NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS SPELL BOOK PROP
This is a tutorial on how to make an antique book prop out of any book. I chose to make mine Sally's potion book from the movie Nightmare Before Christmas. I saw an antique book prop similar to this one online, but could not find ANYTHING about how to make one. So, I did a little experimenting. This is how to make it:
-Out dated book
-White glue
-Water
-Large artist brush-Water
-Instant Coffee
-Acrylic Paint
-Printer Paper
-Caulk & Floral Moss (optional)
-Caulk & Floral Moss (optional)
Approx. Cost: $10 or less
Time Invested: 2+ Hours
(Description corresponds to picture tutorial above)
* Decide
if you are going to make a cover for the book. If so, do this first. Click here for book cover tutorial.
(This Book is a prop only. When finished, it will be hardened and stuck in the "open" position. You will not be able to flip through or close the book.)
1. Measure the dimensions of your pages, (example 7 “
x 9 “ )
2. Make a Photoshop document with those same dimensions (example 7" x 9"), then add photos or text as desired. Print it out . Lay out on book and
trim excess if necessary. Set aside for later.
Free Nightmare Before Christmas Font:
http://www.dafont.com/the-gingerbread-house.font
http://www.dafont.com/burtons-nightmare.font
Inner page print outs:
http://diynmbcprops.blogspot.com/p/spell-book-pages-printable.html
Free Nightmare Before Christmas Font:
http://www.dafont.com/the-gingerbread-house.font
http://www.dafont.com/burtons-nightmare.font
Inner page print outs:
http://diynmbcprops.blogspot.com/p/spell-book-pages-printable.html
3. Find the center of the
book and mark it with a bookmark, using a white glue and water solution, start
at the front cover and and brush on the glue solution and press the first page
down, do this over and over again to each page until you reach the
center. (Also, as you near the center it helps to start "bumping" the
pages up, not smoothing them down so flat: see pictures)... you don't have to
cover the entire page with glue, just do one swipe down the outermost edge with
a 1" brush from top to bottom, as you near the center stop applying glue
to the top and bottom corners (just the middle few inches) so the corners will
be free to lift up. After you have reached the center, go back and take the
"free" unglued corners and roll them in layers with your paint brush
handle. Once they are rolled, apply a lot of glue so they will harden, flip
book, and repeat from back cover to center.
4. Paint entire book black with acrylic, let it dry. Paint all page edges with a thin layer of metallic silver acrylic, let it dry.
5. Lay paper printout pages
into the book, mark with pencil some jagged edges so it doesn't look so
perfect, cut out jagged pencil edges. Apply glue solution to open book pages
and carefully apply each printout page into place, remember to fit the corners
up into the curled edges.
WARNING: TEST YOUR INK BEFORE STEP #6
TEST A PIECE TO MAKE SURE YOUR PRINTER INK DOESN'T RUN WHEN
WET.
(MINE DIDN'T)
6. Coffee! I personally like to use Starbucks VIA instant caramel coffee that comes in the packet, but any will do. Put some warm water in a small cup, add
instant coffee powder, let it desolve to brown coffee water. Use your paint brush to
paint it on the stark white pages. Do one all over coat to get a tan overall
color. You can add a second layer of coffee, the more layers, the darker it will be. I
did 2 all over and a third random pass to make it more uneven and random. Don’t
be afraid to mix some glue into the mix too. Then while the pages are still
pretty wet, I like to do a random sprinkling of the dry instant coffee powder. Let it sit a
few seconds and you will see it start to desolve and leave a
dark rusty age spot effect. Wipe it off lightly with your brush once it has reached
the desired rusty age spot look. Blow dry the pages a little not all the way,
then dip your fingers in some regular water and flick water onto the pages
randomly. These will dry a different shade than the rest, also looks like water
damage and age spots. Let Dry (doesn't have to be 100% dry to move on to step #7).
7. Paint, I use very watered down black acrylic and
watered down burnt umber acrylic. Paint, dab, smudge, blend around the outer
edge of where the printer paper meets the real book for a “burned” edges look.
8. Paint any colors and details you have. If you need to add any color (in my case green on the soup), use very watered
down acrylic paint, a water color consistency. Remember you can always start
light and work your way to dark, but if you start too dark… your screwed.
9. Add a ribbon bookmark. I found
some old pink wire ribbon and painted it black. Then painted my own wiggly white stripes (acrylic). Or you can buy black ribbon and add the white stripes.
The wire makes it bendy and pose-able. Hot glue it into the spine at the top of the book.
(STEP #10 & #11 Optional)
10. Add moss with hot glue.
I bought mine at Michael's, but any floral or craft store should have it. I love
the one I got. It was in the Halloween isle and it was $2.99 for a good sized
bag. Plus I had a 40% off coupon! Place it where ever it looks natural. I also
added some dried leaves I found outside for a cemetery look.
Love it!!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDid you draw the bowl of soup and spoon yourself or find it online?
ReplyDeleteI found it online, but drew it onto the page myself. And painted it myself.
DeleteOh ok thanks. I love the book! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you have the PDF file of the 2 pages for the book so I can just print them out? That would be awesome! Please let me know I'm at buttercuppillows@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI would love a copy also I have a mac and I cant download the font ccelis1@yahoo.com Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate it if you could also send me the pdf as well please :-) sammiehughes7@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteCan you send me the tutorial on how you did the book cover? Rosannebrook26@gmail.com I would really appreciate it. You did an awesome job cant wait to try it out! Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteI will be posting the book cover tutorial on here since I keep getting so many requests!
DeleteI really love this and would like to get it for my girl friend but i'm not very good at that stuff. Would you be able to do it for me and how much would you want for it if you do? message me at Chizzad1867@yahoo.com with what your thinking. If not thank you anyways
ReplyDeleteMay I please have a copy of the PDF file for the 2 pages? I have tried downloading the fonts and no matter what I try they don't work on my computer, emay7123@yahoo.com. Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteThe inner page printouts have been added. Look for the link above under step 2
Delete