Covering the book with paper will protect the hard cover from being damaged and torn. If you don't like using plastic or cloth covers to cover books, paper bags are a great, eco-friendly alternative. With brown paper bags, you can also customize the cover with your personal design and decor. With just scissors, tape, and creative folds, you can cover any book.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Preparing the Paper
Step 1. Choose a paper bag to cover the book
It should be at least twice the width of the book to cover the front and back. The height should also be about 7 cm more than the book height.
Step 2. Open the brown paper bag on one side
Choose one side, not the bottom. Don't cut both sides, cut only one side. Remove the string if there is one.
Step 3. Cut the crease that is at the bottom of the bag
Do not cut more than 2 to 5 cm. This paper bag must remain wide.
Step 4. Place the book in the center of the paper
Make sure the paper is wide enough to cover the book completely. Check to see if the paper can cover the front and back of the book.
Method 2 of 2: Book Covering
Step 1. Fold the cover paper at the bottom of the book
Make a crease along the bottom cover. You can use tape to seal the crease. The tape will help strengthen the cover.
Step 2. Place the book on the bottom crease of the paper so that the edges are even
Fold the paper over to the top of the book. Make a crease along the top of the cover. Again, use masking tape to glue the folds to the paper. Remove the book from the cover paper.
Measure the fold. The width of the fold must be at least 4 cm
Step 3. Fold the top and bottom of the cover paper
You will now have a sheet of paper wide enough to cover the book from top to bottom.
Do not create new folds on top of existing folds. Too many folds will make the book cover easily torn
Step 4. Place the back cover of the book in the center of the paper
Fold the paper onto the front cover of the book, from left to right, and adjust the position of the book so that the two edges of the paper are even.
Step 5. Fold the cover paper over the front cover of the book
Make a fold. Then slip the front cover of the book into the pocket formed by the folds of paper at the top and bottom. Tuck the cover of the book into the cover paper until it touches the crease.
Step 6. Fold the stacked paper onto the back of the book
Make a fold. Then insert the back cover of the book into the pocket formed by the folds of the cover paper at the top and bottom. Tuck the cover of the book into the cover paper until it touches the crease.
Step 7. Stop when the book cover fits
If the cover still feels loose, or the top and bottom creases are uneven, you can use a small piece of tape to pull the front-inside of the cover paper and glue it firmly.
Do not glue the cover paper to the book cover. The cover paper will shift slightly when you open the book and you run the risk of damaging the cover if you stick it with tape
Step 8. Decorate the book cover if you like
Take out the book and add stickers, pictures, or designs to the paper. You can add name tags, letters or beautiful writing to write the title of the book. You can make designs out of paper and glue them back and forth with glue or tape. When you're done decorating, reattach the cover to the book.
Tips
- To make the cover more durable, remove the book from the cover, and open it and lay the cover flat. Cut the clear adhesive cover and seal the outer surface of the paper cover. Open the adhesive cover tape and glue it to the paper cover, smoothing the surface to prevent air bubbles from forming. Now, fold back the cover and attach it to the book.
- If you don't have an old shopping paper bag, just buy a roll of brown paper that is used to wrap parcels. Cut the length necessary to cover the entire front, back, and spine of the book; increase the width of the paper by at least 7 cm for the crease at each end.
- If you have a color printer and scanner, scan and print the front cover, back cover, and spine, then glue them to the paper cover.
