How To Make Bookends From Ceramic Tile

For a fun and easy craft on a rainy or snowy day, get your glue gun, some old, recycled, reusable, or even new 3 or 4 inch tiles and make a pair (or more) of bookends. The tiles are very dense materials so the bookends are quite heavy and able to support large books.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Supplies Needed

All you really need is the tile and a glue gun. Embellishments and or decorations are optional, and these can be unlimited as you will see.

bushra says: Jan 26, 2010. 1:03 AM

wow dats kewl !!!
i ll try it thx a lot :D

noise_metal_freak says: Jan 7, 2010. 6:39 PM

Way cool. I have needed bookends for my mantle for so long. GREAT instructable.

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to noise_metal_freakJan 9, 2010. 3:46 PM

Thank you. Cman

porcupinemamma says: Jan 9, 2010. 12:29 PM

so for one bookend, you have four on the bottom, and four for the side is that right?

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to porcupinemammaJan 9, 2010. 3:46 PM

If 3 inch tiles are used, it's best to use 4 on each "leg" of the bookend, I believe. The one I made with the 4 inch tile only needed 2 on each leg. Thanks for your question. Cman

HandyMummy says: Jan 9, 2010. 2:32 PM

A lot of tiles are so nice that further decoration would be a shame. I would glue a piece (or four tiny pieces) of thin leather underneath to protect the shelves - nothing else if the tiles are nice.

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to HandyMummyJan 9, 2010. 3:45 PM

You're right, HM, that's a good idea re: the leather. Cman

Ninzerbean says: Jan 8, 2010. 10:22 AM

I can't believe I have actually paid for book ends (in the past), great idea Cman!

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to NinzerbeanJan 8, 2010. 12:54 PM

Thanks Ninzerbean...Cman

220

jessyratfink says: Jan 7, 2010. 4:59 PM

This is a great idea after a tile project. You always either have too few or way too many - it would definitely help turn the leftovers into something useful. :)

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to jessyratfinkJan 7, 2010. 5:15 PM

Hey, thanks jesse: My tiling days are over, but you are right: whenever I would do a project, the directions always said "add 10 to 15%" to your order...just in case. well I always ended up with too many. Do you suppose the tile co.s had a stake in the directions? But then I'm cynical....Cman

lemonie says: Jan 7, 2010. 3:22 PM

I know where to pick up an abandoned car-battery, you're making me thing of lead... thanks.

L

Nice book-ends

139

Creativeman (author) in reply to lemonieJan 7, 2010. 3:32 PM

Huh? I don't get the reference to a car battery.....but thanks for the compliment, anyway.

lemonie in reply to CreativemanJan 7, 2010. 3:53 PM

You've got the weight you need for book-ends, in thinking of heavy-stuff you might not think of using for book-ends you got me thinking about lead-electrodes.

L