Turn an Old Book Into an Art Journal
All apologies! I have not been blogging much lately, but much is percolating behind the scenes. My upcoming sewing project is under wraps for the time being. I’ve been working on finding some local outlets for my work! And I know you will love what I have cooking…it is just going to take some time!
I’ve been LOVING art journaling lately. Initially I thought I was going to get into junk journaling, so I bought a couple of junk journals on Etsy. I also started making some from cereal boxes! One of them has become a place to document things that happen in my life. Another one I bought wound up in the trash! LOL!
Turns out my favorite way to journal right now is in old books. I’m not such a big fan of gluing in “fodder” from daily life, or sticking stickers and stamps onto scrapbook paper. I’m more of a fast and dirty journaler. I love grabbing my copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and splashing some ink or watercolor on the page.
Old books are great, because you don’t have to prime the pages all that much as long as the paper is thick enough. It is so beautiful to let the words show through! I tend to leave the illustrations in the book as is, or just do a watercolor wash over them. It’s like upcycling in it’s purest form and giving an old book a whole new lease on life!
Here are a few ideas for journaling in old books. Truly, you can use any book to art journal in! Choose something you either already read or isn’t precious to you. Then get making art messes!
Most people say you have to tear out pages to journal in an old book. As long as you don’t mind a hefty book when you are finished, leave all the pages intact. I never tear old pages out of my vintage books before journaling!
If you are going to do acrylic or layers of mixed media, prime the pages with gesso. Also, if you are going to use a book with glossy pages, gesso is your friend there too. White acrylic paint or craft paint works in a pinch!
You can leave the cover plain, or go to town! Cover your book with collage, fabric, paints. If you want to do a mixed media cover, gesso is a must. Hardback books already have texture, but some of them are quite porous, which means if you don’t gesso first the cover will just soak up the paint.
Use your favorite supplies in your journal, and try to get into it for five minutes a day. You will be surprised how quickly the pages fill up with art.
Try documenting your days, or what you had for dinner. Or make a gratitude journal and focus on one or two things you feel grateful for each day. You could even journal lists or write with a black marker over the top of type print.
A stapler is your friend! Staple in imagery and magazine pages, then write or paint on them.
Glue sticks are great for basic collages. I love doing torn paper collage the best! Flip through a magazine and tear out a few images, then glue them in your book.
Print out photos or images from the web, and glue or staple them in. You can add paint or marker here and there, or leave them plain.
Acrylic inks and India Ink are great in a book journal. Splash some ink on a page, close the book and press down. Then carefully reopen the book to the ink pages and let dry. Embellish with paints or leave plain.
If you are into fodder, glue things in! Attach receipts or bits of paper with paper clips. Use it like a junk journal if that is your thing.
Try painting on handmade paper or postcards, and staple them in the book.
Make pockets by stapling in pieces of paper or envelopes from junk mail, and tuck in little secrets.
Grab a book and give art journaling a try! I’ve got a stack of old books, and they are begging to be covered in paint and marker. Upcycle an old book and turn it into a work of art!
