Turn An Old Book Into A Sketchbook Or Journal

Turn an Old Book into A Sketchbook or Journal

Posted by Blair S.

About

If you're short on sketchbook paper but big on ideas, turn a large book from the thrift store into a brand new sketchbook full of blank pages ready for your handiwork.

Share

You Will Need (9 things)

  • Hair dryer
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint Brushes
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Bulldog Clips
  • Acrylic Paints
  • Book
  • White Gesso
  • ¼ yd Home dec weight Fabric solid

Steps (5 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    Paint, stamp, or decorate the home dec fabric any way you want- make it yours! I played with linocut stamps I've carved, adding a few painted details. Allow to dry.

  2. 2

    Cover the outside of the book by painting it thoroughly with Mod
    Podge. Lay the book opened and centered (cover side down) on the fabric (wrong side up) and press all areas to adhere. Close the book with the fabric around it, pressing and adhering the
    fabric well around the spine of the book.

  3. 3

    Use bulldog clips to hold the fabric in place around the edges of the cover. Allow to dry.

  4. 4

    Open the book, use gesso or paint to cover a spread, allow to dry… do the next spread… etc. A hairdryer will make this step go
    faster. I painted only one coat on my pages, but covered the page completely. The original images were still slightly
    visible from underneath. Allow to dry completely before closing the book.

  5. 5

    Using acrylic paints, markers, or whatever your heart desires, paint and doodle away!