Today I’m sharing a simple project that gave me a way to relove some old books I no longer needed. I made these colorful painted vintage books with a little chalk type paint, a few stencils and some creative waxing as a unique way to update a vignette on my sofa table for spring.
This project wasn’t even planned, I just happened to walk by a stack of dark beat up old books and thought..hmmnn. So, I whipped out some paint and got busy. I gave them each a coat of paint and let it dry. Be sure to paint the edges and just inside the book cover too:)
Next, I embellished the covers on my painted vintage books with a few stencils I had in my growing stencil stash. The damask stencil on top is the same one I used on my White and Gold Distressed Damask Dresser I just finished.
The pages were kind of ratty so I took some Bright Gold Royal Designs Stencil Creme and gave the pages a nice thin coat of pretty gold. Which looks great against the new spring colors.
I had fun with the wax and got creative. On the white painted book I added gold mica to clear wax. It aged the wax a little and buffing brought out the slightest gold shimmer.
Pretty!
Next, I mixed white paint into the rest of the wax for the other two books and worked it into crevices in the covers.
Of course now I have to figure out to stack or not to stack? I love the spring colors and the stenciled designs so much I kind of hate to hide them by stacking them!
What do you think?
This is a fun project on any book, it doesn’t need to be a vintage one. I can see painting the cover of a favorite journal book to personalize it, or even a notebook to update colors for spring using any one of the ideas I used above. I used to feel it wasn’t OK to paint vintage books. I have so many old books, and these were not valuable or in good condition, so I don’t feel bad. Painting them was a way to relove them and breathe fresh life into a few of my old tattered books.
What are your thoughts on painted vintage books?
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Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo says
Such a pretty way to jazz up old books for the coffee table – love it! I think this would also work well to personalise hardcover notebooks to use as gifts! Stopping by from Turn it Up Tuesday
Wendi says
Thank you so much 🙂 You’re so right about personalizing hardcover books. That would be such a pretty way to make a gift special. Thanks for visiting!
Amy Ngai says
These look amazing and so easy! I’m definitely going to do this with my old books! Thanks for the idea. #TurnItUpTuesday
Wendi says
Amy.. aren’t the simple projects the best ones? This project took all of 20 minutes and when I need to change colors, I’ll just repaint them. Thanks so much for your visit!
Marissa says
These are adorable! I would totally decorate with these.
I’m so glad I found you through the Idea Box link up!
I would like to invite you to join my link up on Reading List – we share so many things, but this would be a great addition. It runs every Thursday through Sunday.
I hope to see you there!
Marissa
Reading List
Wendi says
Marissa… Thanks for the invite! These were easy and fun to make.
Lindsay says
What a cute idea!
Wendi says
Thanks so much! They are an easy way to add color to a spot or vignette. Plus, I was able to keep some of my old books that were headed to the donation box 🙂
Christine says
What a clever idea! I never would have thought to paint books for decor. It looks gorgeous!
Wendi says
Thank you! It’s so easy and thrifty. I loved decorating with books, but they were too dark for my space. This was the perfect idea:)
Kathleen says
This is such a great idea. I love the colors you used, but it’s nice that this project can be adapted to suit any color scheme.
Wendi says
Thank you! You’re are spot on with the colors, they are pretty today and fit my decor. But… as soon as I’m ready to toss aside this color scheme and move on to the next set of in-style colors, all it will take is a little paint to love these old books again!
Catherine says
These are so cute! They look great on the table.
Wendi says
Thank you so much! They added a pop of color to a dark spot in my room. I love old books to decorate with and these are a nice twist to an old favorite:)
Joor says
I love your painted books! So great how you up cycled them and gave them a new life.
Wendi says
Thank you so much! They were headed to the donation box before I thought about painting them.
Brenda says
Great project! Love the colors 🙂
Wendi says
Thank you so much:) This was a fun & easy way to add some color in a spot in my house that needed a little lift!
Gilly @ Colour Saturated Life says
What a wonderful use of old books! This is such a great idea for some pretty books to place on a coffee table.
Wendi says
Thank you! These books were too dark for the area I wanted to use them, so I figured why not give it a try!
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
These are so pretty, Wendi! I never would have thought to paint them. They’ll be great for adding height to other pieces here and there too! XO
Cheryl says
This is wonderful, thanks for sharing!
Wendi says
Glad you like them! Have fun making a set for yourself:)
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Your painted books are so pretty Wendi! I do think they look beautiful stacked but fanned a little to reveal some of the stencil detail. Love the colors you painted them in – so fitting for your coastal home. BTW I like your new profile picture!
Wendi says
Thank you Marie! They are such a simple project and brightened up their spot on the table a lot. – Thanks on the sweet comment of my “new look” too!