Collage Layout in Altered Board Book: From Board Book to Art Journal

Today I am using collage to make a layout in an altered child's board book using vintage papers. Join me as I talk about working in board books then demonstrate the collage techniques used here
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You can find printable scans of 24 vintage birds from Cassell's Book of Birds circa 1880 here on Etsy:
www.etsy.com/u...
I have an online course The Book of You: Making and Keeping an Illustrated Journal if you want to find out more about adding easy, no-fail drawings, found paper collage, lettering, blocking layouts, and much more, check out the link here:
kelly-s-school...
Not sure? Here is more detailed information:
bookandpaperar...
If you are interested in buying original paper and vintage ephemera bundles full of cards, paper, handwritten pieces, lace, and more I sell them here:
bookandpaperar...
And here is a link to a free, printable handwritten French ledger page on my website:
bookandpaperar...

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

Laughed when you said "It's not always easy to get a flower that does that"-- (-to say "What? What's up?") Hilarious. Love the layout.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Donna. Is it just possible I spend too much time in a dim studio filled with old paper that talks to me? Hmmmmm.😺😺🌷🌷

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

@@BookandPaperArts Haha.

[@sue8237]

Thanks for describing your process. BTW, I was screaming, "put the crow on her shoulder!" But I love what you did.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Ha! Sue, I love, love feedback but occasionally comments indicate that I should have gone with Plan B rather than Plan A and then it's too late it's glued down and sigh. Happily, both Plan A and B usually look pretty good. Thanks for touching base!

[@nicolaj3294]

Never thought about a children's board book, great idea. Thanks Kelly

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Nicola, they are great for carving up because the boards are so solid and can be turned into little doors or niches. They are cheap and fun so it is a win-win-win!

[@volvacations2186]

I love at 7;16 when you put the wings behind her because one wing was in front of the hat and one was behind. However, that is why it is art. It is subjective and everyone has their own style. Love the videos and can't wait to see more.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so much for this. It makes me happy to hear! You are so right about the subjective part. I have a lot of collage pieces in my studio and it is good fun to ask different people what they think the story is. One was an ancient Grecian woman standing over a prone man - one person said she was singing to him, the other said, no, she has just killed him and there you go. I leaned toward the former and almost spit out my tea. 😎😎😺😺

[@rgporter1957]

Oh the scrutiny! Poor Innocent Nancy! Lol Can't wait to see the complete flip through!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Ha. I was going with Amelia but yeah, they are judgey, that lot. Originally they were bowling on a lawn but once cut out I thought that the look on that woman's face was kind of sinister and a story was born. 😉😉

[@sirbimsaranadirangaalmedaa403]

Thank you for sending me this video I'm little bit busy these days because I'm having a French examination.

[@lynnboyd33]

Hi Kelly, what a delicious little board book! I adore the chunky ness of board books, but the last one I worked with, I guess I was a bit too vigorous, and the spine fell apart in my hands. For some silly reason, I figured they were stronger than the old vintage book spines. But, lesson learned. I love your layout and thinking process. I'm excited to see a walk thru of the book that you've already finished as well as the covers! It's really lovely.

[@CatherineSunnysideJournals]

Love the finished result. Love listening to you think as you plan your layout. Thanks.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Catherine. Committing to a layout can be scary!

[@La1Senora]

I enjoy listening to why you chose your elements. Choosing between 2 flowers for example: this 1 softly blends in but this one adds contrast. Showing, even briefly, how one small detail can completely alter a piece is an immediate lesson. Like stepping out of a dark woods into a grassy meadow glowing from the sun. I've found it's become infused my artistic endeavors. I've become much more intentional. I enjoy alternating between random and intentional. Keeps the creative eyes clear.

[@jodimartin4250]

Love what you did. I have a old timey ledger book with big pages. So I have started putting them across the whole layout of my journal pages. Other papers too. Love how it makes like one whole layout. Tfs. 💐💐💐

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Jodi, what you said. Ledger pages make very cool backgrounds. It is fun to contrast different kinds of static print and other background papers, no? 😺😺🌼🌼

[@diane2941]

Great lesson! Thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Diane, it is my real pleasure!

