I worked on book and paper projects this weekend. I made these with Faye inbetween play dates, the park and working in the garden. The frame on the wall is made from pages I took from “The Art Box”, rolled into tubes using a paint brush handle and sewn onto a metal wreath frame. It helped to have a guillotine paper cutter in the studio! The first one which I made using plain book pages didn’t come out so great, this project needed color and more paper rolls so I started over. I like the results of the second one, it’s also bigger. The last images are from a folded book project for my desk.
I like the wall frame, it looks good hung up in the studio. Tell me what you think! Please leave a comment - which is your fave? Should I paint or stain the book tray?
paper rolls {would make a nice frame}
paper rolls detail
first attempt - too symmetrical
I used embroidery hoops for this first attempt
book art for my desk
the base is a box lid, turned upside down
PS: Thanks for all the comments on the last two posts. I appreciate the feedback and don’t feel so bad now that many of you have mentioned that you also have blogs and rarely comment on other bloggers posts. Sometimes I feel like the outsider when visiting well known blogs and I guess I assume other readers will post comments. Your words are inspiring, thank you. I promise to be a better commenter and poster!
I love the book art for your desk as it is and i love the first attempt using plain pages. I love the simplicity of them!
Comment by mrYen — April 19, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
I love, love, love the folded book page desk organizer. it would be a great alternative to a bulletin/inspiration board!
Comment by Leah Mackin — April 19, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
I love both of your of your paper roll frames they both look good.
The book art for your desk is amazing!! I would love a tutorial if you ever make another one. I think my mother-in-law would love it!!!
Keep up the great stuff!!!
Comment by Sylvie — April 19, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
WICKED cool!
Comment by kelly — April 19, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
I like the natural look of the book tray with no added color, but that’s just a personal preference … depending on the context I’ll bet it would also look good in a color that’s contrasted or tone-matched with whatever it normally sits on.
Comment by octavia — April 19, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Well this is fun. I have seen folded book pages before but things keep getting more creative. I like all three of these, the first two are each nice with their own style. And the wood looks great natural with the tone of the pages. The only color I would even consider would be a charcol. Okay, now off to look at your other posts.
Comment by Amber — April 19, 2009 @ 11:30 pm
wow..that looks gorgeous.
Comment by Nima — April 20, 2009 @ 12:14 am
I love the book tray with no added colour. The natural wooden frame goes so well with the pages. I am coveting it, it would look so nice on my desk!
Comment by Aveen — April 20, 2009 @ 2:06 am
The “colour wheel” is great - i can see it in graduated colours… and the book art is beautiful and inspired.
Comment by Twitchy Fingers — April 20, 2009 @ 5:41 am
Mister Jason, this is beautiful!
My favourite is the book tray and about the question of colour or not….:perhaps some lasur-paint would do….I like the wood shining through!
I imagine the coloured circle on top of a room around a round lamp….Albeit I like the book-page-one,too…perhaps some more book pages…..
Haaaaa, playing with paper is so much fun!
Comment by Uschi — April 20, 2009 @ 7:28 am
What great weekend projects! I love having a shock of color on the wall, so that one is my favorite. It looks really well constructed.
I’d like to try my hand at your folded book organizer. I think I’d stain the wood, rather than paint it. Hard to say, looks great as is!
Comment by Monica — April 20, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Jason, I love both of these projects!! The frame is great and would look nice with a mirror in it. And that fan book thingy is so cool as a biz card holder, love it!
Comment by Laurie — April 20, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Really really really love the desk organiser. I second a tutorial if you ever fancy making one.
I love bright colours so prefer the first wall art one, but the 2nd would actually fit in better if I was doing anything for my home.
I always get scared when I cut into books, it seems like sacrilege
I’ve got a tatty dictionary especially reserved for projects like this.
I only found your blog today, but I’ll be back.
Comment by Celeste — April 20, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
I love the book art for your desk and wonder how you created it!
Comment by last minute lynn — April 20, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
LOVE IT! Can we have insturctions for the colorful wreath and the desk art? PLEASE!!!!!
Comment by Mary M. — April 20, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Lovely “desk art.” Even better that you spend parts of your weekends making them! Thanks for letting us have a look.
Comment by BookGirl — April 21, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
I agree with twitchy fingers - I would love to see the wreath in graduated colours. And the book tray! I have no words. I personally would paint the tray underneath in bright colours with polka dots. But that’s just me.
