How to Make a Book Cover Out of a Paper Sack

There is no reason to buy book covers for your children's textbooks because it is very easy to make your own out of paper sacks that you get at the grocery store. Once the books are covered, the children can use crayons or markers to decorate and label each book. Setting aside an evening at the beginning of the school year to make paper sack covers for your children's textbooks will even save you a few dollars.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper sacks Scissors Clear packing tape Markers or crayons Ruler

1. Cut along one horizontal and one vertical fold of a paper sack from a grocery store. Open the bag and lay it flat on a table top. Cut off the rectangular base of the bag. If the bag has any writing on it, place the writing side up so that it will end up on the inside of the book cover.

2. Open the textbook so that it lays flat on top of and in the middle of the paper sack. Trace around the book. Then remove the book from the paper sack. The book's outline will be the inside perimeter of the book cover.

3. Draw four two-inch lines that are perpendicular to the top of the book's outline. One line should extend up from the right corner, and another should extend up from the left corner. A third line should extend to the right from the upper right corner, while a fourth line should extend to the left from the upper left corner. Draw four more lines that are perpendicular to the bottom of the book's outline going down, to the right and to the left. Use the ruler to draw longer lines connecting these two-inch lines to form an outer rectangular border.

4. Cut out the book cover along the outside edges of the outer rectangular border. Fold the top down along the top line of the book's outline. Fold the bottom up along the bottom line of the book's outline. Tape both the top and the bottom edges of the folds to secure them. Fold the vertical sides of the book cover along the lines you made when outlining the book. These folds will create a pocket on the left and another on the right into which you can slide the book's covers.

5. Slide the left cover into the left pocket and the right cover into the right pocket. Tape each pocket at both the top and the bottom to keep the book snugly within the confines of the cover. Then label the book and decorate the covers. Since paper sacks can be replaced for free at most grocery stores, it is easy to replace these covers if they tear or wear out.

Resources

• Patterns For Home-made Book Covers