How to Find Old Books Paper & Ephemera (Especially If You Don't Live in an Old Country)

Sourcing vintage paper and antique books is a big part of my job as a book artist, and whenever I use vintage paper in an altered book or art journal layout I get the same comment/question over and over. “Do you have any ideas about where I can find something similar where I live?” Well, yes, I do.
The first part of this video will be about hunting old paper in the wild while the second will have some tips for shopping for old paper ephemera online.
If you want to see the vintage French paper ephemera bundles that are in my online shop, the link is here:
bookandpaperarts.com/french-e...
And this is where you can find free scans of some of the old paper treasure that is in my collection to use in your own work:
bookandpaperarts.com/free-scans/
Please subscribe to my free, monthly online newsletter for art tutorials, free downloads, giveaways, journal arts, a little fashion, and the occasional pep talk, all in your inbox! Join here at: bookandpaperarts.com/
Happy Hunting!
Kelly

[@MicheleEngel]

Those are tremendously helpful tips! Thank you so much!❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Michelle, thanks for letting me know. I get asked about this all the time and couldn't resist putting together the "tricks". Have a creative week and happy hunting.

[@shawnas464]

Thank you so very much for the freebies!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Shawna, it is my very real pleasure. Stay tuned for more coming up!

[@christinetuffin3415]

I'm in Australia lots second hand stores have plenty of old books , I always look for vintage music love them in my art journal

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Christine. Agreed, sheet music really makes a background or embellishment that pops. The trick to the second hand bookstores is to look a lot. Australia must be beautiful.

[@shawnhaven4348]

Thank you for your video & printables!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Shawn, it is my real pleasure. Thanks for touching base!🌷🌼🌻

[@cgbyfran9697]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Fran. It is my very real pleasure. Hope you find some good stuff!

[@an_eg_creation]

Kelly, thanks so much for your generosity, kindness and sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. It is greatly appreciated. I am also enjoying your newsletter.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Ellen. This does mean a lot to me. While book and journals arts are my business the are also very much my vocation and it helps me to know that the info and energy is getting out there.🌼🌻🌷

[@ladyflimflam]

In the US I routinely find books that are 75+ years old at Half-Price Books for $1-$3. If you are looking for auctions or estate sales make sure you look in the surrounding countryside for farm sales.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there. Farm sales are great. I once got the best tweed jacket of my life at one for next to nothing. Auctions are also a resource, even in the country there are often auction houses that have weekly or monthly sales of just mixed-up stuff and sometimes old photo albums or books come up. Hope you have a creative weekend! Kelly

[@louloufabrique]

Great tips. Thank you. Merci!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Mon plaisir, chere Loulou. So happy you liked it! Kelly

[@ochervelvet9687]

Thank you, great ideas.

[@neidedegouvea]

Thank you for the tips!

[@sbowenful]

Thanks!

[@BookandPaperArts]

🌷🌷🌻🌻🌼🌼

[@sophiewagstaff2081]

You could also come to Leominster! (UK) there are loads of second hand/antique shops. I usually manage to find some lovely books there ❤️

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Sophie. I would love to. After 17 years in Wales I have seen far too little of England. Have you been to Hay-on-Wye?

[@jackallen6261]

Thank you so much for the information! I have just recently gotten in to selling ephemera on eBay, I find limited material in my area, thanks so much for the information!! Just subbed! Have a great day!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello and welcome, Jack. While it is true that it is easier to find old stuff where I am, I have also lived in Tennessee and Mississippi and, by keeping my eyes open and my radar sharpened, stuff was out there so good luck and happy hunting! Kelly

[@123.ABC.33]

Great information for all of us journalers.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Lynne. Hope this helps with the hunting. The good stuff is out there and waiting for you to find it and make journals and other stuff with it. (Yeah, I kind of really believe that.😺) Have a creative weekend!

