DIY thrift store books painted and stamped

What thrifty item do you collect?  These items weren’t useful. They became a collection because I had others.  Today my DIY thrift store books made from wood have a purpose.

What’s strange is I found the 8 wooden books in three different thrift stores in three different states.  Are they a regular thrift store item?

And who makes them?  There’s a ton of work to make them.  Routers and jigs and clamps oh my!

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This is my collection of eight wood books.  I enjoy woodworking but never had a desire to make wood books.

Painted

After several years of them in a box, today they are getting refreshed.  First a couple coats of white linen Rustoleum chalk-based paint.

Love the paint and adore the price!!!

I ordered these paint pyramids from Amazon and I’m wondering how I ever painted without them!

After the paint dried, I chose to not sand.  The paint was thick and left brush strokes.  I wanted a bit of texture on the book “covers.”

Next, the DIY thrift store books got stamped and in some place image transferred! 🙂

Stamped

Above are printables for image transfers.  Read here to learn more about image transfers.

Then grab your printable here.

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Or you can use rubber stamps.  I have a limited collection of rubber stamps.  Most are the alphabet.  Mike says “You’re always trying to recreate the alphabet!”

I made the little red hen stamp over 20 years ago.

Tied up

And, still works fine!  Made with a piece of form, an exacto knife, and craft glue. Oh, and a scrap piece of wood.

Can you hear the books say, “ahhh?”  Finally, they are outta the box.

OH, you will see these little books in displays on future posts.

And if I was lucky to find little wooden books in 3 thrift store in 3 states…you can do the same on any thrift store hard covered book.  Plus they make great gifts.  How do I know?  This black book was a gift to me from a dear friend…and I love it!

That farmhouse file box is “useful” every single day!