I love this wonderful decorative set of Halloween Books that my daughter gave me last year.

They came from “The Shop Around the Corner” that I told you about from our Weekend Wander in Waconia!

They are still available to buy this year…..

I have mine on the hall entry table with my new Owl….cute!

I loved the idea of the this so much that I wanted some for my school Halloween display….and of course I didn’t want to spend the money to buy the “real” thing….

I did a knock-off version for $7 instead of the $25 for the originals.

Since this was BB (before blog), I can’t do an actual tutorial with photos…..
but this is what I did!

You can buy these paper mache books in a set of 3 from Michael’s for 6.99

  • I painted the outside with flat black craft paint.
  • I painted the book page area with metallic gold paint.
  • I printed out the cover and spine images on my computer
  • I used Modge Podge to attach the printed titles and cover to the books

And here is the finished result! 
I left them loose….instead of gluing them together….so I can stack them every which way!

They sit on the table with all of the Halloween books for kids to check out…..I even had a kid try to check one of them out…..He was so disappointed when he found out they weren’t real!

This morning I was looking in the craft cupboard for something and came upon these photo albums that I bought at Goodwill…..hmmmm
I am thinking I should distress these….add some Halloween themed titles and have another set….
Wish me luck!

You might also be interested in the post I did about Halloween Books for Kids!

Linking to these parties:
My World Made by Hand
 You are Talking Too Much
The Power of Paint
Sew Woodsy
http://sewwoodsy.com/2011/10/1327.html
A Vision to Remember
I Am Along for the Ride 
Lovely Crafty Home 
Tater Tots and Jello 
Cherished Treasures 
Homemaker in Heels
Nifty Thrifty Things
Addicted 2 Decorating 
Candace Creations 
Sunday’s Best 
Debbiedoo’s Newbie Party 
Making the World Cuter 
The Girl Creative 
Amaze Me Monday 
Three Little Singing Birds 
Between Naps on the Porch 
Making Monday Marvelous 
Polish the Stars 
Sisters of the Wild West 
My Girlish Whims 
Creations by Kara 
GingerSnap Crafts 
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees 
Type A Decorating 
Whatcha Work Up Wednesday 
Fireflies and Jellybeans 
House of the Hepworths 
A Glimpse Inside 
Christina’s Adventures 
Momnivore’s Dilemma Halloween
Katherine’s Corner 
Sumo’s Sweet Stuff 
Made by Me

0 comments on “Knock Off Halloween Books

  1. Ann @ makethebestofthings

    Good idea with the albums! Love your books, I've been wanting to do something like this for awhile. I made a tissue box cover look like a set of books by using hot glue for dimension and tissue paper for texture. I'll have to give real books a try! Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. Anonymous

    Very clever idea and could be adapted for history themes too! Halloween is not very big in Australia so not many people do things like this here. I am fascinated that people in America decorate their homes in this way.
    God bless x

  3. Cathy @My 1929 Charmer

    Such a clever idea, and I love them. This is a very flexible project. I think I will give them a try. Would love it if you would share at my Sunday's Best Link party going on right now.

  4. Cathy @My 1929 Charmer

    That's for posting, and now I am your newest follower!

  5. Mandy

    These are great! Good for you for making your own. I think I need to make some now…thanks for the inspiration.
    I'd love it if you linked these to my party that will begin on Tuesday morning!
    I'm a new follower.
    http://www.projectqueen.org

  6. Gayle Page-Robak

    I am so pleased to have found your blog. I love your original set of books, as well as the ones you created. Awesome! I look forward to returning. I am now a follower and invite you to follow my blog as well. Hugs, Gayle (in Canada) my blog: http://atastefultouch.blogspot.com

  7. outjunking

    Very smart. I may try this with old books. Your newest follower.
    Lisa

  8. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing

    NO way! I have never seen those book covers, but you can bet I am looking for some. I love this project and thanks for sharing your tutorial…easy fun and cheap and the end result is magnificent. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

  9. Katie

    LOVE your spell books! I'm a new follower of yours… lucky number 99!

  10. Sarah, Three Boys

    What a great idea. Those books are so cute. Love that you are reusing the photo albums!

  11. Linda

    I love your books!!I may have to give this a try. I am a new follower. Hope you follow back.:0)

  12. Suz in FLorida

    Hmmmmm … wonder if some of those 25 cent hard backed books at garage sales would work for this? Classic Reader's Digest? Could also be roughed up with sandpaper and painted a flat black. Then stick on letters and paint them for the titles? Gonna try it and see! Great idea!

  13. Chris

    What a great job you did with the books. I have found and am following you through Debbie's Newbie Party and I hope to visit more often. Please come and visit me. I would love to have you. Hugs, Chris

  14. Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama

    This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing it at Weekend Craft Soiree! 🙂

  15. Anonymous

    Those are awesome! I actually like them even better than the originals, especially since you can arrange them however you want. Thanks for linking up to my Halloween party!

  16. Candace @ Candace Creations

    Love these! thanks for linking up to scrappy saturdays, you are being featured this coming weekend!

    Candace

  17. Mindie Hilton

    These spell books are so cool. I would love for you to share these at my Fall ongoing linky (see my right side bar for the button link). I would love for you to join my regular weekly linky anything goes too, that runs fri-monday, come strut your stuff.

    http://bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/

  18. Judy Haughton-James

    You have really come up with some creative ideas for Halloween. Looks good. I am a new Follower from Jamaica. I learnt about your Blog from Katherine Corner's Thursday Favourite Things Blog Hop.
    Judy – JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS

  19. Grace InAZ

    How creative you are! Very clever! I am blog hopping & following you from Katherine's Corner. Pls follow back. Growing Old With Grace http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/. Thanks for linking up with the blog hop today!

  20. Katherines Corner

    These are wonderful, I love them!!!!! So creative I can't wait to see what you do with the photo albums. P.S. thank you for linking up at The Thursday Favorite Things Hop

  21. Erin

    What a clever idea for Halloween!

  22. Honey at 2805

    This is such a great idea! Thanks for the tutorial!