How to Frame a Book Leaf

Frame your favorite book leaf.

Instead of paying a premium for an art print, frame a book leaf to add to your home's decor. You can find beautiful illustrations in books you already own, or you can visit thrift stores and used bookstores to find books that contain beautiful illustrations to frame and hang on your walls. Frame several book leaves in the same style, and use matching frames for a coordinated look, or just choose one favorite book leaf and a unique frame.

Things You'll Need

• Book with book leaf to be framed
• Self-healing mat
• Sharp razor blade knife
• Quilting ruler
• Mat board
• Newspapers
• Respirator mask
• Spray adhesive
• Frame with glazing, mat and backboard

Instructions

1. Remove the book leaf from the book carefully. Lay a thin self-healing mat behind the page you wish to remove from the book. Line up a quilting ruler along the edge you wish to cut. The quilting ruler will keep your line straight and keep the razor blade away from your fingers and the book's binding. Use a sharp razor blade knife to slice the book leaf cleanly away from the book.

2. Choose a mat board that contrasts with the colors in the book leaf. Contrasting colors help the book leaf to stand out. Cut the mat board with the razor blade knife so that it fits inside your frame. Again, use the quilting ruler to keep your lines straight and the blade away from your fingers. If you buy the mat board at a craft store, you can usually get the store's employees to cut it for you to your exact dimensions.

3. Prepare the book leaf for mounting. Lay out newspapers on your work surface, and lay the book leaf upside down on the newspapers. Open the windows in your work area, and put on a respirator mask. Shake the can of mounting spray adhesive and spray it evenly over the entire book leaf.

4. Lay the book leaf right side up on the mat board, centering it as evenly as possible. Once you have laid it on the mat board, you can adjust it slightly, but do not try to adjust it too much. Smooth it down by rubbing your hands over it from the center of the book leaf out to the edges to get rid of any air bubbles that are trapped underneath. Allow the spray adhesive to dry for two to three hours before proceeding with the next step.

5. Prepare the frame by bending the clips on the back of the frame so you can remove the glazing, mat and backboard of the frame. You can still use the mat of the frame if it looks good with the matted book leaf. Try it out both ways and decide which version looks best. Dust the frame's glazing (glass or Plexiglass) on both sides to remove any dust. Replace the glazing, and lay the frame's mat on the glazing if you have decided to keep it. Next, place the matted book leaf in the frame facing the glazing. Finally, place the backing in the frame. Bend the frame's clips back to hold the contents of the frame in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not inhale spray adhesive, especially if you have asthma or another respiratory condition.

• Close the razor blade knife when not in use.

References

• Frame Destination: Picture Frame Mounting Techniques
• Frame Destination: Picture Frame Assembly Instructions
• Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts; Preparing Botanical Texts for Display; March 2001