I feel like I have been so sporadic around these parts lately and I really hate it! One of the things that has had me busy has been some preparations for my baby sister’s wedding. Last weekend I co-hosted her bridal shower and even though it was stressful (party planning always is for me), it was also so much fun (party planning always is for me, lol). I decided to go with a book-themed bridal shower since my sister is book-obsessed. I also already knew she was incorporating them into her reception décor.
details of a book themed bridal shower
One of the things I knew I wanted to do early on was make a book page table runner. Originally I was going to leave the pages in their natural state, but then I saw some pink paint in the craft aisle at Target.
| Read: Aqua and Pink Bridal Shower |
My go-to spot to pick up books I’m going to, um, alter–is Dollar Tree. I would feel so terrible destroying any other book, but only paying a dollar for a book that is not the best quality (be careful thumbing through them, most of the content is pretty “questionable”) leaves me feeling that I’m giving the book a better life in the form of a fun project.
DIY book page table runner
- Start by ripping out several pages from your books. I think it looks better if you have two or three different sizes that you can mix together.
- The base of your table runner will be a long roll of paper, like Kraft paper. I purchased mine from Dollar Tree and then cut it into thirds to make it thinner. The particular paper I bought was 15 feet long and I kept it at that length since my table was going to be long.
- Start spreading Mod-Podge onto your table runner base and smooth each individual book page down. Try to place and overlap them as randomly as possible. Once the entire surface is covered in you book pages paint another layer of Mod-Podge over the top. This helps give a really finished look and helps keep the page corners down.
- You can either keep the pages natural, or paint a color over the top once they’re dry. After trial and error I discovered the best method was to water down your paint and then dry brush it on the pages in several layers until you reach your desired look.
- Allow to dry overnight.
I made two 15 foot table runners and it took me two evenings. I probably could have pushed through and completed it in one long night, but I ran out of Mod-Podge.
| Read: Mason Jar Bridal Shower Invites |
Other features of her shower included custom bookmarks that I designed with a quote from Walt Whitman, a personalized Mad Libs that the guests contributed to and I then gifted in a frame to my sister, and a fun “He said/She said” game that my other sister put together to help the guests get to know the groom a little better.
We were together. I forget the rest.
~Walt Whitman
Have you attended any bridal showers lately? What was your favorite part?
Find more fun party ideas over on Pinterest!
20 Responses to book themed bridal shower & table runner tutorial
I always love good party decor in general. I wish I was at the stage of all my friends getting married or having babies now that we have blogs and Pinterest!! This is beautiful and unique. Love it.
What a fun idea for a shower! Love it!
That bridal shower theme is adorable! I love it!
What a unique and creative idea. And personal.
Such a cute and creative idea! I love the book theme. I always hear about this $10 target challenge. I need to try it!
Hehehe… I love the word “alter”… 😉 Your table runner turned out so cute! 🙂
Who would have thought! This is the cutest theme ever. I love the runner.
What a cute idea! I especially love the fun pink color!
Love this idea! It would be awesome to use books that have a certain theme or hold other memories (copies obviously). Illustrations too!
What a fresh idea for a bridal shower! Love this book theme! I could even use this for book club!
I love book-themed parties! I’ve never seen this runner idea — it’s so pretty!
This is such a cute idea! I am going to have to show this to a couple friends.
Such a clever idea! The English teacher inside of me is pleased!
This is so creative!
This is such a creative and fun theme!
I love the shimmer!!! I seriously think the book page table runner is brilliant. Probably the most perfect touch to a book-themed bridal shower!! 🙂 So cute.
I love this! Such a cute and fun theme.
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