And oh yes, could you please teach us?
Comment by Shelley — April 21, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
I like the colorful frame best!
It brings happiness to a white wall…
Greetings from Austria
Gabi
Comment by Gabi — April 21, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone! And for the suggestions too. I made a second business card holder for our sales manager and placed it on a bright green ceramic dish and it looks great on her desk. I’ll keep playing with this one. I have an idea for unusually shaped book folds in a really big holder. I’ll post when I finish it!
Jason
Comment by Jason Thompson — April 24, 2009 @ 9:12 am
Wow these projects are great…. how did you sew all those rolls together? I would love to learn how to make one of those things… I do quilling so this would be a great extension on that craft.
Comment by Cathy — May 6, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
A how to on the desk book art would be very appreciated. I would love to put one on my desk for business cards.
Comment by Dawn — May 6, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
FAB - U- LOUS!!!!!
Comment by LindaSonia — May 6, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
Oh, I love this it inspired me
Comment by Jenn — May 9, 2009 @ 10:40 am
I love this!! I want one!Rach
Comment by handmadecharlotte — May 9, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
Can’t I just make them all my favourite? These are awesome. I do love the book art, though - total genius.
Comment by carolbrowne — May 10, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Definitely the colorful wreath. (Time to start collecting green pages for Christmas….) I can’t decide if the b & w one would be less “eh” if the text didn’t run straight across each tube, of if it’s the pointed end that makes the difference.
Comment by Carol — May 10, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
Great ideas!! I’m going to try making placemats that way, coating each roll in resin. It will either work or it will be a disaster — one way or another it will use up some of my crate full of magazine pages I thought were too lovely to throw away!
BTW — Since you asked, I’d definitely paint the box. I think staining it would make it look dull. In fact, I’d prime the box with a black primer then paint it a strong matte red. Then I’d sand the edges and corners so the black comes through. Or maybe I’d paint it a glossy black, or any other color…
Comment by Elizabeth — May 10, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
I’ve never seen anything like the book art before-very clever! And I love the colorful wall frame-I’m inspired and impressed!
Comment by Alisa — May 10, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
i love this idea…my daughter is very excited about reusing and recycling…maybe we could try this with old magazines.
Comment by Leslie — May 10, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
So classy! I like all three projects very much. The embroidery hoop/book pages one is lovely in its understated way, but the top one is great too, because of the color interest. The book desk art is fabulous… looking forward to your tutorial because I can’t work out how you managed to keep the pages so perfectly rounded, but then you’re a pro at this!
Comment by Ann — May 11, 2009 @ 11:47 am
wow, two cool projects! i am bookmarking this, hoping for a full how-to soon …
Comment by Mackie — May 11, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Great book art for your desk! You can see one of my creations on my blog
Comment by Monica — May 11, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
Love both projects! Remember we read but don’t comment, and still enjoy your blog.
Comment by Janet — May 13, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
wow. that frame is uber cool. i’m trying to figure out how you sewed it together?
Comment by larissa — May 17, 2009 @ 3:39 pm
Lovely! Found via Recycled Crafts. I’ll be linking from dollarstorecrafts.com next week!
Comment by Heather - Dollar Store Crafts — May 17, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
I love them all. I know that’s not super helpful but I do! Awesome ideas!
Comment by Lindy — May 19, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
This. Is rad.
Amy
Comment by Amy — May 19, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Oh, I can’t pick a favorite! They are all fantastic and I can’t wait to try to do a couple of these myself, though I’m not sure I can get them to look as good as these.
Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Amy — May 22, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
This is fantastic! I have been watching and waiting to snap up an eames inspired starburst mirror for ages, but now, forget that! - I’m going to be making my own wall art
Thanks for the great idea and the how-to. Love your blog!
Comment by kate — May 28, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Please post a tutorial for the colored wreath project. Can sort of see what you did, but directions would help. A great looking versatile piece for almost any location!
Comment by cc — May 30, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
All these are fantastic.
Hope a tutorial comes out soon…I want to have my own wreath!!!
Comment by RJ — May 31, 2009 @ 7:05 am
My first visit to your website ND i’M HOOKED. wONDERFUL WORK AND IDEAS.
Comment by Mags — May 31, 2009 @ 11:57 am
Hi. I agree with everyone! This is fantastic…similar to one sold by a major retailer, but more cool because you can custom make it to your taste!
