Creating colorful bookcovers for Back to School!
With school time just around the corner, I came up with a school craft project that incorporates brightly colored paper. After all, a long school day could certainly use some sunshine! I created fun book covers using the technique called Iris Folding!
The plan was to revamp the old version of the book cover. You know, the one that is made from a grocery bag? I used to make them all the time for my kids when they were in school. Anyway, I decided to use a technique called Iris Folding with the bright colored papers to make those boring bookcovers exciting.
For this project I used:
Several sheets of different colors of bright colored cardstock
A paper grocery bag
Glue Stick
Tacky Glue
Scissors
Begin by cutting your paper bag open as shown, and then cut off the bottom flap, so that you have one large sheet of paper.
With printed side of the grocery bag up, place the book on top and fold down the top and bottom edges of the paper to match the top and bottom of the book.
Fold one end of the paper and slide the front cover of the book into the open end until the edge of the cover meets your fold.
Close the book and crease the other end of the paper where the edge of back cover meets it. Slide the back cover into the open fold. Your book cover is now complete. Well, your boring bookcover is complete. Now let’s spice it up some with colorful paper!
This is the Iris Folding Pattern that I am using for this project.
Choose a color and cut a strip of paper that is wider than your numbered section when folded. Fold it lengthwise and place over the section, starting with section number one. Be sure the fold is towards the center and is facing up. (We are working from the backside of the project).
Cut another color strip and fold lengthwise, placing it over section number two, tacking the two strips together with glue stick. Repeat this process going around, being sure to do the sections in numerical order.
Continue around, in numerical order, using a glue stick to glue each strip in place.
The final piece is a simple square glued to cover the center.
Flip your project over and you will be thrilled at the effect!
For the heart cover, I drew a heart on the cover of the book that is just a bit smaller than the finished Iris Fold.
Unwrap the book and cut the shape of the heart out of the cover.
Glue the Iris Fold onto the inside of the cover using tacky glue with the front side of the Iris Fold against the inside of the front cover.
Not so boring now, is it? Let your colorful creative ideas go wild!
Want more Iris Folding patterns? Here are a couple more ideas!
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Hi Suzy*
Hi Paula,
Thank you so much. This information really helped my kids. At least now I don’t have to worry about messy and torn covers any more. Really love the abstract design by the way. Very Unique.
Love,
Ellie
Indeed she is amazing!!
Mua Mua!! Thank you so much for this amazing idea. I love your site so much. ❤️
Mua mua. Thank you so much
Hi Paula!
I use kettle gourds from a farm in Arizona. You can find them in all regions of the country, usually at gourd farms. I buy mine already dried. I just have to clean them and they are ready to go!
suzy
Just found your site. ow!! I love it. Someone asked what kind of gourds you used for your adorable gossiping chickens. I couldn’t find the answer so could you plz tell me what kind they are. I love them. Thx again for such a wonderful site
Never mind I figured it out
I’m am confused about the folding part can u help me?
So creative
hi suzy i am jyotsna from INDIA . love your ideas a lot they are so attractive . they always make my projects eye catching and amazing . keep uploading more ideas and we will give you more love.
thanks a lot
Great!
I can’t wait to do this with my granddaughter. She’ll love it! Thank you for a wonderful idea.
I’m babak in iran. I love you’r site. Thank’s…
Wow! I love it! It looks very cute! This is idea is very colorful and creative!, but may I ask if instead of printing the template for the design or another way like, is there a specific measurement for the strips of colored paper that we are going to use. Thanks! 🙂
So cool. 😀
This is so creative,it’ll be quite nice to change from my usual covering with brown and black covers
That’s the same algebra textbook I used almost 10 years ago! I cannot believe we still haven’t made any advances in mathematics.
Used this design for the cover of my art book and my teacher loved it! I am so happy with it!
Extremely creative!!
I just love this, so vibrant and happy and a great project for all my leftover trimmings 🙂
thank you suzy….i will visit you every day…your ideas are wonderful
This is amazing I’m going to have to show my students how to do this 🙂
Wow, these are really impressive… but then, all of your crafts are impressive! Great use of the neon paper!
WOW, those came out great. And what an awesome idea to brighten up boring old book covers. I would love for you to share this on our made for or by kids linky http://wemadethat.blogspot.com/2012/08/we-made-that-linky-1.html
How neat! I wish I could’ve spiced my bag books more when I was in high school!
These notebooks are awesome! I’m featuring them on my blog today, Clever Nest. It’s part of a Back to School DIY roundup. Come on over to check it out, and say hey :).
http://www.myclevernest.com/2012/08/nest-to-impress-very-best-of-back-to.html
Alyssa
Hi Toni!
The clear protectant might be a good idea for this project. I love the texture of the paper layers and just hated covering it up with anything. I’d love to see your quilt project when it is complete! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Neat idea and I love the colors, but I would have to put a layer of clear Contact type material over the front to keep the folds from getting caught and torn by other book edges when placed in the backpack. I loved the patterns and am want to use them for an inspiration board for a quilting project.
I recently featured this on my blog, such a great idea! I sited you, but recently fixed it to feature you a little better. Hope this works for you, sorry about any confusion it caused! http://www.twinkietotmom.com/2012/08/back-to-school-crafting-with-astrobrights.html
I love Iris folding but what really caught my attention was the sweet little face on the
“BIG BAD GUARD DOGGY!” Probably would lick you to death. LOL. D*
I love this! Forget the kids, I want this for myself! Thanks for the diagram!
Those are bright and pretty.
That is really cool!
That is awesome – great job!
gorgeous and creative project!!!