Craft Wars: How To Repurpose An Old Book

Because really, who reads things on PAPER anymore? In this installment of Craft Wars clever crafters find new uses for old paper stuff.

Turns out, a good book has a lot more to offer than literary appeal. Here, two handy ladies turn their old reads into fun and functional accessories.

First up, Alisa Burke makes a stack of bookish bangles.

Here's how she did it.

Gather your supplies. You'll need a few old book pages, skewers, glue, stretchy cord, scissors, and some decorative beads.

Roll your pages around a skewer. Apply glue as you roll, and be sure to roll tightly. You can trim the pages before rolling if you like; it may make them easier to handle.

Remove the skewer. Allow the rolled page to dry completely.

Cut your beads. Using a pair of scissors, cut the rolled paper into various lengths, as short or as long as you'd like, until you have a stack of paper beads.

String your bangles. Cut a piece of cord to the length you want for your bracelet (plus a bit extra for the knot). String your paper beads, mixing in decorative beads as you like.

Tie a knot to complete your bracelet. Create several to wear in a stack.

Next up, Kari from Craftinomicon turned a classic into a clock.

Her steps:

Gather supplies. You'll need a hardcover book, a clock mechanism (available at most craft stores), a drill, a mat knife, and a pen or marker.

Pick a spot for your clock. In the sample shown, the clock is toward the bottom rather than perfectly centered. Find the center of your clock area and mark it with a pen or marker; this is where you will drill.

Drill a hole through the book cover. Make sure it's wide enough to fit the clock mechanism and allow the clock hands to move.

Create space for your clock mechanism. Open your book and figure out where you will need to hollow out the pages for your clock mechanism to fit inside. Give yourself plenty of extra space to make sure the whole thing will fit without being too snug. Start cutting through the book pages with a mat knife, paying extra attention at corners to keep your cutouts even all the way down through your pages. Remove the pages a little at a time until you have made a hole large enough to house your clock.

Place the clock mechanism through your front cover hole and attach the hands. Insert the battery, set the time, and enjoy your new clock!

If you want, you can Mod Podge the pages together, or add a ribbon tie closure on the side. Otherwise, simply leave the book open and prop it on your tabletop.

Pippa Armbrester is a quilt maker and designer. Follow her adventures in quilting and life on her website.