PLEASE post a tutorial on how to make it- I get the rolling idea, but how it is held together?
Hope you are back from the show soon….I am itchy to make this too!
Comment by Luca — June 5, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
The wreath is beautiful! I love how stylish it is, and how it would work in virtually any room. I can’t wait to make one of my own.
Comment by Connie — June 8, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
I love the book as well!!! will you share how to make it as well please!!!!
Great work keep it up
Comment by candie — June 13, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Can’t wait for the instructions for the wreath! I want to try this one out, but can’t figure out exactly how you stitched the paper in place.
Comment by Evelyn — June 17, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
Did the instructions come out somewhere else? Can someone post the link for them please? Thanks.
Comment by Luca — June 27, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
Great ideas! I’ve done lots of work with different papers. Just recently I saw a photo of scraps of fabric rolled up and used as part of an art quilt design. I think I’m going to try adding an element like that to one of my paper quilts.
Comment by Jane — June 28, 2009 @ 11:07 am
Maybe we could all figure it out together… Looks like he rolled the magazine pages on the diagonal, to make points at the end. Rolled around a pencil? Then mod podged?
Comment by Jess — July 1, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Get the rolling part…pencil, knitting needle etc. The attaching to embroidery hoop part, not a clue! Is a wonderful looking project though, the kids would love it!
Comment by Sulo — July 5, 2009 @ 10:09 am
SO - I was inspired by your rolled up papers and just finished a collage I’m calling “Sunset Tapestry.” I couldn’t begin to explain how I wrapped the rolls with gold embroidery floss, but I managed somehow. I’d like to know how you did yours. Thanks for the inspiration.
Comment by Jane — July 17, 2009 @ 10:18 am
I was actally interested in the other project. The book art for your desk. Can you clarify how that was done? I love it!
Comment by Courtney — July 17, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Hi, was going through the websites, impressed much is rolled paper wreath, but i could not see in tutorial format to learn as it. please help me in this making & feels happy ending after doing this art. Regards Praveen.
Comment by Praveen — July 30, 2009 @ 7:18 am
Jason your wreath looks great!
I love the business card holder. I may have to do that for my next show to display my cards.
Have a great day!
Comment by Lana — August 13, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Hi, can you please post a tutorial for this? I am not very crafty and your brief explanation in the comments left me scratching my head. What is the wirey thing holding it together? And what am I supposed to glue the rolls to? How do I make the rolls look like yours? Do you think wrapping paper would work? And how did you hang it on the wall?
TIA!
Comment by Heather — September 5, 2009 @ 1:07 am
I’d LOVE if you could post the wreath instructions…I’ve been planning to make some for the holidays ever since I saw this!
Comment by Emily — November 14, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Hi! Love your stuff! Could you please tell me how you did the card holder? It’s amazing! Thanks =)
Comment by Tara — November 27, 2009 @ 6:41 am
I love this may I link to it and lure my readers with one photo?
Comment by Claudia — December 4, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
So…I finally got around to making this wreath and realized yours must be much larger than any space I have :). I ended up making it about half size. And stuck a little mirror in the middles. Love it!
You can see the process here:
http://extremecards.blogspot.com/2010/01/magazine-page-mirror-frame.html
Comment by Carol — January 8, 2010 @ 9:55 am
Ha ha, not in the MIDDLES, in the middle.
Comment by Carol — January 8, 2010 @ 9:56 am
I love your book art. Way to go.
Comment by Lynne Brotman — April 21, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
I love the simplicity of the wreath and of course the desk book accessory is gorgeous. Books rule!
Comment by Stefanie — June 23, 2010 @ 5:18 am
where are the instructions for the rolled paper wreath. I have been searching for 2 days.
Comment by jane fonouni — July 15, 2010 @ 11:15 am
where are the instructions for the rolled paper wreath. I have been searching for 2 days.
Comment by jane fonouni — July 15, 2010 @ 11:15 am
So how do you attach all of the rolls together. It does not say.
Comment by jane fonouni — July 16, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
So how do you attach all of the rolls together. It does not say.
Comment by jane fonouni — July 16, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
hi,its really amazing,i am going to try soon.if u hav more craft ideas plz send me
Comment by jasmine — September 16, 2010 @ 6:06 am
Can you send me directions on how to make this? It looks great and I would like my students to work on something like this.
Thank you,
Karen
Comment by Karen Booker — May 5, 2011 @ 8:10 am