Picture book bunting

Thank-you for all your well wishes.  Charlie has bounced back with vim and vigor.  Unfortunately Oscar has been to the doctors today with conjunctivitis and an ear infection.    But he's now on the mend. We've been very lucky this winter until now.  

Being confined to indoors for a few days, I've had a chance to be a bit crafty.  I saw this idea on someone's blog but I can't think for the life of me whose it was.  So, if it's yours please let me know and I'll link this post back to your original one.

I love bunting, but this bunting is made from old picture books.  First I cut a cardboard triangle to use as a template.   I have been using vintage picture books picked up from the thrift store and old withdrawn library books that are falling a part.  



 
For Oscar's bunting I used an old Golden Book called 'Play Street' by Esther Wilkin.  It has wonderful retro illustrations by Joan Esley.  Once I selected what illustrations I wanted to include I used my template and traced round with a pencil. Then I cut the shape out and simply machine sewed a length of fabric binding to join the paper flags.






Design tips:

~ use an odd number of flags rather than an even number
 ~ leave a decent boarder where you'll be sewing the binding on, you don't want the binding to cover an important part of the illustration.
~ lay the pictures out on the floor before sewing them together.  You want to have a nice balance of colors and form.

It's been a bit addictive and now I'm making them for gifts.  This one is for a little girl who has just turned five.  It's from a book called 'Wedding birds' by Juta Ash.  



They are cheap to make, easy, fast, a great way to recycle and they look great.   Give it a go! xx

Comments

[anissa ljanta]

How wonderful! I am all about upcycling, recycling or re-lifing. Anything that combines bunting with vintage kids illustration is a winner in my book too, love it!

[Leslie]

Love it! but the THOUGHT of cutting a book makes me twitch...I'll admire from afar. ;0)

[gabrielle]

I love them, have had these on my 'I would love to do this' list for awhile now, probably spotted them in the same place you did, think you may have inspired me to finally make Arlo one. Glad to hear Charlie is on the mend, hope Oscar doesn't get any sicker. I think it's about time spring came along

[Pom Pom]

How do you finish the edges? Just cut? Do you glue the pages to something hard or just use the pages?
I love it and I'm going to try it. I'll stop by the thrift store on my way back from lunch today. The bird bunting is so lovely and it would look so cute in my Birdie's bedroom. Must find bird book.

[bronwyn]

Oh, these look fantastic! I think I may have seen this on a blog but I forget which one too. If it helps jog your memory, I think the bunting came with a purchase from an online children's shop. Glad everyone is feeling better.

[naomi]

Just lovely!
Maybe this is where you saw them, On Rummy Bears Blog?
http://rummeybears.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-was-recently-introduced-to.html
x

[Heart Felt]

Im only using books that have already fallen apart Leslie.....Dont
panic.....will email you soon about our mulled wine. xxxx

[Heart Felt]

Hi Karen, no Ive kept it super simple and have just cut the pages, so
the bunting is fairly fragile, just to look at, not touch!. You
could use a different pair of scissors with a zig zag cut. That would
look quite good too. x

[Heart Felt]

Oh wow! You know it wasnt actually that blog....but obviously its a
craft that is going around. Thanks for the link! xx

[Amy Seven-Stitches]

I love the Play Street book. I bought a copy that had it's back cover cut off, figuring that I would turn it into something else, only to read the story and be torn between using the images on each side of the page - how to choose? I especially like the children cycling along, pretending to be a caterpillar. I will have to wait until I get a second copy before I can upcycle my first copy.

[Kristin]

Ooooh, I know a couple of babies due soon and this would be a perfect gift, thanks for sharing! xx

[Emma]

They look fantastic, well done :)

[Rachel Cobham Interiors]

Awesome, they're just gorgeous! What a neat idea!

[Helen]

GORGEOUS idea! I am definitely going to copy this! Thanks for sharing.

[Dee]

here? :) http://dee-construction.blogspot.com/2010/06/make-my-week-23.html
so effective...although it's always hard to cut a book isn't it?
pleased you're all on the mend xo

[Sharonnz]

Brilliant idea! Could be just the thing for New Nephew. I would love to find myself a copy of Play Street as I have very strong memories of that book!

[Jenny]

Juts love this idea. I was a bit twitchy about cutting up a book too but falling apart books is OK. I made a journal using the covers of a damaged Golden Book and didn't know what to use the pages for - now I know.

[Heart Felt]

Yes! Thanks Dee, the idea is just wonderful. Thank-you!!!! xx

[Heather]

So cute! I'll have to start keeping my eye out, while at the thrift stores, for nicely illustrated books. And now I know what to do with some of the books I've saved because I love their art!

[Gilly]

Wow such a good idea.
Our school book fair in October always has plenty of reject picture books because of a page or two missing or scribbled on.
Hope your wee Oscar bounces back quickly.
X

[Heart Felt]

I'll keep an eye out for one for you Amy. x

[Heart Felt]

Yes, so many of us do! x

[Heart Felt]

Thanks Gilly, he is on the mend ~ he is a strong boy. Ps, those little leather shoes you made are fantastic. He wears them everyday, they stay on, they are warm and they look gorgeous. Thank-you. xx

[Veronica]

OMG - Brilliant. I must try it.

[Leslie]

Just a thought...could you colour photocopy? Then you can have lots of images!