DIY book covers with Cricut

In the modern era of digital literature, finding a hardcover book that is unique and one-of-a-kind can be a daunting task. Recently, I was faced with a situation where a very old copy of Pride and Prejudice was in dire need of repair. I took the initiative to mend the spine, and subsequently, decided to use my Cricut Maker 3 to create a custom hardcover from chipboard and an iron-on design created in Design Space. The process may seem complex, but it is, in fact, relatively straightforward. I am pleased to say that my first attempt, a Pride and Prejudice book cover, was successful. This guide will provide a step-by-step process on how to create your own custom book covers.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• Cricut Maker 3

• Chipboard

• Cardstock

• Iron-On

• Cricut EasyPress Mini

• Book

• Book Cloth

• PVA/White Glue

• Bookbinding Repair Cloth

• Ruler

• Book Press/Stack Of Books

  How to make custom book covers

Measure your text block

The first step in creating a custom book cover is to remove the original cover of the book. This can be accomplished by carefully cutting or peeling off the cover with a sharp knife or scissors. If the book is old or fragile, it may be necessary to search for instructional videos or seek the advice of a professional bookbinder to avoid damaging the text block. After removing the cover, it is important to measure the text block to ensure that the new cover fits properly. Using a ruler, measure three places on the text block. First, measure the height of the block by placing the ruler vertically along the edge of the text block and recording the measurement. Next, measure the width of the text block by placing the ruler horizontally along the top or bottom edge of the text block and recording the measurement. The final measurement is the width of the spine, which can be determined by placing the ruler vertically along the spine of the book and recording the measurement. Once these measurements have been recorded, add 8mm (0.314 inches) to the height of the book to account for the thickness of the new cover. By following these steps, you can ensure that your custom book cover fits your text block perfectly and looks professional.

Design the covers

In the next step, open the Design Space software and create three shapes: two rectangles that have the same width and height as the text block (including the additional 8mm), and a third rectangle that has the same width as the spine and the same height as the text block (including the additional 8mm). After creating the three shapes, cut them out of the chipboard using a cutting machine. The two larger rectangles will serve as the front and back covers, while the smaller rectangle will be the spine of the book cover. The chipboard provides a sturdy base for the cover and will protect the text block from damage.

Cut out book cloth material

After cutting the chipboard pieces, place them on the paperbacked book cloth. It is important to leave a 3mm gap between the back cover and the spine, and another 3mm gap between the spine and the front cover. You can use a ruler to ensure that the gaps are consistent and accurately measured. Once you are satisfied with the placement of the chipboard pieces, secure them in place with tape to prevent any movement during the next step. Make sure that the chipboard pieces are flat and aligned at the bottom and top so that everything stays straight. This will help ensure that the final product looks neat and professional. Next, measure 2-3cm around each side of the book on the book cloth, and cut along those lines. This will provide enough material to wrap around the chipboard covers and create a seamless finish. Take care to cut the cloth accurately and neatly to ensure that the final product looks professional and polished.

Create endpapers

After creating the cover, the next step is to create endpapers for the book. Endpapers are an essential element of the bookbinding process, as they help to protect the book by absorbing any strain from opening and closing the book. To create the endpapers, open the Design Space software and create two rectangles that are double the width of the book and the same height as the book (including the additional 8mm). This is because the endpapers will be folded in half and glued to the inside of the cover, as well as the first and last pages of the book. Once the rectangles have been created, cut them out of cardstock using your Cricut machine. You can also add a score line down the middle of each rectangle so that they can be easily folded without being damaged. The cardstock can be of any color or design of your choosing, depending on your personal preferences. After the endpapers have been created and cut, carefully glue them to the inside of the cover and the first and last pages of the book. Make sure that the endpapers are accurately aligned and smoothly glued to the cover and pages. This will ensure that the endpapers serve their purpose of protecting the book.

Gluing

Endpapers

To attach the endpapers to the cover and the text block, begin by folding the endpapers in half. Then, spread some glue (about 1mm wide) from the top to the bottom along the edge where the fold is located. Next, carefully place the glued side of the endpaper onto the text block so that the glued edge aligns with the book`s spine. Make sure that the endpaper is accurately aligned and smoothly glued to the text block. Repeat this process for the back of the book (or front if you did that first). Once both endpapers have been glued onto the text block, carefully close the cover and press down firmly to ensure that the endpapers adhere properly. This will help to protect the text block and keep the cover in place.

Spine

Once you have glued down the endpapers, it is advisable to reinforce the spine with bookbinding repair cloth or lightweight fabric. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Cut a rectangle of cloth that is the width of the spine plus 2 inches. This will give you an inch of overhang on both sides.

2. Ensure that the height of the rectangle is about an inch shorter than the height of the spine. 

3.Spread glue on the spine and place the cloth over the glue. This will help strengthen the spine and ensure that your book lasts longer.

Chipboard

To glue the chipboard to the paperbacked book cloth, center everything with a 2-3 cm border around each side. Start by gluing down the chipboard spine, then the front and back covers. Cut off the corners, fold over the top and bottom edges, and glue them down. Finally, glue down the left and right sides.

Press

Place scrap paper on top and bottom of the book and chipboard cover, then add a stack of heavy books to each. Let sit for at least an hour before removing. Use scrap paper over the cover to prevent glue from seeping through.

Cut and weed your design

Design the book covers and spine on the same canvas as the chipboard and paper pieces in Design Space. Cut out two colors of iron-on and weed your design while waiting for everything to dry.

Press the design onto the fabric

Use a Cricut mini heat press or Easy Press to apply the iron-on on the lowest setting. Layer the top color after pressing the bottom color and ensure the backing on the top color covers the bottom color to avoid smearing. Go over any un-stuck areas with the heat press for better adhesion. Wait for the iron-on to cool before removing the liner to prevent peeling.

Glue endpapers to inside of DIY book cover

Glue the top of the endpapers to the inside of the covers once the cover design is complete. Spread a generous amount of glue and carefully attach the endpapers to both sides of the cover.

Press finished book

Use a book press or stack of heavy books on top of the book overnight. Remove the book once it dries.

Enjoy your new DIY book cover

Congratulations! Now you can admire your work and show it off to anyone who will listen. These books serve as great coffee table books or beautiful displays on your bookshelf.