Covering your textbooks with a plastic cover is certainly quick and easy, but it is a rather polluting material. What if for this year I try to change and choose to use biodegradable materials? It would certainly be a choice in support of the environment and that could give you the opportunity to show everyone your artistic vein.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use the Card
Step 1. Choose a biodegradable paper
It is the type of paper that is accumulated, recycled and decomposed in landfills. It generally looks less bright than standard paper and will not contain other materials, such as plastic. Usually this type of paper is marked with a special label.
Step 2. Ideas for reusing paper:
- Shopping bags. Typical brown grocery bags are the best type of paper to use for covering books.
- Wrapping Paper: Reuse the various gift packages you have aside. Most people prefer to use a type of card that is not related to a particular holiday or birthday. You can also choose to use the unprinted side to cover the book, then decorate it to your liking.
- Old calendars: They are often filled with very beautiful images.
- Restaurant menu. Isn't it adorable the idea of having a Chinese restaurant menu as a cover?
- Magazines. Be careful what you choose - you don't want your teacher to think you're reading a fashion magazine in the classroom!
- Ask local shops or offices for the leftover card. Offices are often full of throwaway paper that piles up on shelves or closets - you'll be doing them a favor by taking it away.
Step 3. Search the internet for instructions on how to cover books using paper:
often these techniques also work for other materials.
Old paper folders are a great material for covering books and are found in abundance in offices
Step 4. Try the rice paper
If you can find rice paper, use it - it's tough, biodegradable, and even eaten!
Step 5. Put a label on your cover
Remember to write the name of the textbook on the first page and at the bottom. When you are late for school, it must be clear which book you need to bring!
Step 6. Make sure your book can find you
Write your name, the name of your school and its address on the cover (but do not enter personal information such as telephone number, email address or home address). If you lose the book, a kind person could bring it back to you.
Step 7. Decorate the cover
It's time to show some personality. Here are some ideas for personalizing your new cover:
- Use decoupage.
- Make a collage.
- Paint some leaves.
- Make a paper mosaic. But beware of non-biodegradable decorations, such as stickers. Here are some environmentally friendly ideas:
- Use designs you made yourself.
- Paint the cover using watercolors (before wrapping the book of course!).
- Make a collage using clippings from various magazines.
Method 2 of 3: Using the Cloth
Step 1. Use fabric to cover your books
Once this technique was very common: fabric covers, in fact, are not only biodegradable, but also represent excellent protection. The old books still on the market today are for the most part characterized by fabric covers, made with love decades ago. Using fabric is also a very sophisticated choice for book lovers. To make a fabric cover you need to have some basic sewing knowledge, as you will need to sew the corners:
- Cut the fabric so that it is about 5 cm larger than the book.
- Wrap it around the edges of the book, towards the inside cover.
- Hold it in place using pins.
- Make sure it fits well. The cover must allow the book to close well and there should be no excess fabric. Fix it correctly.
- Tick off the excess fabric. Inside the cover there must be no leftover fabric: try to achieve a regular effect.
- Sew the cover. Use a little glue to adhere the edges to the cardboard after sewing the fabric, if the book is yours. If it's on loan, skip this step. The cover will remain in place, however, as long as you treat the book carefully.
- When returning the book, remember to remove the cover. The fabric can be reused or recycled, depending on its origin.
Method 3 of 3: Books Without Cover
Step 1. Do not cover your books (if this is used in your school)
Students who do not cover their books generally take other precautions to prevent them from being ruined. Here are some strategies:
- Beware of Covers: Put your books back in your bag carefully and be careful not to crease them or fold the covers when putting them in and out of your backpack.
- Do not store books near objects that can leave stains, such as dripping food, ink, or markers.
- Leave your books at home or school / university whenever possible (you'll also avoid the hassle of carrying too many).
- Carry the books by hand: Use ribbon or string to hold them together.
- Buy or make a special bag for books, preventing them from coming into contact with other objects. You can also use a thin bag to wrap them, which in turn fits into the larger backpack.
Advice
- Try making paper at home and use it to cover your books. The texture of homemade paper is often rough, which makes it great as a protection.
- Crumpled paper can be ironed: place it under a cloth and use the iron at medium-low temperatures.
- Throw the waste paper and fabric in the appropriate waste bins, or dispose of them on the correct separate collection days.
- If you need duct tape, choose a biodegradable type. Remember never to stick the cover directly on the book, as it could cut itself.
