Make Books for Decor with Chalkboard Medium

Turn old books into functional decor with clear chalkboard paint! Use them for notes or just as a pretty display that you can draw on.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, this is a very easy craft. You’ll simply be painting a clear medium on books.

Make Books for Decor with Chalkboard Medium

Hello, friends! I don’t know about you, but handmade gifts for the holidays are in full swing at our house!

Don’t stress if you haven’t even thought about it yet . . . that’s what bloggers are for, right? A little pre-holiday inspiration.

Here’s one of my favorite gifts to give for the holidays. Vintage books!

I LOVE old books. I love to bundle them with twine and place them all over my house on display, I give them as gifts all the time too.

I don’t know how many HGTV shows you watch, but I watch quite a few. I’ve learned a few tricks over the course of time from an interior designer here and there, and one of them is decorating with books.

Shelf books, end table books, coffee table books . . . designers love books. And I agree that they are a great way to decorate!

I thought it would be fun to take some old books and turn them into reusable mini chalkboards. That way, they can be functional and a lovely piece of décor as well.

Just don’t be surprised if you get a stack of books from me for the holidays this year! Here’s how to make this simple decorating project.

DIY Books for Decor

To get started on your chalkboard book, all you need is:

Clear chalkboard paint
Sponge brush
Chalk pen or marker
Vintage book or notebook

Ready to get started making books for decor? This is so easy, you just won’t believe it. Promise. Start by removing all dust and dirt from the book with a damp paper towel and let dry.

To make your chalkboard book, first use your sponge brush to put a thin coat of chalkboard medium on the front of your book. Note: Mod Podge clear chalkboard medium is no longer available; but clear chalkboard paint works just as well instead!

Allow it to dry completely, and then add a second coat. You can coat just the front of your book or the entire surface. Just make sure it is fully dry before flipping it over.

Once your chalkboard medium is dry, use a chalkboard marker to draw or write on your book. I used a chalk gelato pen for my project because it has a really chalky look (but is a permanent chalk marker).

You can also use a chalk pen, or real chalk, depending on whether you want your chalkboard book to be reusable or not.

Turn old books into functional decor with Mod Podge chalkboard medium! Use them for notes or just as a pretty display that you can draw on.

If hand lettering isn’t your thing, try a stencil instead. Mod Podge sells a lot of fabulous stencils that would work great with a chalk marker!

To clean your chalkboard book, just use warm water and a paper towel. Mild soap will work great too.

That’s it! See, I told you it was super easy! I have my lovely books on my desk, and I use them often to jot down notes and daily reminders.

I think I will make a few more permanent additions with fun quotes for the upcoming holidays. Yay! I just love working with chalk so much.

Happy holiday crafting, my friends! Permission granted to get started making those homemade gifts like ASAP. Don’t forget to visit me on my blog! I’d also love for you to check out the following projects: