flags until your book page garland is as long as you want it to be!Tie a loop at each end of the garland to make it easy to hang up.
- Hang up your book page garland and enjoy!You could also use command hooks, push pins, or small nails. Or simply tape it up with washi tape!
Notes
- Check your bookshelves, thrift stores, garage sales, free boxes at your local library, or even little free libraries for very worn books that can be upcycled into something new!
- If you don't have a paper cutter, you can use scissors for all of it. It might not be as precise but it'll still work just fine.
- You can also make this same project with paper triangles! As we did with the fabric triangle garland, it would look very similar to this flag bunting but with paper triangles!
Jayshree
Thank you Laura ! Your family looks great
I just started crafting and do it as a hobby; I’m not a perfectionist but love to create small somethings and Pinterest has so much beautiful stuff . Crafting and artistic pursuits give me joy ! Two days ago I made a small collage scene in my scrap book , using construction paper and some leaf clusters from my evergreen trees that form my hedge.
I hope the leaves remain green ; I stuck them using a scotch tape.
God bless you and lots of love to you and your family .
Jayshree
Laura
Hi Jayshree! Thank you for stopping by and sending a message! I'm so happy you're finding joy in crafts. I LOVE it and couldn't imagine my life without it! xoxo!
Sarah
Hi Laura.
When do you use the Washi tape for the bunting banner?
Regards Sarah
Laura Radniecki
Hi Sarah! I used the washi tape to hang up my banner; I taped it to the wall basically. But you could also use little nails, push pins, or command hooks to hang it if you wanted. When I was actually making the banner, I used a glue stick and then scotch tape. I hope that helps!!