Paper Bag Book Cover

Paper Bag Book Cover – The Cool Version

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Your children might flip out when you insist on using a paper bag book cover – but they won’t when they see this version! Welcome to the “Cool Version” of the Paper Bag Book Cover.

Paper Bag Book Cover

Okay, I admit it. I don’t have any textbooks to cover. but I had this idea, and I wanted to bring you something fun and useful for back to school, so I decided to cover my “House Book” – a.k.a. my DIY bible.

The Story Behind the Paper Bag Book Cover

When my mother used to cover my textbooks for school, I used to pray she wouldn’t insist on using paper bags. As years went by, her ideas became more creative (my mother is Queen of Creativity) and she went on to use wallpaper scraps and other fun patterns. I decided to elaborate on her ambitions and approached the challenge of making the paper bag cool.

I started off with a paper grocery bag and some duct tape extra decorating is optional. The idea behind the duct tape is to make it more durable, adding function to fashion. I incorporated a mix of styles, with the crumpled bag and the bold colors on the duct tape.

 

 What You’ll Need for the Paper Bag Book Cover

Paper Bag Book Cover

  1. A paper shopping bag
  2. A book (naturally)
  3. Masking tape
  4. Patterned Duct tape (I used this one)
  5. Scissors
  6. Optional: paints for decorating

How to Make the Cool Version of the Paper Bag Book Cover

  • Crumple the bag as much as you can. Get your child to help with this fun part. This is one of the most vital factors of the “cool” concept, as distressed is in style now. No amount of funky duct tape will be able to counteract the paper bag if it is not distressed.

Paper Bag Book Cover

  • Cut down from the opening of the bag (top) in one of the natural corners. Cut until the bottom and turn. Cut the bottom completely off. You should have a large rectangle. It does not need to be neat at this point.

Paper Bag Book Cover

  • Wrap the bag around the book to measure size.  Fold over and crease to mark book sides. Leave a few inches at the sides (where the cover opens) and trim what’s left.

Paper Bag Book Cover

  • Remove from book and fold in edges toward the wrong side. Tape in place with masking tape.

Paper Bag Book Cover

Make sure to make corners neat by folding in a triangle as pictured.

book cover7

Your paper bag should measure in height a few millimeters larger than the book, and in width a few inches longer than the full cover size when closed. It should look like this:

Paper Bag book cover

  • Trim the edges with decorative duct tape – the cooler the pattern, the cooler the book cover. Do this by lying duct tape sticky side up in the right size, and gently pressing the edge on.

paper bag book cover

When going around corners, cut triangles on the ends to remove bulk.

paper bag book cover

I did mine 2/3 on the outside and folded it 1/3 inward. Do what works best with your design, but make sure the edges are adequately covered to ensure durability. The front should look something like this:

paper bag book cover

And the back like this:

paper bag book cover

 

  • Center your book on the bag (closed) and fold in ends.

Paper Bag Book Cover

  • Tape the outside and inside of the flap that holds the book cover using a small piece of duct tape. Try to align the pattern as much as possible. Having a geometric pattern such as mine helps. Do this in all four corners.

paper bag book cover

Your book should now look like this:

paper bag book cover

  • Decorate or  – even better – have a child decorate (optional).

paper bag book cover

  • If you love this idea, share this post by hovering over the following image (or any on this page) and clicking the red “P” pinterest button!

paper bag book cover

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25 Comments

  1. That is a really cool idea. I always bought those stretchy ones at the store because I stink at making my own LOL.

  2. That IS the cool version. I love the uniqueness that the duck tape gives to the cover (and helps to hold it) and each child could have different duck tape specifically for them and their books. Super cute.

  3. Great idea! I must admit, I used to love paper bag book covers because I had so much fun decorating them with markers, stickers and way too much glitter- lol

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