Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway- Folded Book Art: 35 beautiful projects to transform your books?create cards, display scenes, decorations, gifts, and more

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Giveaway- Folded Book Art: 35 beautiful projects to transform your books?create cards, display scenes, decorations, gifts, and more

Leave a comment in today’s post by April 6th, 2017 and you are in the running for this beautiful book filled with projects made with recycled books, book pages and covers.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

More about the book from CICO Publishing:

“Create a fantastic world of delight with these 35 inspiring projects—all made from old books!

Follow Clare Youngs‘ simple step-by-step projects to make a huge variety of creative book art projects. In the first chapter, Folding Books, get folding and make a beautiful bird, a sailor’s knot, and a shining star, they look impressive but are deceptively simple to make. In Chapter 2, Making Scenes, you will learn how to cut and glue splendid scenes such as tiny paper mushrooms and ferns under a glass bell jar, a fairytale castle, and a tiger in the jungle, all of which would make great gifts, or just keep and display them all yourself! Chapter 3, Refashioned Pages, has ideas for transforming the pages cut from books—make greeting cards, a botanical print lampshade, and hanging birds. All the projects have helpful step-by-step instructions and illustrations so all you need are a few old books and you are ready to start!”

Want more book folding projects? Join our Book Folding Facebook group for free designs and more.

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Comments

  17. I started collecting old books from the local flea markets after I first saw a book art installation. The printed word is so beautiful. What a great giveaway!

  18. This looks like fun to try! I love the heart piece shown! I’d also love to try some of these ideas in cardmaking! Thanks for the chance to win the book!

  21. Oh good. Ideas to get those books off the shelf that I will never read again!

    from winter-white VT,
    the Vermonster

  24. I am always looking for new “art” for my granddaughters and I to learned together. They are so eager to learn and intrigued with what they can create. Thank you.

  25. This is something I have always wanted to try. I have seen some pretty ai creations using book pages and always think to myself that I want to learn how to do that. I’ve watched videos about how to do it but never seem able to figure it out! Maybe this book is what I need to teach me this craft! Fingers crossed! Thanks for the chance to make a dream come true!
    ????

  28. I love origami and quilling. This book looks like a creative way of adding even more elements with paper. I would to try it out.

  31. This looks like fun! Our library has a book sale twice a year and the last day is for free when you can take whatever you want. I’m sure I can get some books to make these fun projects with. Thanks for the chance!

  37. I need to have this book in order to keep up with my daughter’s creativity >)

  40. I just had a class on this Monday night, and would love how to do more. Fantastic new craft.

  43. I’ve got a lot of books that I could use for these projects. If I don’t win, I may order the book!

  47. This is so cool. I love books and need to do this. I am just retiring and this would give me a new project. Thanks for the chance.

  48. Would love love love to use the ideas and instructions in this book with my grandmother’s books!

Have you read?

How To Make A Milk Carton Village – A Recycled Craft for Kids

Ready to turn your recycling bin into a colorful, miniature village? Grab those empty milk cartons and let’s create a town filled with tiny houses, shops, and even a school or bakery! This craft is perfect for kids of all ages and encourages imagination, storytelling, and eco-friendly creativity.

 What You’ll Need:

  • Empty milk or juice cartons (washed and dried)

  • Paints or markers

  • Paintbrushes

  • Craft glue or glue stick

  • Scissors (adult supervision recommended)

  • Colored paper or old magazines

  • Bottle caps, buttons, or plastic lids (for windows or decorations)

  • Sticks, straws, or skewers (for flag poles or chimneys)

  • Optional: glitter, stickers, washi tape, cotton balls (for snow or clouds!)

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Clean and Prep the Cartons
Make sure your milk or juice cartons are washed and completely dry. Remove any plastic lids or caps and keep them for decorations!

Step 2: Plan Your Village
Decide how many buildings you want to make. Each milk carton becomes a house, shop, or whatever your imagination dreams up. Arrange them side by side or in a circle like a real village square.

Step 3: Cut Out Doors and Windows
With the help of an adult, carefully cut small door and window shapes into your cartons. You can also glue cut-out shapes from colored paper if you’d rather not cut into the carton.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Use paint or markers to bring your buildings to life. Make brick patterns, colorful siding, or roof tiles. Let each child choose their own theme – rainbow bakery, monster house, fairy home, or tiny fire station!

Step 5: Add the Roofs
You can paint the top pointy part of the carton like a roof, or glue on cardboard triangles to create overhangs. Want to add a chimney? Glue a straw or cardboard roll on top!

Step 6: Make Flags and Signs
Cut small flags from recycled plastic or paper and tape them to straws or sticks. Glue your flags to the rooftops. You can even create tiny signs for each building – “Toy Store,” “Library,” or “Super Cat’s House.”

Step 7: Build Your Village
Place all the finished buildings together on a large piece of cardboard, tray, or table. Use bottle caps for stepping stones, cotton balls for bushes or clouds, and draw roads with marker.

Step 8: Play!
Now that your village is built, use little toys, action figures, or LEGO people to live in your new town. Create stories and adventures—your Milk Carton Village is officially open!

 Learning Bonus:

This craft is not just fun—it also teaches recycling, fine motor skills, creative thinking, and storytelling. Plus, it’s a great group activity for playdates, classrooms, or family craft nights.

Let your kids’ imaginations run wild—and remember, no two villages need to look the same. Each one tells its own story!