DIY A Creative Vase For Faux Flowers Using An Unexpected Item

Do you have a large collection of old books just sitting around collecting dust? It can be tempting to hold onto every book you've read (or want to find time to read in the future), even ones with damaged pages, but this is a one-way ticket to having your space feel cluttered. However, you don't have to part with your favorite books if you're willing to get creative and turn them into home décor. You can use your old book pages to create a DIY vase that's perfect for displaying faux flowers: Use a utility knife to cut out the pattern and craft glue to hold it all together.

Before diving into this DIY vase project as a way to repurpose old books that you probably aren't reading anymore, you'll need to make sure you have a few tools on hand. While the most important material for this hack is an old book for each vase you plan to make, you'll also need to have a very sharp blade to cut through the pages. The WORKPRO Premium Utility Knife is a great option that has a retractable blade for safety. You'll also need to have a piece of cardboard or paper to use as a template, some heavy-duty craft glue on hand, like the Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue, and some clamps to help with adhesion if desired.

The first step for this DIY vase project is to decide which books to breathe new life into for whimsical home décor (you'll need one book per vase). Grab a large piece of cardboard and trim it to match the size of the book. Once fitted, sketch out a half template for what design and shape you'd like the vase to display. Now comes the deconstruction portion! Start by removing the front and back cover from the book. Use the cardboard template as a guide and cut through layers of pages until every piece of paper is in the desired shape. 

The adhesive portion of this DIY vase is what takes the longest, but it's the most important for the entire structure to stand tall and stay together. Apply your glue of choice to the front and back pages of the book, as well as the spine. Press the front and back pages together firmly and let them dry completely before use. It may be helpful to use a product like EQUIPTZ Heavy Duty Spring Clamps to keep things secure while the adhesive works its magic. After waiting at least 24 hours, you can set up your faux flowers between the pages close to the book spine, creating the appearance of a real vase without having to water or maintain any greenery.

If cutting the cover off of your old books doesn't sound like something you're willing to do, there are still ways to create a DIY flower vase with the pages. One option to create your own faux flower vase is to fold the pages of a book to create small pockets where the flowers can sit. Thankfully, for this project, you'll need all the same tools as with the project that removes the front and back covers. Instead, you'll be cutting the interior pages to half size so you are able to fold them in a pattern that creates the vase. While this does still deconstruct the interior portion of the book, the front and back covers will stay in good condition.

Once your new vase is assembled, choose your favorite faux greenery and put it on display. If you have more books to work with but want to try something new, consider making custom wallpaper using old book pages to complement the space with the vase and faux floral arrangement. Still want to DIY a vase for your faux flowers but not ready to part with your books? You can use heavy-duty paper that you fold in a pattern to create the structure. It's simple to achieve with a little practice, and a great project for beginner crafters.