There’s something so revitalizing about giving your home a little refresh when a new season rolls in, especially because the house can feel a bit bare once the Christmas decor comes down. If you’re craving a creative way to bring back some color and character, this one’s for you.

Our friend and Artisan Jonathan Marc Mendes is sharing a simple technique for upcycling ordinary hardback books into charming decor using IOD Transfers. Books aren’t just for reading! Most books can be salvaged into darling small decor stacked on a coffee table, tucked into a shelf vignette, or propped open on a stand. Beneath those drab dust jackets are often the prettiest little treasures—gilded spines, rich colors, beautiful textures—just waiting for a bit of love.

Be sure to pop over to our website and use the stockist locator to find a stockist near you! Now let’s make those books look like they’ve been collected over time from the loveliest vintage book store. 

• Clementine Transfer
• Figgy & Flourish Gilded Transfer 

• Thrifted Books
• Rich Red Chalk Type Paint* 
• Muted Green Chalk Type Paint*
• Water-Based Topcoat
• Gilded Wax 
• Dark Wax

*we used a chalk-type paint in this tutorial, but there are many brands and types of paint, talk to your stockist to learn which one is right for you!

STEP ONE: PREP & CLEAN YOUR BOOKS

Before getting started, you’ll need to clean the surface of your books. This simple preparation involves lightly dampening a cloth to remove any dust or debris from the book covers. Next, carefully remove the dust jackets and set them aside in case you wish to reuse them later.

STEP TWO: ARRANGE YOUR COMPOSITION

The most creative part of this project is choosing the transfers. Jonathon used the Clementine Transfer as his starting point, then layered in Figgy & Flourish for a shimmery gilded touch on top of those already stunning citrus illustrations. 

STEP THREE: APPLYING YOUR TRANSFERS

One of the more detailed projects starts with a modern cookery book that’s missing its dust jacket. Jonathon wanted to preserve the gilded spine, so he chose a floral transfer with pomegranates and trimmed away any text he didn’t want. After taping off the areas he wanted to keep clean, he mixed a custom paint color to match the book’s original hue closely.

For the gardening book, he used a centered transfer as the focal point and shifted the color scheme using masking and taping for crisp edges. Then he shaded the edges with a deeper green to create a vintagey look.

To finish, Jonathon used IOD’s layering technique with a gilded transfer, adding a silver accent to coordinate with the book’s existing title. This approach takes a bit of careful trimming and adjusting, but it’s a great way to customize transfers for different book sizes and layouts.

STEP FOUR: FINISHING TOUCHES

Jonathon uses silver and gold gilding waxes to enhance the book edges. This small detail ties into the rest of the project, emphasizing the book’s aesthetic. If you’re looking at using both transfers and gilded transfers, remember that oil-based waxes can affect the latter, so be cautious and use a water-based topcoat to seal if necessary.

We hope Jonathon’s tutorial gives you that nudge to grab the dusty books off your shelf (or scoop a few from the thrift store) and give them a refresh. From choosing your transfers to playing with masking, color shifts, and that delicious layering with gilded details—this project is such a sweet reminder that small decor can carry a lot of personality.

A couple quick parting tips as you wrap up: take your time with trimming and placement, and if you’re combining transfers with gilding waxes, remember those oil-based waxes can affect gilded transfers—so when in doubt, seal with a water-based topcoat first. 

If you're just kicking off your creative journey, have no fear — our Product 101 pages are packed with straightforward techniques to set you up for success. We're thrilled to accompany you as you explore and create. For more how-tos and creative inspo, make sure to browse through the rest of our blog.

Once you've crafted your final piece, share it with our Facebook Creative Tribe! This community is not just a showcase but also a supportive hub for when you hit those creative roadblocks. And remember, your local stockist is always ready to assist with IOD supplies and expert advice. We're excited to see what you'll bring to life!