How to make a super-nifty ring book

Guest post by Marya

Offbeat Bride reader Marya created ring books as a ring pillow alternative. The book-loving, English major in me is freaking out all over them! Luckily for all of us book-lovers, she gave us the DIY details.

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Being the book geek that I am, I couldn't resist bringing books into the wedding! Here's the step-by-step creation of my own ring bearer books…

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Things you will need:

Step 1:

Glue the pages together. I used Modge Podge because that's what I have and what I use for everything!

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Some instructions will tell you to glue the side and then glue to the back page of the book. For the sake of adding paper/ribbons, do this at the end. (I followed the standard method and ended up undoing things… trust me, leave gluing the pages to the back cover to the very end.)

Step 2:

Cut out the treasure/secret compartment using your X-ACTO knife.

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This is where not gluing the back cover will make your life easier because you'll be able to access the back of the book and tidy up the corners.

Step 3:

The next thing to do is to wrap the book. I used the technique my mom taught me in elementary school with brown paper bags. I didn't take pictures of this process but here's a how-to with good visuals and instructions to help you out.

Step 4:

Add your ribbons. Make sure to iron the ribbons before attaching them.

This is what mine looks like with the first ribbon added:

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And in the inside (I used some extra paper I had to make sure the ribbon didn't come apart):

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I used the two ribbons, but alternately considered gluing the white ribbon to the book and then wrapping the second ribbon as a bow around the book (like you'd wrap a gift). And then using the bow tie-off to secure the rings to the outside of the book. But, since we have young boys carrying the books, I decided the rings would be safer inside the book.

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Step 5:

Getting the secret ring compartment ready for the rings. Secure a smaller ribbon to the inside with a simple sewing pin so that it can be pulled out to remove the rings.

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Alternative: If you want to use books instead of bouquets

Just omit the first few steps and skip directly to wrapping the book — add ribbons and flowers and you're done!

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