One Craft. Two Crafts. Dr. Seuss Book Letters & Banner

Last week, I started to share some of the crafty details of the Dr. Seuss themed baby shower that I recently threw for my friend Emily. The first project was a Dr. Seuss Book Wreath created from recycled books.

Today, I am sharing two additional DIYs made from that same set of recycled books. You may remember that I snagged a stockpile of used Dr. Seuss books for $10 off of Craigslist. You might also have luck finding some at local thrift stores. When looking for books, make sure the majority of the pages are intact and don't have markings or other damage.

Book Letters

Because this was a baby shower, I decided creating letters that said BABY would be a fun edition to the main table. If you are using the theme for a birthday party or classroom activity, READ would be another great option.

What You Need

Wood Letters
White Paint
Paintbrush
Mod Podge
Recycled Dr. Seuss Books
Scissors
Pencil

I picked up the wood letters at Michaels on clearance for about $2 a piece. I wanted to make sure they were thick enough to stand up on their own. If you can't find them on clearance, Michaels coupons come in handy for these.

Any acrylic paint will work to paint the back and sides of the letters. I decided on white. One of my new favorite paint lines is the Waverly Chalk Paint from Walmart. It's reasonably priced and dries so quickly. It also has a nice matte finish.

First, paint the back and sides of the letters. Don't forget to get into the little crevices as well. It is okay to get paint onto the edges of the front. In fact, painting a small edge on the front helps later if the book pages don't align perfectly onto the letter.

Next, choose the book pages that you'll want to use on each letter. I chose from a variety of books and looked for colorful pages and images. Place the letters on the desired book pages and trace around the letter. Cut out the letters. With the "A," the book page wasn't wide enough, so I carefully cut corresponding pieces to fill in the rest of the letter.

When the letters are cut, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the back and carefully apply to the wooden letters. Use your fingers or a popsicle stick to smooth out any bubbles. Apply another layer of Mod Podge over the top and smooth out any bubbles that may develop.

I recommend letting the letters dry overnight. They made for the perfect edition on the table!

Book Pennant Banner

Don't put those recycled books away yet! Additional pages can also be used to create a pennant banner or two. These can be used almost anywhere during a party or shower. I decided to make two to overlap as a part of a photobooth.

What You Need

Recycled Books
Piece of Cardstock
Scissors
Pencil
Ribbon
Hole Punch

This project is pretty easy! I created a banner template with a piece of cardstock. You can make the individual pennants as large or small as you'd like within the sizing of the book pages. Once I created the template, I used it to trace 20 pennants. This was plenty to make two banners. I picked up some $.50 red ribbon from Michaels. To string the pennants, you'll need to punch two holes in each. You can do multiple at a time to ensure they line up.