This spell book craft is a fun and creative addition to your homemade Halloween decorations.

Not only is it a great Halloween craft for decorating, it works wonderfully as a DIY spellbook prop for a costume.

Every witch and wizard needs their very own grimoire full of magic spells to go with their DIY wizard wand. Or maybe it’s a simple potion book.

We’ll show you how to make a creepy book cover (or not so spooky – it’s up to you) by transforming an ordinary book into something worthy of a sorcerer.

Might we suggest keeping a watchful eye on your spell book with this easy Monster Eyeball Light tutorial?

Black book with Potions & Brews in gold lettering and golden bugs on front cover.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

This is a great craft for adults and kids too. You may need to assist kids with using the glue gun and hair dryer, but they can help with the rest.

DIY Spell Book Craft Supplies

A printable version of the directions are available at the bottom of this post for you to print out at home.

With these supplies and instructions, you can make three spell books in about an hour. Of course, you can choose to make more or fewer than three.

3 hardcover books
Foam, puffy or 3D letter stickers
Embellishments of choice (plastic bugs, gems, stickers)
Mod Podge
Paper Towel – separated into 1 ply and ripped into sections
Black Paint
Metallic Paint – gold and silver are great choices
Distress Ink
Ribbon or suede
Hot Glue Gun with extra glue sticks
Paint Brushes – small bristle brush and foam brush
Hairdryer

If you don’t use a hairdryer, you will need to let everything set overnight and it could take a few days to complete your spellbooks.

Completed spell books Halloween craft. 3 books laying on black gauze like fabric.

How to Make a Spell Book Cover

It is recommended to use a dabbing motion for all of the painting steps.

Start by selecting your three hardcover books. If you don’t want to part with any from your bookshelf, look for books on clearance or at a thrift store.

Once you have your books, attach the foam letter stickers to spell out the titles on both the cover and the spine of the book. Examples: Spells, Potions, Curses

Using glue gun to make dots in corner of hardcover book for craft project.

Use a glue gun to make studs, or any desired patterns on the cover. Also, attach any embellishments that you would like to be black.

Make sure your paper towel is separated into one ply and moisten with a couple of drops of water. Squeeze out any excess. You want it to be barely damp.

Place the book open with the hardover sides facing up. Apply a layer of mod podge on the book and begin applying the paper towel in small sections to the cover, back and spine. You want to make small wrinkles and work the pieces around your foam letters.

Ripped pieces of paper towel covering hardcover book with mod podge on white table

Apply another layer of modge podge over the entire book cover (including the back and spine) using a dabbing motion. Then use the hairdryer for about 5 minutes to dry.

Using a sponge paint brush, apply black paint to the entire cover, back and spine of the book. Use the hairdryer again for about 5 minutes to dry the paint.

Close up of paint brush painting letters gold for diy spell book

Take the small bristle brush to apply metallic paint to the lettering and any embellishments that were applied. Use the hairdryer again for about 5 minutes to dry the paint.

Applying distress ink to pages of hardcover book for craft project

Use the distressing ink to apply stain to the edges of the book pages. Crumble and bend the pages without tearing them to give your grimoire an old, worn in look.

Finish your craft by adding gems or wrapping in ribbon or suede. You now have your very own wizard spell book!

Set of 3 completed homemade spell books on standing on shelf with spines facing out. One with a centipede, one with Spells and one with Potions.

Tips for Making Spell Books

To create raised metallic on the side of your book, uses pieces of damp paper. Get the paper wet and tear into pieces. Then mold them onto the book using mod podge.
Create the look of a “compass” on your book (like the front of the Mystical Places book) by using hot glue and a fake coin.
The pattern on the front of the pictured spell book was created using 3D stickers. You can really get creative with embellishment materials!
Try mixing golds and silvers for a really interesting look.

More Halloween Crafts:

More Halloween Costumes:

Printable DIY Halloween Spell Book Decor Instructions

DIY Wizard Spell Book Craft Project

Yield: 3 Spell books

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

This spell book craft is a fun homemade Halloween decoration to make. Perfect for Halloween decor and as a DIY spellbook prop for a costume.

Materials

3 hardcover books
Foam, puffy or 3D letter stickers
Embellishments of choice (plastic bugs, gems, stickers)
Mod Podge
Paper Towel - separated into 1 ply and ripped into sections
Black Paint
Metallic Paint
Distressing Ink
Ribbon or suede

Tools

Hot Glue Gun with extra glue sticks
Paint Brushes - small bristle brush and sponge brush
Hairdryer

Instructions

If you don’t use a hairdryer, you will need to let everything set overnight and it could take a few days to complete your spellbooks. It is recommended to use a dabbing motion for all of the painting steps.

Attach the foam stickers to make the titles on both the cover and the spine of the book. Examples: Spells, Potions, Curses
Use a glue gun to make studs, or patterns if desired and attach any embellishments that you would like to be black.
Make sure your paper towel is separated into one ply and moisten with a couple of drops of water. Squeeze out any excess. You want it to be barely damp.
Place the book open with the hardover sides facing up. Apply a layer of mod podge on the book and begin applying the paper towel in small sections to the cover, back and spine. You want to make small wrinkles and work the pieces around any lettering.
Apply another layer of mod podge using a dabbing motion.
Use the hairdryer for about 5 minutes to dry.
Use a sponge paint brush to apply black paint to the entire cover, back and spine of the book.
Use the hairdryer again for about 5 minutes to dry the paint.
Use the small bristle brush to apply metallic paint to the lettering and any embellishments that were applied.
Use the hairdryer again for about 5 minutes to dry the paint.
Use the distressing ink to apply stain to the edges of the pages.
Crumble and bend the pages without tearing them to create a worn in look.
Finish your craft by adding gems or wrapping in ribbon/suede.

Notes

Use a hairdryer to speed up drying time. If you do not use a hair dryer, you will need to let the books set longer between steps.
To create the metallic raised bars on the side of the book, I used damp paper torn and molded it on with modge podge.
The “compass” on the front of the Mystical Places book was created by hot glue and a fake coin.
The pattern on the front of the spell book was created using 3 d stickers.
Try mixing golds and silvers for a really interesting look.