THE DIY SPELL BOOK

 I started this by taking a thin box that I got when I ordered something online.

  Now, of course you don't have to do that.  You could easily create the cover with some random cardboard pieces cut to the correct size and held together by masking tape.  I did mine the way I did it to give it added support.  Above you can see the basic shape of what I started with.

Now to get that nice leathery look, it just took a little patience and some masking tape.  Just cover the outside with the tape making sure to crinkle it in some spots.  This gives it a look of skin (maybe animal, maybe human!  Bwahaha!)

I then hot glued one inch wide pieces of cardboard inside the cover.  This I would use at the support and basis for the side of my pages.

After completing the sides, I did the same thing for the top and bottom of the pages.  The only difference is, the top and bottom pieces are curved.  After putting these supports in place, I measured out cardboard pieces to the approximate size of the "pages".  To curve them, I simply rolled them up (don't worry if they show that they're bent, when you're done you won't be able to see it).  I added some support on the inside of the cover by using two toilet paper rolls (empty of course) and attaching them with hot glue.  I glued the curled cardboard to the toilet paper rolls and to the edges.

After doing this and letting the glue cool and harden, you'll need to tea dye some paper.  I chose tea dying because I'm cheap and don't want to buy the already made old fashioned parchment paper.

Because the pages of my spell book are larger than standard computer paper, I had to use a few sheets cut up and placed in various positions to cover the whole pieces of cardboard that make up the shape of the pages.  I also covered the one inch pieces and of course the curved top and bottom pieces with the paper.  And, by the way, don't be worried if your tea dyed paper isn't perfect.  It doesn't need to be!  This is a witch's spell book and chances are the witch isn't a perfectionist...well....unless the witch is casting a spell!

As you can see from the picture above, I used a ball point pen and just went from end to end to create the look of several pages stacked together.  I also did this on the top and bottom.  Don't forget to curve the lines on the top and bottom.  If you don't get it, try looking at an open hardback book and see how the lines form from the pages being stacked together.

NOW!  Before attaching your pages, make sure to write whatever spells or such you want in the book.  It is so much easier to write on them before they are attached.  (Guess who learned that the hard way??)

After writing the titles of the spells on the pages, I glued them on using painting glaze.  Of course mod podge works just as well.  If you don't have any mod podge, make some with glue and water.  

To attach the actual spells and ingredients, I did something slightly different.  I wrote them on scrap pages of the tea dyed paper and burned the edges.  (Side note: be careful when burning the edges of paper, it gets messy and of course you don't want the whole scrap to go up in flames, so make sure to control it by either blowing it out or dabbing it with damp cloth).  I did this because I wanted the actual spells to stand out, just as their titles stand out.

Yes, yes...I know I ripped my spells off from the most awesome Halloween movie ever!  What can I say?  I love witches so of course I've seen it a bazillion times throughout my 27 years.  

After doing all this, it's time for the creative and fun side of yourself to make itself known!  As you can see, I added splats of paint (using my finger tips) in random locations to give it a dirty look.  Then I painted the spider web and attached a flat spider leftover from Halloween last year.  I also added some other random things.  If you're a crafter, look through your stuff and see what you have.  But don't look at it as is, look at it and see what it can be. 

Side note: of course the pages don't turn, so please don't expect that.  This is a static prop meant for a set up  of a witch's station.

Good luck making your own!