Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
After getting inspired by Instagram and Tiktok, I decided to try my hand at bookbinding and create a special edition version of my book!
Unfortunately, turning Powerless into a cloth-covered classic ended up being more difficult than I expected. Bleeding spray paint, peeling foil, annoying software, vinyl that wouldn’t adhere to the cover and poorly cut end pages were too small. It didn’t take me long to realise that bookbinding is not something one can pick up in an afternoon.
In this episode, I recover my book using Chelsea bookcloth, and then decorate it using a spikey DNA design cut into Siser htv vinyl using a Cricut Explore.
Again, this process took WAY longer than I’d expected – both because I have no idea what I’m doing, but also because my marriage fell apart in the week after my book launched. More on this at the end of the video.
Some helpful videos on gilded edges and book binding (they’re all much more proficient than me!):
@ingeniusdesigns
- youtube.com/watch?v=Er3hIEUuCms
- youtube.com/watch?v=bhaZ4znFvww
@ThatsMyBookshelf
- youtube.com/watch?v=fS-9MsCIFB0
- youtube.com/watch?v=pYl0FvUV0bE
- youtube.com/watch?v=NwqhMbblpYQ
- youtube.com/watch?v=yjxSaVlcBxM
@AnnaMarieReads
- youtube.com/watch?v=oOhSF7_Dq4c
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- Have you tried custom sprayed edges, book binding, or recovering books before? How did it go?
TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Sprayed and gilded edges
0:42 - Recovering my book
3:00 - Applying the HTV vinyl
9:05 - My crepe eraser saves the day!
10:08 - Endpages
12:14 - Lessons learned
ABOUT POWERLESS:
📚 Get the first three chapters for free at jacquelinepretty.com
🛍️Order here: amazon.com/dp/B0BXFCQ32G
🔖Add to Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/123213427-powerless
⚠️Trigger warnings: Self harm, strong language, violence
#bookbinding #selfpublishing #indiepublishing
After getting inspired by Instagram and Tiktok, I decided to try my hand at bookbinding and create a special edition version of my book!
Unfortunately, turning Powerless into a cloth-covered classic ended up being more difficult than I expected. Bleeding spray paint, peeling foil, annoying software, vinyl that wouldn’t adhere to the cover and poorly cut end pages were too small. It didn’t take me long to realise that bookbinding is not something one can pick up in an afternoon.
In this episode, I recover my book using Chelsea bookcloth, and then decorate it using a spikey DNA design cut into Siser htv vinyl using a Cricut Explore.
Again, this process took WAY longer than I’d expected – both because I have no idea what I’m doing, but also because my marriage fell apart in the week after my book launched. More on this at the end of the video.
Some helpful videos on gilded edges and book binding (they’re all much more proficient than me!):
@ingeniusdesigns
- youtube.com/watch?v=Er3hIEUuCms
- youtube.com/watch?v=bhaZ4znFvww
@ThatsMyBookshelf
- youtube.com/watch?v=fS-9MsCIFB0
- youtube.com/watch?v=pYl0FvUV0bE
- youtube.com/watch?v=NwqhMbblpYQ
- youtube.com/watch?v=yjxSaVlcBxM
@AnnaMarieReads
- youtube.com/watch?v=oOhSF7_Dq4c
QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS:
- Have you tried custom sprayed edges, book binding, or recovering books before? How did it go?
TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Sprayed and gilded edges
0:42 - Recovering my book
3:00 - Applying the HTV vinyl
9:05 - My crepe eraser saves the day!
10:08 - Endpages
12:14 - Lessons learned
ABOUT POWERLESS:
📚 Get the first three chapters for free at jacquelinepretty.com
🛍️Order here: amazon.com/dp/B0BXFCQ32G
🔖Add to Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/123213427-powerless
⚠️Trigger warnings: Self harm, strong language, violence
#bookbinding #selfpublishing #indiepublishing
