These books are super simple and very very inexpensive! All you need is...
A BOOK: It can be used or new. IT MUST BE A HARDBACK BOOK OR IT WILL NOT WORK! Try the Dollar Tree. Look at the inside title pages for cool writing because this is what will be showing. Also check the side of the pages. Some books have their paper cut at random lengths and that kinda gives the book an older fun feel. (if all the title pages are stupid but the paper edges are cool, don't loose heart, you can simply turn the book upside down and back side up and use the back page. Now you can have a lot of fun creating a title page of your own.)

You can also hit up Hospice stores, DI, Goodwill and garage sales. There are some good bargains out there. There is a difference in new and old...Old will cost you more money cause they are vintage, but the spines look awesome because they are ribbed. New books are flat, but they have a gauzy plastic down the spine which has its own cool look too.

TEA: Just get a box of tea bags from the Dollar Tree, it comes with 80 bags.

RIBBON OR LACE: Adding some kind of jute or lace or tulle just makes the books that much more interesting.

Optional - STAMPS: this is if you want to make your own title page. The center book in the picture was created with stamps from Michael's.
NEW LETS GET TO WORK
Step 1: Tear off the Hardback. It is great, you will feel like you can finally do that phone book trick.
Step2: Clean off any remaining cardboard from the spine so you can see the detail.

Step 3: Soak your tea bags in hot water and let them sit for a bit. Set the book on some wax paper and when you are ready, take the wet bag and blot it all over the book. Have fun with this. Get into the pages, do the spine, the back, the sides, bend the book and curl the pages. Make it look like it is your favorite book to read. And now let it set to dry.

Step 4: Once dry, tie the ribbon, string, or lace around the book like a present. If you have a book with a stupid title page, just place it under a book with a good title page and then tie them together. It is all about the layers.
NOTE.......IF YOU WANT TO STAMP YOUR OWN PAGE........DO IT BEFORE YOU TEA UP THE BOOK AND LET IT DRY FOR LIKE 15 MIN TO BE SAFE, THEN PROCEED TO STEP 3.

Just another idea, if you want to make your own title page and you don't want to bother with stamps, you can go the The Graphics Fairy and print up fun black and white picture and age it with the tea bag and then set it on top of the book. Change your title page throughout the seasons.