How to Make Your Own Book Cover

We are fortunate to have access to so many different books. Reading is enjoyable and expands the mind. Books should also be appreciated because a lot of work goes into making them. One way you can show your appreciation for such a beautiful display of talent and creativity is to protect it with a book cover. A book cover can preserve the artwork on the cover of your book and keep it looking like new for many years. You can make your own book cover with very little effort or cost, and since you'll be the one designing it, you can give it your own personal touch.

Things You'll Need

• Heavyweight paper such as wallpaper or paper from a shopping bag (paper should be large enough to wrap around your closed book, with 6 inches of extra paper included in the width and 3 inches of extra paper included in the length) Scissors Tape

Instructions

1. Take your piece of paper and lay it flat on a table, wrong side facing up.

2. Place your book on top of the paper, and wrap the paper around the book.

3. Cut the paper so that 1½ inches of paper extend beyond the top and bottom of the book, and 3 inches of paper extend beyond the ends of the book.

4. With the book open and perfectly centered within the dimensions given in Step 3, turn the paper up along the edges of the book and run your finger against the edges to create a crease.

5. Place your book aside.

6. With the wrong side of the paper still facing up, and starting with the top crease, fold the paper in and run your nail along the fold to flatten it.

7. With the wrong side of the paper facing up, fold the paper in from the bottom crease. Run your nail along the fold to flatten it.

8. With the wrong side of the paper facing up, fold the paper in from both end creases. Run your nail along both folds so they are flat.

9. Slip the cardboard cover of your book into the end flaps of the book cover. Your book cover should fit your book perfectly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find that you cannot slip the book cover on your book because it's too small, unfold the top, bottom and side flaps, and make the book cover larger by creating creases that extend beyond the creases first made. Fold the paper in along the new creases. You can tape the book cover to the inside of the book to hold the book cover in place if you'd like, but the book cover should stay on the book without the tape if the creases are tight enough.