Chalkboard Books

I picked up some 1975-1983 Reader's Digest Condensed Books at an antique shop a few months ago for just $2.00 each.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, so I stashed them away until inspiration hit while I was using chalkboard paint on another project.

 This one is decorated with a vintage mother of pearl buckle and buttons, then topped off with an old clip on earring.

These Reader's Digest books make perfect specimens for chalkboards.  They're inexpensive, easy to find, they're thick and stand up easily, the front covers are smooth, and they're guilt free....you can still read them.

 I taped off the front and used a paper towel to cover up the back and sides.  I sprayed on one coat of black primer and two coats of Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint. 

  I cut the trim about 3" longer than the book and then used my finger to apply regular ol' Elmer's glue directly to the trim.  I wrapped it around the inside on both ends and put a piece of wax paper under the front cover to keep the glue from sticking to the first page.

 The metallic silver rosette used to be a shoe clip.  I added a vintage earring to the center and another rhinestone earring to the bottom of the rosette.

 Since there's not a lot of room for writing, wouldn't several of these look good together with just one letter on each book?  I'm off to tackle the other two.