[@susiemoore7226]

Hi Kelly...Thank you so much for all the great info..I'm definitely going to use some of your tips- wish me luck.. As so many others have said- Thank you very much for all your generosity and being such a sweet person! Sending hugs from Kentucky 💙

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Susie. Your message makes me happy. I sometimes feel as though I am throwing digital messages out in virtual bottles. It is always good to know someone found it and opened. 🌷🌷🌼🌼🌻🌻

[@lynnparise9841]

Kelly, thank you so very much for these interesting, terrific tips! I adore my library store, here near my home, but when I asked about vintage books and papers, the woman told me, 'sorry, don't save anything before 2000'! UGH, I was devastated. But she did give me a few ideas, where they may donate those pieces to, they don't just toss them! Needless to say it's a slow journey, but I'm chipping away at it. Thanks again for this insightful tute!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Yes! What is it with librarians throwing out old stuff? I have trained my local used book store but it took persistence. Keep up the good fight, Lynn. 😉😎

[@lynnparise9841]

@@BookandPaperArts Will do, Missy!

[@karenlulay]

Thank you for all you free information. You are so generous within all your knowledge and your papers and to share with us. I'm in the USA and am just getting into junk Journaling. I'm doing it for fun and gifts and on a fixed budget......lol That is why I so appreciate you sharing your beautiful papers with us. Also I wanted to let you know I didn't get a newsletters from you yet. Is there anyway I can get past newsletters? Thank you so much. I find your videos so fascinating. Can't wait till the next one.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Karen. Thank you very much for this. You have made my day! It means a lot to me when videos and tutorials connect and find a good home with someone making stuff. I am lucky enough to sell well now but believe you me, for most of my life conventional art supplies were a luxury and I had to make do. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, and if you want to create you will do it with whatever is at hand. So enjoy! My newsletter is once monthly. They sometimes go into spam (blergh) and are never seen again. Please send me your email address and I will send a few to you this evening. [e-mail]

[@aliceevans70]

Thanks so much for sharing all your thoughts and artistry, I love watching your channel and find it inspiring. I love your aesthetic, and your philosophy regarding ‘old stuff’ ( I find it difficult to know when to use/cut/sell on / copy old books and ephemera! But I’m trying to listen to the book…..) 😊

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you very much, Alice. Did you see this? At about 2:51 (I think, maybe) I talk about when it is okay to cut up a book. It is definitely an issue but let me know what you think.

[@nicolaj3294]

Hi Kelly, I'm in Australia and agree we are too young a country and don't have any fairs/jumble/car boot sales like you have in Europe. We just don't have a vintage culture here apart from maybe Tasmania which has a convict past. The only area I've ever seen any old postcards would be in country antique shops. I think our best option would have to be online, so thanks for that info.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Nicola. Thanks for the feedback. I think I would shrivel up and cease to exist if I lived without a vintage culture but I am sure there are other fabulous things about where you live. A lot of natural beauty. Happy hunting and let me know what you find online! Kelly

[@blossompetal784]

I'm also an Aussie. You can find vintage/Antique things at op shops,antique stores,estate sales,garage sales and vintage stores

[@BookandPaperArts]

@@blossompetal784 Wow, thanks for this update. It is good info to know. .🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@LynneMCreations]

Love this video Kelly! Such valuable information - thank you for sharing!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Lynn. It is my talking head version of video.

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

Thanks! Excellent info. I've made friends with several thrift stores, left my name and number and it's paid off.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there, Nola. Well done you! Sometimes you just gotta get in there. Faint heart ne'er won the good stuff. Have a great weekend, Kelly

[@nicholastracy4915]

Wonderfully detailed, fantastic advice and content. Great channel. Thank you for this! I love old books and ephemera, I find that I can gain better insight into the spirit, the vibe, or the sentiment of an era or time period through ephemera better than just reading about it.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Nicholas, Yes, there is so much history and mystery about old things that find us. I have books from the 1700s and I think, boy, they did NOT know what was coming, as in, America was not even a country then. The French revolution was yet to come and go. And who knows where our books and stuff will be in 250 years? Thanks for dropping by! Kelly

