Please don't ever use newspaper for a base. It can be 20 minutes or 20 years old, it will rub off. I worked for the local newspaper for 20 years and it took me three months to get all the ink off when I retired. Can't help with the phone book idea but it looks like it would tear off easier. Try it first. A very thin muslin sounds good to me or a piece of "what was I thinking fabric" ?? lol have fun Retta