How to Cover a Textbook

Covering a textbook is as easy as wrapping a present. It takes just a few minutes and will help your books last longer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Textbooks
• Brown Paper Bags
• Clear Tapes
• Crayons
• Measuring Tapes
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Colored Pencils
• Colored Pens
• Construction Paper
• Rulers
• Colored pens
• Crayons

Make the Cover

1. Spread out the piece you cut flat on a table.

2. Center the book vertically, making sure the top and bottom edges of the book are parallel to the top and bottom edges of the cover. There should be about an inch of cover on the top and on the bottom.

3. Fold the cover up at the bottom, making a crease at the bottom of the book. Do the same from the top. Then remove the book and fold along the creases for the entire width of the cover. The cover is now as tall as your book.

4. Place the book back onto the cover, lining up the top and bottom edges of the book along the top and bottom edges of the cover. They should line up perfectly; if they don't, redo the above steps.

5. Slide the book towards the right edge of the cover, stopping 1 1/2 - 2 inches from the edge.

6. Fold the cover up from the right, making a crease at the right edge of the book. Remove the book as before and fold along the crease for the entire height of the cover.

7. Insert the back cover of the book into the pocket you've created. Push it in all the way and close the book.

8. Fold the left end of the cover over the book's front cover, making a crease at the edge of the front cover. Fold along this crease for the entire height of the cover.

9. Insert the front cover of the book into this new pocket. Close the book.

10. Secure the cover with clear tape: one or two pieces for each of the four corners.

11. Decorate at will!

Size the Cover

12. Gather the materials: the textbook, a ruler or tape measure, a brown-paper grocery bag, a pen, scissors and clear tape.

13. Measure the height and width of the textbook.

14. Calculate the following numbers: Add 5 inches to twice the width; add 2 inches to the height.

15. Mark off a piece of the grocery bag of these dimensions using the tape measure and pen, then cut the piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut in straight lines. If you don't, the cover will be harder to make properly.
• If you don't have a brown grocery bag, try thick construction paper.

on 8/28/2006 When you cover paperback books with paper, slip thin cardboard from a shoe box or a cereal into the pockets created when you cover the front and back. This will reinforce the covers and prevent the book from bending and tearing the cover off.