Painted Book Bricks Are Back and the Next Garden Border Is In Progress

Spring is officially here, which means the paint supplies are back out and I am deep in my favorite seasonal project: painted book bricks. Last year I shared the west side garden border, and this year it is all about the east side. I have about 55 bricks planned for this border, which honestly might be my most ambitious round yet. If you missed the first post, painted book bricks are exactly what they sound like: bricks painted to look like the covers of your favorite books, used as garden edging. They are charming, personal, creative, and one of my favorite ways to bring my bookish personality outside.

Painted Book Bricks Are Back

If you are new here, painted book bricks are regular landscape bricks painted to mimic the covers of real books. You line them up along a garden border, and suddenly your flower bed looks like a tiny library. It is one of those crafts that looks impressive but is totally doable at home with the right supplies and a little patience.

Last year, I completed the west side border and had so much fun with it that I immediately started planning the east side. This year, I am going all in with 55 bricks. Yes, 55! That is 55 little book covers to plan, sketch, and paint, and I am here for every single one.

Why I Love This Project

This is the kind of craft that checks every box for me. It is creative, it is personal (you pick YOUR favorite books), it is functional, and the finished result is something you enjoy every single time you walk outside. There is also something really satisfying about painting a tiny version of a book you loved.

The best part is that this project is flexible. You can do a few bricks as a weekend project or go full commitment like me and plan out an entire garden border. Use books you have read, books from a specific genre, a favorite author, or just covers you think are beautiful.

What You Need to Get Started

Here is everything on my supply list, most everything is sourced from Amazon (the actual bricks you can find at your local Home Depot/Menards/Lowes) and linked below:

• Landscape bricks
• Outdoor acrylic paint set (weather resistant!)
• Flat and detail paint brushes
• Acrylic paint markers for fine details and lettering
• UV-resistant clear coat spray to seal and protect
• A self-cleaning water cup for brushes

Shop the full supply list here!

How I Plan 55 Book Covers

Planning 55 individual book covers sounds overwhelming, but I actually love this part. I start by listing all the books I want to include, mixing classics, contemporary favorites, and a few that just have beautiful covers. Then I look at each cover and figure out how to simplify it enough to paint on a brick.

My process is: sketch lightly in pencil first, paint the background color down first, work in layers from large shapes to small details, and always finish with lettering last. The clear coat at the end is non-negotiable because it is what makes them last through the seasons.

A Few of My Favorites From This Year's List

Okay I cannot help myself, I have to share a few that are already done because I am genuinely so happy with how they turned out. Fair warning: the vibe range on this garden border is going to be wide and I am not sorry about it.

Book Pairing: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

This one felt like a must for the east side border. Book Lovers is such a fun, self-aware romance and the cover is clean enough that it translated really nicely to brick format. It follows a literary agent and a book editor who keep running into each other in the most inconvenient ways. Witty, warm, and a little meta in the best possible way. Basically required reading if you consider yourself a book person.

Grab your copy from Amazon here!

Book Pairing: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

This cover is so iconic, and I knew it would make an eye-catching design. If you somehow have not picked this one up yet, it follows Pippa Fitz-Amobi as she reinvestigates a supposedly closed murder case for her senior capstone project. It is the kind of book that has you reading way past your bedtime. Absolutely gripping from start to finish.

Grab your copy from Amazon here!

Book Pairing: Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

And then there is this one. Because what is a bookish garden border without at least a little dark romance? Butcher and Blackbird is not for the faint of heart but if you are into morally complex characters and a twisted slow burn romance, this one is going to be your new obsession. The cover art is gorgeous and moody and painting it on a brick was so satisfying. It is going to look delightfully out of place right next to Emily Henry and I am completely fine with that.

So yes, the east side garden border is going to have cozy romance, a murder mystery, and dark romance all sitting side by side. Honestly feels very on brand.

Grab your copy here!

Want These Books for Less? Check PangoBooks!

If you would rather grab any of these reads secondhand before painting your bricks, I totally get it! PangoBooks is my favorite app for affordable used books and you can find some really great deals on popular titles. New users get $5 off their first purchase of $10 or more when you use my code at checkout. Shop secondhand reads here.

I will be sharing progress updates as I work through all 55 bricks, so stay tuned! And if you grab the supplies and try this yourself, I would love to see what you make.

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