Crafts for Bibliophiles -- NEW! Project Added 11/24/25: Folded Book Art

Refer to one of two supplemental files to complete this project:

Start by removing any book jacket from your book and make sure all pages are flat with no creased corners or folded pages.

Then, find the full amount of numbered pages within the book and split this number in half evenly. Now, open to the middle of your book and place a paper clip on both the left and right middle page. This will become the center of your heart design.
(Ex: 384 ÷ 2 = 192, so a clip would go on pgs. 192 and 193)

Next, take your left middle page number and subtract 40. Flip to the new page and paper clip it. This will be the start of your heart.
(Ex: 192 - 40 = 152 as beginning page of heart design)

Now, flip back open to your middle two paper-clipped pages. Take the right middle page number and add 40 to it. Flip to the new page and paper clip it. This will be the end of your heart.
(Ex: 193 + 40 = 233 as end page of heart design)

At this point, you should have four pages paper clipped: one that marks the beginning of the design, two that mark the middle of the design, and one that marks the end of your design.

• Make sure you use an even number of pages...so if your book is numbered up to page 555, use page 554 as your last page instead!
• Place each paper clip at a different part of the top of the page. This way you can easily flip between the beginning, middle, and end of your design.

To begin measuring the pages, lay your book flat on a hard surface with the book lying open vertically instead of horizontally.

You will need to lay your ruler against the pages as you measure, making sure to line up the bottom of the ruler with the edge of each page. Be sure to check that you are measuring in centimeters, not inches.

Starting with your FIRST paper-clipped page, you will use the ruler and pencil to mark each page according to the measurements found in the PDF file: Book Folding Page Measurements (link also available at the top of this guide). The first page of the heart design uses the following measurements: 7.7 centimeters and 8.9 centimeters.

Make a mark on the page with you pencil at each measurement.

Each page should have two measurements with varying amounts of space in between each pencil mark.

The beginning and end pages will have measurements fairly close together while the middle of the design will have measurements a good distance apart.

• Keep a list of the measurements next to you while you work for easy reference.
• With your pencil, cross out each measurement after you use it to make sure you don't repeat any pages.
• If you make a mistake, erase the measurement and re-measure.

Return to the first marked page and fold the top and bottom corners in to the pencil marking. Remove paper clips as you go.

As you fold the corners in, be sure to keep them at right angles.

Continue this process until all 40 pages of the design are folded. The heart design will begin to take shape as you fold.

When you reach the end, check to make sure each page is folded correctly and re-crease any corners as needed

Once finished, decorate your book art as desired or just leave it plain. Use as a handmade gift or décor for your own home!