Paperback Christmas Tree

Created this Christmas Tree using a paperback
book (a book of course not wanting to read anymore).
This post is picture heavy with instructions & photos
taken along most of the creation way.

Found the holiday project steps in Family Circle
Dec 2011. This was a first time for me making
something like this.

You need a book that has at least 150 pages and
the instructions should have mentioned that you need
a book that is twice the 150 pages since you do not
count front & back of page as 2 pages but instead 1
page. Made one with a book that had 150+ but not
twice that pages so I used it as a test book to practice
the page folding & spray painting on. Hubby gave me
a book titled Stock Market Logic that he longer wanted.
It was a taller book and had enough pages.
As you proceed folding of the pages it gets harder to
fold but is best if you take your time.

Used Krylon Glitter Blast Spray to spray paint it (outside
of course). Thank goodness for sunny warmer weather.

Made the star using Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge.

Decorated with Christmas cord. May embellish it more.

Tear off the front & back covers of a paperback book,
leaving the binding intact. Forgot to photo this step.

Fold pages. Using test book pages to demonstrate
each fold so keep in mind your book pages are to
remain attached to the book binding.

Take the top corner of a page and fold it down to
meet the binding.


















Then fold the same page down to meet the
binding again.


















Turn up the resulting triangle at the bottom
of the page so that it is even with the bottom
of the book.


















Make the same three folds on the next page.

Repeat the folds on every page until the tree
looks generously proportioned - about 150 pages
(double that = 300 pages).

To make things easier, clip folded pages together
as you go. Found this to make it not easier so I did
not clip the folded pages together.

Trim the excess pages off the binding by using a
utility knife or box cutter to cut through the spine. I
did not trim excess pages; instead I folded all of them
to make it more full. If you do trim you get a steep
looking tree & I liked the full look better.

Glue first & last pages together so the tree fans around
and stands on its own. I did not need to glue since the
book had heavy weight paper pages and stood on its
own just fine.

Before spray painted.


















To decorate trees, mist edges with spray
paint (magazine called for silver spray paint
but I liked the green glitter look better).


















Decorate & trim the tree.


















Entering this into the following challenges:

1. Die Cuttin Divas Ch#45 Holiday Decor ends 1/1/12

Challenge #45: Holiday Decor

2. My Pink Stamper
Trash to Treasure - I turned the trash of a paperback book
into a Christmas Tree holiday decor
Day 6 - 12 Days of Christmas!

3. My Pink Stamper
CHALLENGE: In honor of this being Helen's first ever video make something new you have never made before. A new card fold, a scrapbook page--have fun!!!
Day 8--12 Days of Christmas


4. Whimsical-Designs ends 1/4/12
"Home For The Holidays" Whimsical Wednesday Challe...


Joys of the Season Star 3.75" x 4 .75"
used Gypsy to make 2 pieces,
flipping one & gluing them together
so shiny gold on front & back

Paper:
gold shiny cardstock
paperback book with at least 300 pages

Krylon Glitter Blast Glitter Spray Lucky Green 5.75oz
mini glue dots to hold the Christmas cord in place on tree
Trim It Up Christmas cord