Day 4 of Halloween Crafts: Paperback Monsters

I am so excited about the project I have to share with you for Day 4.  I think this may be my favorite of the projects for the whole month.  These creations were made out of old paperback books.

The first thing you need to do to make these is to get an old paperback book.  (I pulled a few out of some yardsale stuff I had and then we purchased a few at a thrift store for the ones I made for my mother)  The thicker and wider the book is, the more of a complete circle it will make, however they will stay together even if it doesn't go completely around once folded. 

You need to fold the covers of the book first and hot glue them together.  This will help it keep its shape while you are folding the book.  After the covers are glued together, you will start folding the pages inward and do this until your book is completely folded.  It takes a little while to fold the pages down, but this is something you can do while watching tv, etc. 

Once all of your pages are folded, you will have a circular shape.  Next, I used an ink pad to run along the sides of the pages to give the color to the book.  (Note that this roughs up your ink pad somewhat, so you will want to use an old pad or a cheap one if possible)  For these books, I used Martha Stewart inks in the following colors: madarin orange for the pumpkin, lilac for the monster, and stem green for Frankenstein. 

Now you are ready to decorate your books.  For the pumpkins, I used a green popsicle stick and then cut a leaf from Gypsy Font to hot glue to the stick.  I then hot glued the stick into the hole that will be left in the center of the book after it is folded.  Next, I used the Pumpkin Carvings cart to cut the faces and hot glued them to the front of the book as well. 

Next, for the Monster, I used the monster on page 30 of the Mini Monsters cart to get the horns, arms and mouth for this one and then added three large google eyes.  I hot glued all of these items to the book to complet it.

For Frankenstein, I layed a black sheet of cardstock underneath the book and traced around it.  I then cut a circle out about an inch larger than the one I traced and hand cut it jagged to make the hair.  I then hot glued this to the top of the book and pressed down the edges and glued them as well.  I then also hand cut the bolts from a pattern that I made.  I used the Happy Hauntings cart to make the mouth and cut the stitches out.  I inked the stitches with the Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink.  I then hot glued all of these items and two google eyes to finish him off.

After I made these, my mom wanted me to make her some as well.  I went ahead and made her pumpkin just like mine, but I decided to see how these would turn out if you painted them.  They came out looking very vibrant with the paint, so it is up to you how you would want to color your books.  With the paint, it does take a good bit because the pages soak it up and also you will not be able to move the pages around like you can when they are inked.  I think the inked ones have a more rustic feel, so whatever your preference you could do them either way.

I am also linking this project up on the Monday Link Party at Craft-O-Maniac.  You can check out the blog here: http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/  And I am linking to the Making the World Cuter Monday Link Party, you can check out the blog here: http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/

I am also linking up to the Making Monday Marvelous Link Party. You can find the blog here: http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/

I am also linking this project up at http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/.