[@reginaeid1568]

Great tips! Thank you for your generosity! Abe books is also a great resource

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Regina, it is truly my pleasure. At my age it makes me happy to shorten the learning curve for anybody else, especially if they are just beginning. (I sometimes talk to young'uns in their 20s who have barely even seen a photograph that wasn't on a camera and it is satisfying to meet their new born curiosity.) I like ABE books, too, but haven't used them for awhile. Have a great weekend! Kelly

[@almostcrafty263]

Thank you for sharing! So glad I found you!

[@MissDaisyParsley]

Very helpful video! Great ideas! I need to talk to more people for sure!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Susan. Start talking, missy. Can't tell you how many (too many) times I have just missed stuff that was thrown out. (BLERGH.) Or occasionally got it just in time. Happy hunting! Kelly

[@jodimartin4250]

Thanks for info from the United States.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Jodi, it is my pleasure. Happy making!

[@LindaSmith-vq1br]

Thank you so much!

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my pleasure, Linda. Hope you find wonderful things!

[@laracraft82]

Thank you good advice

[@jeanbeck3962]

Thank you , this helpful. I do check the local library. They almost always have old books for sale. For 50 cents to one or 2 dollars. Recently I found an old book with marvelous bird pictures for $1

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Jean. Yeah, those sales can sometimes throw up good stuff if you keep checking in. And those bird books can really make pages and layouts pop! Well done and happy making. Kelly😉🌼🌻🌷

[@firechick561]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I had no clue bc even though I live in the east- it is increasingly difficult to find any vintage journals or ledgers.

[@keeperofwords2348]

You are the best! I love your packages and it saves me time. I do eBay and Etsy as well… although I hate to lose and bidding for me can be dangerous! :)

[@BookandPaperArts]

Ha! I have a friend who needs one of those breath-a-lysers for his computer, as he has a beer and bids when he should sit it out. Some mighty odd stuff shows up a few days later. I still have a large lot of canes and walking sticks that he bought only to find out they wouldn't ship to America so...plenty of old canes in my studio. As for losing, do you use a sniping program? I like Bidslammer.

[@joycescott4633]

Love your videos but can't find the links button to subscribe to your newsletter.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Joyce. Sadly the newsletter is no more so I removed the sign up fields. I am meaning to try a video version of the newsletter in the new year here on KZbin so please stay tuned! Kelly

[@Lucyverre]

Hi Kelly, where you said "it's backwards": it's not backwards...probably something with mirror image I don't know how it works with a camera either 😂

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Lucy, you know here's the deal. When I was looking into the camera it was backwards and so I said something cute about it then I watched the video and it was weirdly correct and I just rolled my eyes and left it. Man, you have a good eye! Hope you have a great weekend! Kelly

[@Lucyverre]

@@BookandPaperArts I know 😂 I get all confused with such things and I am unable to describe it rationally. I know very well what left and right is, but that's about it

[@gloriasurton8341]

Hi Kelly can I use old newspaper. I have a few. Also lots of Magazines. PS can I use baby oil. Regards Gloria

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Gloria. I haven't tried newspaper but I definitely would. What have you got to lose? 😺I strongly suspect you can use baby oil and I bet it will smell really good, too. Kelly

[@libriniserenagobbo9717]

I live in Italy and I am a newbie, and just now I understand how much good material I throw away during the time 😓

[@kathieshaffer9641]

Do you know an online source to order an appropriate book to alter?

[@cherylmacedo5521]

🤍🤍🤍

[@irinadalah9089]

oh, this was posted 2 years ago. does this mean that you don't have a newsletter anymore? cause if you do, I'd like to know how to subscribe - I couldn't find a link on your site.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there, Irina. The old newsletter is no more (sadly) but I am reviving it in a few weeks so please stay tuned! Will definitely be announcing it here.