Wrapping Bricks…Why?

You might be wondering why on earth I’d want to be wrapping bricks up! And no, it’s definitely not for a quirky birthday prank. The simple answer is that these humble bricks are going to serve as handy weights when I need to let things dry flat during my bookbinding projects.

Wrapping them is essential for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the dust they naturally produce can create quite a mess in my work area. Secondly, the rough texture of the bricks could potentially leave unwanted marks or impressions on my delicate work.

This is a clever idea I picked up from watching various YouTube videos, and it struck me as both brilliant and incredibly cost-effective – especially if you happen to have a few stray bricks lying around the garden, as I did.

Preparation is Key

Before getting to the wrapping stage, the bricks needed a good brushing off to eliminate any loose dust and give them a general clean.

Another fantastic tip I learned from a Youtuber called Four Keys Book Arts was to brush on a mixture of water and PVA glue all over the brick. This creates a sealant, which should help prevent further dust from breaking away and hopefully prolong the time before re-wrapping becomes necessary.

So, that’s exactly what I did, and then I left the bricks to dry thoroughly overnight.

The Wrapping Process

To be on the safe side, I decided to wrap the bricks in a plain piece of paper first. My thinking was that the brick’s roughness might snag or tear the more decorative outer layer directly. So, a sheet of plain A3 paper was my initial choice.

Next came the fun part: selecting a patterned paper for the final wrapping. With a drawer overflowing with options, making a decision wasn’t easy! Eventually, I settled on an A2 sheet that conveniently just needed to be cut in half to perfectly fit the bricks. This particular paper was double-sided, featuring the same pattern in two different color variations. I thought it would be nice to wrap each brick in a different color from the reverse sides.

To ensure a secure finish and hopefully prevent any catching or tearing, I used plenty of tape on the ends. I did unfortunately encounter a small tear in the paper while wrapping and trying to tuck the ends in tightly, but a little bit of tape quickly resolved that issue.

My Finished Wrapped Bricks

This turned out to be a satisfyingly simple and quick project. The end results look surprisingly neat, and I now have a couple of extra weights ready and waiting whenever I need them.

So, if you have any spare bricks lurking around and you’re involved in bookbinding or any other craft that requires pressing items flat, why not put those bricks to good use with a little wrapping?