Easy Burlap Book covers

I have recently fallen in LOVE with burlap. It started last year when I switched my Christmas decorations from  gold and silver to a rustic twigs, burlap and natural look. Since then I have literally purchased 20 or so yards of burlap and have made curtains, covered pillows, etc. I had some leftover from curtains I had just made and decided to put the scraps to use.

This takes about 10 minutes a book and is super easy. I stole the idea from restoration hardware. I was browsing the store and they had a shelf of linen covered books that I thought were for sale (turned out they were for decoration) but I figured out how they did it and decided next time I had extra fabric I would give it a try. I picked up the books at a garage sale for 25 cents a piece so the entire project only costs me a few dollars.

What you will need: Fabric, Mod Podge, book, scissors, sponge brush.

Step 1

Cut out the material about 3" wider than the size of the book you are wrapping.

Step 2

Paint the cover and bind of the book with Mod Podge, leaving the 3" extra fabric on the ends. Once the front and spine are done flip the book over and Mod Podge the back. Make sure the fabric is taught.

Step 3

Cut corner flaps at an angle shown below

Step 4

Open up book and Mod Podge the flaps into book. Carefully trim the excess material at the 

spine of book. The fabric does not get tucked into the spine just carefully cut at edge.

Step 5

To cover up the jagged ends you are going to paint the entire inside cover with Mod Podge, and carefully flip over the front page to glue down. The do the same to back page of book. 

This gives it a nice finish if anyone opens it up.

With just an hour or so and less than $10 total this is how they turned out!

I interchanged linen and burlap covers. The burlap is a bit harder to work with because it is stiffer but once you get the hang  of it - Super Easy!!

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$60 Burlap Curtains!!

Time for a remodel of the great room. I originally went with a Tuscan feel but it seemed a bit dated, especially the curtains. After looking at hundreds of Picts on Houzz I realized that the one thing I was going to change for sure was the height of the curtain rod. All of the pictures have the curtain rod literally inches from the ceiling. I had originally broken up my palladian windows with a rod in the middle and a swag. I wish I had a better before picture but this gives you a general idea. I also just switched my christmas tree to have a more natural appearance with pine cones from the yard, branches and burlap. I really fell in love with the burlap, that must have stuck in my sub conscience.

I wanted a more open feel and a little bit rustic. Kind of Restoration Hardware meets a rustic barn in Italy. I shopped for fabric everywhere before I found.... burlap - $2.00 a yard! I needed 80 feet total (20 feet per panel) so 27 yards total, I rounded to 30 just in case. Sewed one straight stitch across the top and $60 dollars later I had new curtains!!! 

The sales person at the store had warned me that the gasoline smell burlap has may never go away but at $60 I figured I would take the chance (if nothing else I would use it for wrapping gifts at christmas). They did smell for about 4 days. The first couple days were really bad. I burned candles which I think also burned some of the oils in the air but by day 4 or 5 you could not smell anything. They look rustic, neutral and were exactly what I was looking for - plus super cheap!!!

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