How to cover school books

By Francesca Newby

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Back to school

Books get a rough ride from the bottom of the bag to the locker. Heavy duty plastic will help reinforce corners and binding, ensuring books will last through the year.

This step-by-step will personalise your books, getting you book ready and back to school in no time.

How to cover books

What you will need

Plain and decorated paper;
Photographs;
Fabric;
Magazine cuttings;
Wallpaper;
Trading cards;
Clear contact;
Adhesive tape;
Labels;
Scissors.

Tips

Colour photocopy your favorite board shorts, photos or maps for the cover; create a pocket on the front for your class timetable; design your own labels and tags; attach a ribbon bookmark to the inside spine before covering book.
Smooth contact slowly from the centre of the book to the edges to avoid air bubbles.

Photography: Sam McAdam. Styling: Angela Haughton.

How to...

Place book on the centre of paper and mark where the spine sits. Use scissors to make two v-shaped cuts in the paper at the top and bottom of spine.

Fold paper edges over back cover of book, neaten corners and tape down. Close the book and fold the paper over the front cover (it�s important that the book is closed so the cover fits perfectly). Fold over edges, neaten corners and tape.

Decorate front and back, attach label and cover with contact adhesive.

Published in Notebook Magazine

Issue: January 2007

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Latest comments:

Bookaholic

commented on How to cover school books at 9:35pm Wed 13th May, 2009

I don't like to cover with adhesive (I collect older books) but you can get professional grade coverings from the Book Cover Co in Victoria. They do mail order, etc.

The technique on this page is similar to how I cover books with clear plastic. Use a good quality tape too, you don't want the cheap stuff which goes yellow as it ages.

helena10

commented on How to cover school books at 5:21pm Wed 4th February, 2009

One good way of fixing an already "bubbled" covers is to make a tiny hole with a needle and press the air out.
The ready-made plastic coverings for school books can be bought from Big W. They come in a packs of 5 and have different colours too.

Mummy04

commented on How to cover school books at 9:58pm Sat 24th January, 2009

Hi there, The only way to avoid those nasty bubbles is to buy really good quality contact. The best you can afford. You don't seem to get the bubbles with good contact. Good Luck.

sandranb

commented on How to cover school books at 8:57am Thu 22nd January, 2009

But how to you avoid those nasty bubbles??

jamraccal

commented on How to cover school books at 8:45pm Thu 10th January, 2008

where can i purchase plastic covering for school books, not contact .
thanks