A Post for a Parcel

I talked with my mom on the phone a couple times this week {which I am ashamed to say is a lot for recently} and she was bugging me for a post. I posted my photography assignment, but that's boring. I promised I would post this project.

Then she sent me a little parcel of some things I've been looking for and wanting, so I owe her this in return.

To be honest, it was not a great project. I had a disappointing day today and was kind of unmotivated to work on it, which may have something to do with it, but it was kind of dull and I'm not super happy with the results. Anyway, it looks cute enough, and it was an experiment, so here's what happened.

These are the things I used (plus a staple gun, which was unexpected, but useful)

If you find a canvas at Michael's that has a small hole in it, and is therefore 75% off, do buy that one. It works just the same. Just make sure you reinforce the hole at the back with some tape or something.

 Step 1: Tear out the pages you want to use. 

Okay, this part was actually tough for me. I didn't think it would be. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite stories but, to be honest, I've never actually read the book. I only read every once in a while, and I'm terrible for finishing books I start. It was sad to rip apart a book that I have never and will never read. But, I got over it.

 Step 2: Arrange them on the canvas.

This part took me forever. I was literally arranging and rearranging for like an hour or something ridiculous. Make sure you leave enough hang off {I don't know what to call it} all the way around, to wrap around the edges. I didn't do this in all spots, and it makes for a somewhat sloppy finish.

 Step 3: Lift pages slowly, and brush glue onto the canvas.

Not much to say here. It was boring and a little tricky. I was surprised how well the pages stuck though, when I put the glue straight onto the canvas.

 Step 4: Fold edges down and glue them onto the back.

Like I said, I didn't really leave enough on the edges to be able to do this everywhere. My edges are mostly covered, but do look a little sloppy in some parts. 

{This is where the unexpected staple gun comes in}

Step 5: I stapled the edges to keep them from popping up.

My edges were so small in some parts that the glue wouldn't keep them flat, and they kept wanting to spring up. So luckily I actually don't mind the look of nice big staples, and in this particular spot I think it adds to the vintage feel of the whole thing, so I was able to find an alternative method. I just used the staple gun to make sure that everything sat flat. I may have gone overboard on the necessary number of staples, but eventually it just started to look nice so I put them there for looks, evenly spaced out on all sides.  

Step 6: Glue down loose corners.

I saw something like this done before, where the woman coated the whole thing in Mod Podge when she was done, to seal the face of it. I decided I didn't like that. I tried it in one small corner of the canvas and decided not to do anymore. I just put a little glue on each corner that was sticking out, and left some page edges rough, because I think it looks better.

 Step 7: When you don't have your own walls to hang it on, take something of your mother-in-law's down so you can hang it on the wall to take a picture of it. Done!

So I think it looks kind of cute and stuff, but it does seem like it might wear out really fast. {Maybe I should have painted that extra coat of sealer over it, but too bad.} Maybe if you ever attempt it, just don't use a book quite as old as the one I used. The pages might last you a little longer if they're a little newer.
It's not my favourite, but it is actually kind of sweet for fall. I'm just thinking now of anything I might use it for as a fall specific decoration, but we'll see!