Looking for book themed crafts for adults that go beyond a plain bookmark? Think page roses, little woodland scenes and a tote with a colorful book design.
These ideas include smaller projects plus a few bigger pieces to inspire your reading corner.
You can keep things simple or go all out with the details. If cutting up a book isn’t for you, try printed text scraps or choose one of the book-inspired designs instead.
Book-inspired craft ideas worth saving
book page flower wreath
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous flower wreath. I love the tightly curled roses mixed with open folded flowers.
Even the pointed leaves have little lines of text.
If you want to follow this look, keep the flowers close together with leaves peeking out around the edges.
folded page hedgehogs
How cute are these little hedgehogs? The folded pages fan out behind their button eyes and round black noses.
That tiny one in front is especially adorable.
Try a checked bow or a little flower on yours, just like the larger hedgehogs here.
a doorway inside a book
I am obsessed with this miniature entrance. An open red book frames a pointed doorway, with a little bridge leading up from the brick-patterned path.
The tiny flowers along the path are so pretty. If you’re planning your own storybook scene, a small lantern beside the path would be a lovely detail to borrow.
page roses on tall stems
Want flowers and a bookish display all in one? These page roses sit on thin white stems above a flared arrangement of rolled pages.
I especially love the separate flower resting beside the base.
Read also: 20 Mason Jar Flower Arrangements and Pretty Jar Display Ideas
For your own version, try keeping the bouquet pale like this rather than adding bright decorations.
little bookshelf bookmark
This bookmark may just be my favorite little detail on the list. There are illustrated books, potted plants and tiny reading creatures tucked between the shelves.
If you enjoy drawing, use shelf-shaped sections for your own bookmark. Add a few strings of yellow lights like these to make it even cuter.
a classic library card
Don’t want to cut or fold any book pages? No problem!
This cream library card design gives you another starting point, with black lettering and plenty of blank rows.
You could borrow the layout for a reading journal insert. Keep the author and title spaces at the top, then use the rows for your reading dates.
rolled pages and sparkling details
If you are looking for something with lots of little details, then this one is for you. Rolled pages surround a tall branch, with text-covered roses and green accents tucked around it.
I love the gold-colored ornament behind the flowers. The pale ribbon and sparkling trim around the base make this arrangement a little dressier.
an open-book succulent display
The pink, red and green pairing is so pretty in this book-shaped display. Succulent shapes fill the right side while dark script sits on the pale left page.
For a decorative version of your own, try faux succulents in an open-book-shaped container. That lets you borrow the look without watering anything near actual pages.
a cup with a literary quote
Sometimes the words are all the decoration you need. This pale cup has a dark Hamlet quote across the front, with brown markings around the rim and base.
You could use a favorite short passage as inspiration for a decorative pen cup. I’d keep the lettering simple like this.
hanging page hearts
Don’t want to go overboard with the decorations? Try a few strands of text-covered hearts.
I love how some face forward while others turn sideways.
Drape your own strands at different heights above a reading chair or desk to follow this pretty arrangement.
a tiny forest book nook
How lovely is this little forest? Tall trunks fill a white display box, with tiny glowing lights between the branches and a green-covered floor below.
Page edges peek out beneath the moss, with upright books beside the box. For your own woodland nook, leave a small clearing at the front so those tiny details don’t get lost.
Read also: 20 DIY Craft Projects for Adults With Flowers, Beads and Colorful Details
a layered page tree
If you like understated holiday decorations, this tree is such a pretty idea. Uneven layers of printed pages get smaller toward the top, with pale round beads showing between some of them.
I’d keep the simple round topper and skip extra sparkle. The ruffled edges already give you plenty to look at.
green journal with a fairy picture
I am obsessed with this dark green journal cover. The pale stitching, button closure and cream trim look so pretty around the little fairy illustration.
Try a botanical picture on your own cover if fairies aren’t your thing. Keep the off-center flap if you want that same layered look.
layered literary butterflies
These butterflies are another favorite. Their layered wings mix printed words, music notes and botanical pictures, with long dark antennae curling above them.
The blue flower on the front butterfly is gorgeous. You could choose one illustrated wing for your own version and leave the others covered in text.
Read also: 20 Butterfly Crafts for Adults With Pretty Details to Inspire You
hanging book lights
Now this is a different way to display books! Open covers sit above exposed bulbs, with the pages fanning downward.
The different hanging heights make the whole group worth a closer look.
Treat this as lighting inspiration rather than a photo-based DIY. Paper near bulbs needs a professionally assessed fixture design, not an improvised setup.
a squirrel on a green cover
How adorable is that little squirrel? The orange-and-white stitched design sits inside a pale oval, surrounded by floral strips and cream trim on a dark green cover.
Read also: 20 Easy Valentine's Day Crafts for Adults to Inspire Your Next Project
This is a lovely direction if you enjoy decorative stitching. I’d keep the squirrel as the main detail and use small flowers around it.
curled pages in a clear ornament
If you’re looking for a smaller decoration, this one is for you. Curled strips of printed text fill a clear round ornament, with a taupe bow at the top.
You could use copies of a favorite passage for your own version. Leave the curls loose so the separate strips still show.
a book-cover handbag
A book-inspired bag with zebra stripes? I love this!
The brown-and-cream cover sits above a checked side panel, with curved golden-yellow handles attached by silver-colored clips.
For your own bag design, choose a cover pattern you’d actually want to carry. This one shows that you don’t have to stick with a plain book cover.
drawers shaped like stacked books
If you want to go bigger than a tabletop craft, save this for inspiration. The chest looks like stacked books with burgundy, red and green covers.
Fine horizontal lines imitate page edges along the side.
That open bottom drawer is such a fun reveal. You could borrow the painted spine details for a smaller storage-box project instead.
Read also: 20 Christmas Crafts for Preschoolers With Cute Trees, Reindeer and More
a colorful book lover tote
Last but definitely not least, we have this cute book lover tote. I am obsessed with the pink center and bright blue stamp-shaped border!
The little stack of outlined books finishes the design.
If you’re planning your own tote decoration, try this pink-and-blue pairing or switch it to your favorite two colors.