Realistic Leather Book From Cardboard and Tissue Paper

This is an easy to make, super realistic looking book with basic materials of cardboard and tissue paper. This project will take approximately 2 days to make, since you may need time for some of the materials you use to dry.

I made this project because when I was in 6th grade, I made a book similar to this for an Ancient Rome project, and thought they were really neat. Since my Ancient Rome one was too big to put up on display for my dresser, I decided to make a smaller one, and make an instructibles for it! This is the first time I've ever made an instructibles, so it was a good experience for me. :)

Here is everything you'll need:

Scissors, a ruler, 1 cardboard box, 2 pieces of tissue paper, all-purpose glue (I use Elmer's school glue), hot glue gun, acrylic paints (the colour(s) of your choice), paint brush, hole puncher, 1 piece of card-stock, pencil, twine, 20 sheets of white office paper, 1 packet of orange pekoe tea, leather string.

Cut out 2 pieces of cardboard 5.5 x 7.5 Inches, and 2 pieces of Tissue paper 10 x 12 Inches.

Lay the pieces of cardboard flat on a surface (make sure the surface you work on is one that can get glue on it if you spill some: try using a newspaper under them), and plaster one side and the edges with all-purpose glue (I use Elmer’s Washable School Glue). Do slightly more than just a thin layer of glue: in between a thin and thick layer.

Crunch up the tissue paper, and place it roughly on the top of each cardboard piece: DO NOT smooth the tissue paper out once you place it on. Try to do this part quickly as you want the glue as wet as possible.

While the glue is still wet and your tissue paper is on the cardboard, wrinkle and crunch it more with your fingers, until there are no large flat sections: you can wrinkle it to the way you like, but I prefer it fairly wrinkled. When you are done wrinkling it, you will have extra tissue paper on the edges: wrap them over the edges of your cardboard (which should have wet glue on them still). If you still have access tissue paper after that, leave it until everything has dried

Leave your pieces of cardboard and tissue paper to air-dry: don’t use a blowdryer or any other heating appliance: simply leave them on your working surface. Depending how much and what type of glue you use, it may take about a day to have them fully dry: you do not want them partially dry: they must be completely dry before you go on to the next step.

Now with everything dry, you can cut off any access tissue paper with plain scissors: make sure not to cut any paper off of the edges or top of your cardboard: only what you don’t need or want.

Now it’s time to get out your paints! Use acrylic paint. Mix and match the colors you want, and paint a slightly more than thin layer on your tissue paper for both pieces. Only paint the tissue paper: nothing else (remember: the tissue paper should be on the sides and top of each piece). When you paint, I suggest not having a solid colour, but using patches of black, light brown, dark brown, copper…etc: this is where you get creative, so it’s up to you! Leave everything to air-dry: try not to touch the paint while it drys so you do not mess anything up.

Once your paint has dried, it should have an ancient-leather look to it. Take one of the pieces of Cardboard, and, on the left vertical side, punch 3 holes in it using a hole-puncher. Punch one hole slightly down from the top, one in the middle, and one slightly above the bottom, about 1.5 cm from the edge. Repeat the process on the other piece in the same way.

Take a piece of white or tan card-stock, and cut it 5.5 x 7.5 inches.

Measure 1.5 inch into a side of your card-stock, and mark it with a pencil. Then, lined up with that mark, draw a vertical straight line using a ruler. Repeat the process on the other side.

Fold along the pencil lines you made in the previous step (step 11). You should have 2.5 Inches lengthwise in the middle un-folded part of your card-stock. I started initially with this length, but then seeing it would be too big, I revised it to have about a 2-inch long spine, with .5 of an inch on each folded side, with an inch for the middle part. I suggest you start with the larger measurements in steps 1 and 2, depending on how many pages you want in the book: you can always revise your measurements like I ended up doing.

Cut 3 2.3-inch pieces of twine/gardening string, and lay your piece of card-stock out flat (the folds will stay, and you will easily be able to tell where they are and fold them again). Take one piece of string, and glue it horizontally on about 1.5 Inch down from the top of your spine in the middle part of the spine (not the folded parts) using all purpose glue. Take the second piece of string, and glue it horizontally about 1.2 of an inch above the bottom of the piece. Then take your third piece of string, and glue it horizontally in between the top and bottom pieces of twine. You shouldn’t have any excess twine, but if you do, simply cut it off when the glue has finished drying.

Take your spine, and paint the middle of it with the same paint mixture you used for painting the front and back covers of your book. When you’ve finished painting it leave it to dry.

Take the spine, and lay it flat on the table so that you can see the painted part of it: then glue the tops of the unpainted flaps with a hot glue gun. Quickly move to step 15 (as hot glue drys extremely fast).

Stick one of the longer edges of the back of your cover onto one of the flaps that has the glue on it: you should only now see one flap, and the painted middle of your spine: the other flap should be glued underneath the front cover, and not visible. Let everything settle and the glue harden before you glue the back cover to your spine.

Repeat the step above, with the other flap and the back cover (other piece) of your book. Let everything dry. You should only see the painted middle of your spine, with the 2 covers glued to either side of it. Let everything dry. When you do this, you may cover your punched holes: if you do simply punch the paper out, to reveal your holes again: it should be easy.

Take 20 full sheets of white office paper, and cut each piece into a 5 x 7.5 Inch piece

Take your 20 pieces of paper, and punch 3 holes into each piece. Punch one hole slightly down from the top, another slightly above the bottom, and one in the middle of the bottom and top holes

Make 1 cup of orange pekoe tea (don’t drink it!), and lay one piece of your paper onto the table (make sure to put something underneath it, as the tea will stain). Using a paint brush, paint the tea onto your paper, doing dark and light coats in various places to give it a worn look. Leave the paper to dry. Do the same for each of your pieces.

When you do this, you can also make an extra 2 pieces (the same size), and glue them on the back of your front and back covers.

Take your book, open it up, and stack your 20 pieces of paper nicely on the table, so that all the holes line up. Cut a 7-8 Inch piece of leather rope, and put it through all the top holes in your paper and covers. Do the same for all the middle and bottom holes.

Close the book, and at the top of the book you should see the ends of your leather string on either side of the spine: take those 2 ends and tie them together in a firm knot. Repeat this step for the middle and bottom of your book

CONGRATULATIONS!! Your book is done! It should look really good, and it’ll have a unique hand-made look to it. You can put it in a shelf for display, use it as a journal, give it as a gift..etc: you can do whatever you want with it! You can also add artwork to the cover such as stickers... personalize it! That's what makes your book your own unique masterpiece!

I hope you liked this instructibles, and found the instructions helpful and clear!