We've all seen them, haven't we?
Those dreamy books that aren't just rocking a gorgeous cover but sporting flashy sprayed edges too. There's lots of tutorials out there about how to paint your own edges. But if you want to cut down on your own trial and error, here's the process I've come to trust after practicing on (a.k.a. ruining) many of my own books.
It's a far less intimidating project than I thought it would be (Oh, how I hate ruining good books, and the fear was real!) But honestly, it's quite simple, and you don't need to be artistic, folks. You just need a few supplies and a hunger for a gorgeous custom sprayed edge book of your own!
If you're a visual learner, I've got a live video on my YouTube channel that goes through the entire process here: https://youtu.be/h9LfDDqtAnA?si=7ROxHRGnu6UFQxpx
If you don't want to listen to my lil ole voice droning on for twenty minutes, read on!
Material List
brown kraft paper (or any thick paper) or aluminum foil for your cover wrap
masking tape
good quality small flat paint brush (not foam brushes, they load too much paint)
baby powder or corn starch
make up brush
two pieces of wood or thick particle board approximately the same size as your book
1.5-2 inch quick clamps
acrylic ink (not acrylic paint)
stencils of your choice
stencil spray adhesive
spray paint
Ready to make something gorgeous? Let's go!
Wrap your book. If you ever had old school text books you customized with your own paper wrap, now is your time to shine, my friends! Wrap that cover like a present. Then, use masking tape as needed along the spine. You can also use aluminum foil for a quick cover wrap that doesn't let paint bleed through (refer to video for details.) https://youtu.be/h9LfDDqtAnA?si=SJMIHl2veMRdFAsh
Use a make up brush or paint brush to apply baby powder or corn starch between the pages while the book is fanned out a bit. This is integral to prevent pages from sticking together later.
3. Clamp your freshly wrapped and powdered book between your pieces of wood using spring clamps. Try to line up the front edge of the book flush with the edges of the wood pieces.
4. Brush off baby powder residue on top, bottom, and front edges.
5. Start Painting with acrylic ink. Go light on the coverage. You can always add another layer. If you over-apply, you'll glue the book's pages together.
6. Once you are satisfied with the coverage of the acrylic ink, let it dry completely. If you are happy with a solid sprayed edge, you're done. If you want to stencil, onward with me!
7. Choose the plastic stencil of your choice. Something with a small pattern works well. I used a cake stencil from the baking section of a craft store and cut it to size. You do you.
8. Spray the back of the stencil with stencil spray adhesive. I bought Pixie Spray at the local craft store. It has to be something low tack or you'll damage your book.
9. Stick the stencil onto the painted edge of your book. Make sure it's firmly adhered. Now it's time to spray paint. I usually do this outside with a cardboard box as a spray booth. High tech, I know. The key here is the lightest spray possible (see video link for details.)
If you have anything more than the thinnest layer of spray paint, your pages will stick together, so as the architect Ludwig Mies van der Roheless once said: less is more (I don't think he was referring to spray paint, but you get the point, right?)
10. Leave the stencil on until the spray paint has dried to the touch. Then, take your book out of its clamps, hold it firmly by the spine, and while still outside--or in a well-ventilated area you are willing to dust baby powder out of for the next week--give it a gentle whack or two to encourage the pages to separate and to get rid of all that baby powder. See video for details (I promise it's not book abuse.)
There you have it! It's as simple as that, folks. Now go forth and beautify some books! I'd love to see your results.
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