Penny-Wise and Posh: DYI Hocus Pocus Spell Book - Part 2 : Creating the "skin" on your book!

Now that you've made an eyeball... tutorial: HERE, you're ready to move on to a HUGE part of what will make your book have that creepy realistic human flesh bookcover! I have seen many people try to re-create this book, and it always looked so complicated and expensive! Naw... not for me! For this version, you'll only need your big ol' book you'll be using, along with 3 other items! Here is what they are:

I prefer the paper towel with little dot indents. I loved the way it created texture, almost like pores. (gross, huh?!...but awesome!)

Prior to creating the skin, attach your eyeball to your book. I used hot glue. Look to a photo of the original for proper placement and a good location as to where it should be placed:

Be prepared to get MESSY. Wear an old T-shirt you don't care about and literally just DIG IN. This is a very hands on craft, and by hands on, I mean you're going to be playing/creating like a toddler does while fingerpainting in preschool-- dipping your hands and paper towels in mod podge and ripping and molding the "flesh" to achieve the desired look! Dive right in and get messy!

Take a pencil, and while looking at a picture of the original Hocus Pocus Spell Book, do a rough sketch of where you want each flesh-piece to meet up to be stitched. There are different sections... like a patch work quilt.

Start ripping pieces of paper towel, and getting them somewhat damp with Mod Podge. I poured the Mod Podge in a shallow bowl, and used my coated hands to "dampen" each piece. Follow your pencil sketch. Don't worry if your paper towel pieces don't match the shape of each section. This is where you'll scrunch, roll, or pinch the excess paper towel along the edges of each section to create those dips and crevises and valleys where the setions are supposed to be sewn together.

Layer your paper towel pieces, creating an uneaven ripply skin. Remember, don't be scared to get in there with your hands and form the sections the way you want. Layering, smoothing, and bunching the edges.

While forming your skin sections with your paper towel, when you're ready to create a "lid" for your eyeball, just rip smaller pieces of paper towel, and fold. Layer folded pieces above and below the eyeball creating under eye creases. (You, can see the eye creases in the photo below.)

Next step is the outer spine/edge of the book. At this point I was running low on time and didn't put more effort into this area... and now I regret it! I wish I would have taken the time! The original book looks like sewn on fingers! I bypassed that, and simply Mod Podged rectangle pieces down the spine as shown below. If you decide to create a more authentic look, I'd love to see!

Once you've applied all of your paper towel to achieve your desired look, let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. At that point, the paper towel might be dry to the touch, but still "soft". Take a pen, pencil, skewer, or other object with a slightly pointy end for this next step. Using the pointy tip of your "tool" of choice, follow the ridges that create the crevices between each section and indent little holes into the soft paper towel. Since the Mod Podge is setting, but not yet hardened completely through, the indents should be easily made, should stay put, and dry that way. This step is to create realistic but "false" stitching needle holes in the "skin". Take a look at the close up photo below for reference:

There isn't a right or wrong way to achieve this creation! Just have fun, get messy, and make something awesome while pinching those pennies!

The next steps to making your own Hocus Pocus Spell Book are coming soon, so keep sharing and watching! We'll be discussing the paint, stitches, and making your "metal" hardware for the book!