How to make a farmhouse DIY book stack from gift bags (Easy Dollar Tree Craft)

July 1, 2021

I LOVE quick and easy crafts. This DIY book stack is just that: super simple, easy to make, and oh so pretty! You don’t need to spend a crazy amount of money to get your perfect farmhouse country chic décor.

Just pop into your local Dollar Tree, take a stroll through a thrift or antique store and keep an open mind.

Hey there, I’m so glad you are here! If you enjoy this quick & easy craft tutorial be sure to check out these other DIY crafts on my blog:

set of three hardcover books covered in floral printed paper. A piece of lavender on top of the books. Clean white background

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GIFT BAGS & A STACK OF BOOKS

Those are the main materials you need to make this DIY book stack for your farmhouse decor. Check out this even easier book stack I made using paperback books, my Cricut, and black vinyl. I show you how to apply a decal to the spine of your book stack.

PLACES TO FIND HADCOVER BOOKS:

  • dollar store
  • thrift store
  • garage sale
  • old books around the house
  • family & friends
  • or if you don’t want to use real books you can use scrap wood pieces for a faux book stack

Supplies & materials to make a feminine farmhouse DIY book stack

farmhouse DIY book stack supplies and materials: stack of hardcover books, floral gift bags, matte finish mod podge, antique wax, sanding sponge, 1" foam brush
Print

Floral print farmhouse book stack

How to make a DIY farmhouse book stack from gift bags (Easy Dollar Tree Craft)
Total Time20 mins
Cost: $

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • MEASURE & CUT- If the hardcover book has a jacket remove that first. Then, open your book and lay it so that the spine and both the covers are touching the gift bag. Trace around the book, leaving about 1" allowance all the way around the book.
  • GLUE- Matte finish mod podge is a great glue for this craft project. But, if you don't have that you can use Elmer's glue. I just don't recommend hot glue as it won't give you a clean smooth finish.
  • DISTRESS- Allow the mod podge to mostly dry then you can distress. Using a sanding sponge or a piece of sand paper is a great way to do this. You want to focus on the edges, corners and lightly go over the front and back covers.
    Start with a light hand then apply more pressure if needed. Wipe with a paper towel to remove the dust.
  • ANITQUE WAX- A little bit of wax goes a very long way. Lightly dip the tip of your chip brush bristles into the wax then paint on your book stack. Focus just the same as when you distressed.
Check out these other ink stamped & chalk painted books stacks on Pinterest

How to make a book stack

1. MEASURE & CUT

If the hardcover book has a jacket (aka paper dust covers) remove that first. Second, open your book and lay it so that the spine and both the covers are touching the gift bag. Third, trace around the book, leaving about 1″ allowance all the way around the book.

  • woman is using an ink pen to trace around an open hardcover book onto a floral printed gift bag.
  • woman is using scissors to cut a floral printed gift bag from the Dollar Tree

2. GLUE

Matte finish mod podge is a great glue for this craft project. However, if you don’t have mod podge you can use Elmer’s glue. I just don’t recommend hot glue as it won’t give you a clean smooth finish.

TIPS FOR GLUEING:

  • foam brushes work great for this craft
  • glue the book spine first, then glue the covers
  • use a vinyl squeegee to get the air bubbles out
  • use a light hand when pressing the gift bag down
  • cut slits to make covering the edges of the book easier
  • women is using matte finish mod podge and a 1" foam brush to paint glue onto a hardcover book. She has cut out piece of floral printed gift bag paper under the book with the white side facing up.
  • woman is using a blue vinyl squeegee to press out air bubbles on her DIY book stack. She is pressing the book spine with the squeegee to glue it to the book.
  • woman is painting matte finish mod podge onto the hardcover of the front of a book to make a DIY book stack. She is gluing floral printed paper to the book.
  • woman is gluing floral printed paper to a hardcover book. She is folding over the edges of the paper to cover the sides of the book.

3. DISTRESS

Allow the mod podge to mostly dry then you can distress. Using a sanding sponge or a piece of sandpaper is a great way to do this. You want to focus on the sides of the books, the spine of each book, corners and lightly go over the front and back covers.

Start with a light hand then apply more pressure if needed. Wipe with a paper towel to remove the dust.

woman is using a sanding sponge to distress a floral print covered book stack.

4. ANITQUE WAX

One of my favorite things to use is antiquing wax. It gives so much character to DIY craft projects. A little bit of wax goes a very long way. First, lightly dip the tip of your chip brush bristles into the wax. Next, paint the dark wax on your book stack. You want to focus just the same as when you distressed.

CLICK HERE for more tips on how to apply antique wax.

woman is using a chip brush and antique wax to distress a DIY book stack. Book is covered in floral printed gift bag paper. She is using a wide chip brush to apply the dark wax and dabbing it off on a paper towel as she goes.

Now, cover a couple more books with gift bags and you will have yourself a chic farmhouse book stack.

set of three hardcover books covered in floral printed paper. A piece of lavender on top of the books. Clean white background

I hope you enjoyed this DIY craft tutorial. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments below.

Happy Crafting!

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