Sharing books is an awesome way to make them last long after you've read the last chapter, but what about books that have outlived their usefulness?

Crafting with books can be a little bit controversial, and I definitely believe that you should be careful with the books that you're using in your craft projects. Before you tear off the cover or slice into the pages with a box cutter, you definitely want to do a little bit of Googling. It would be a shame to destroy a precious first edition or rare title that someone else might treasure for the words inside. Princeton University has some tools that you can use to find out more about the books you find at thrift stores and yard sales.

Once you've determined that your reclaimed book is OK to cut up, check out some of these upcycling ideas!

1. Make a vase. Grab that exacto knife or box cutter and turn an old book into a paper vase!

2. Whip up a book fairy costume. Over at Lilliedale, you can learn how to turn an old dictionary into a fairy costume, complete with tutu and wings!

3. DIY book heart garland. Cut your book pages into strips and create a sweet, romantic heart garland.

4. Make a gift tag. Julie at Crafting a Green World shows you how to turn old book pages - namely comic book pages - into super cute gift tags using craft punches.

5. Create a keepsake box. The folks at Better Homes and Gardens show you how to make a secret box for stashing valuables out of a reclaimed book.