[@moongl0]

Lovely, Kelly! I bought one of these at a goodwill shop near me and still have yet to alter it. I love the idea though! I thought about making it into a favorite recipe book. Still playing with the idea. Great video! 😊👍🏼

[@BookandPaperArts]

An altered recipe book sounds all kinds of fun. Keep me posted! Kelly

[@phyllis610]

I just gessoed a board book. Guess I paid too much for mine..... I got it at a $1 store. LOL Mine has tabs, also. I love what you did with that back page. Off ot play.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Phyllis, that's hilarious. I actually meant to mention that you can go crazy and buy them at Dollar Tree or Pound Land. Me, I stock up during flea market season and I have wayyyy too many to gesso and finish in my lifetime. Happy making!

[@valorimendrala1912]

I am very interested in a course on altering a board book! It might help me get my mojo back 😃

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Valori. I will be sure and give you a heads up. And what's this about missing mojo? 😺😺

[@valorimendrala1912]

@@BookandPaperArts I know- I’ve got to get back in there and CREATE!

[@BookandPaperArts]

@@valorimendrala1912 Some days when I am struggling I find a ten minute watercolour how-to on KZbin and just that plugs me back into wanting to make again. Other days I arrange my sock drawer. (You know what I mean, I'm sure.)😁😁

[@valorimendrala1912]

@@BookandPaperArts 😃 yes! I do know what you mean and thank you for taking the time to help me out. I enjoy the quality and process of your art very much.

[@robinmay289]

Love your work ! So lovely !

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Robin. That is so nice to read this morning. 🌷🌻🌼

[@jessicaskok]

Very 👍 nice!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Jessica!🌻🌻😺

[@jamiesimpson1578]

I discovered your channel and I love your work. I ordered two vintage books and plan to alter them? Thank you 😊

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello and welcome, Jamie. I have quite a few videos on how to prep and start altered books so have a look at those and let me know if you have any questions. It can be tricky but it is so much fun and satisfying. Kelly

[@angelastrozier7467]

Beautiful page! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so, Angela.

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

Love the layout. Can’t wait to see what you do with the covers!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Nola. It was hard to make myself stop at just the layout but I had worky work to do. (I am sure you know what I mean.)😁😁🌻🌻

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Fun layout 😁

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you and welcome, Arlene! 🌞

[@debbieyanta5753]

Love the layout in the board book, I too would have been drawn to the "tabs" on that book. Looking forward to seeing the entire book. You seem to have many pieces of collage "fodder" already cut and ready to audition on your art pages..do you sit and just cut out pieces? when and how do you store or organize all the pieces? Have you thought about sharing some organizational tips or tricks? If you already addressed this, maybe a link to those organizational videos?? Thank you Kelly..your pages really "speak" and "draw one" into the page!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Debbie. Well thank you so, so much for suggesting that idea about sharing organisational hacks. It helps me so much to know what others are curious about, so keep 'em coming. Back in the day I used to cut piles and piles while watching telly but I don't watch much anymore. I always have a pile on hand to cut if I am on the phone or if someone comes by the studio to chat, I cut when I am "stuck" creatively. But I also cut to make a specific piece. I did cut about six different birds here so now I add them to the pile for the next project. For storing I have plastic storage boxes, one for each subject: flowers, birds, butterflies and insects, handwritten, animals, angels, and architecture all have their own boxes. I try to cull once a year and share what isn't going to get used with a collage friend nearby. Let me know if this helps and I will see about a proper video on it! Kelly

[@AR_WWE_Short_4K]

Really beautiful👌😍💞💜💜💜💜

[@Newbies57]

Wow! that's awesome 😍

[@stephaniewinters1399]

Thank you so much for the video! I'm having trouble with the spine. When I glue (lightweight) items from one page to the next over the spine - the book will not fold and the paper on the spine (yes, it's dried) pulls up. Any advise would be appreciated.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Stephanie. This is super common. Now sometimes the centre is just too bulky and if it is, don't use those pages for elements you pull over. Keep turning until you find two pages with a nice, flat spine/binding in the middle. Now, glue down one side of the element (it should be thinnish, by the way) you are adding and THEN feed the paper into the spine, kind of pushing it in there with a straight-edge. The point is you want to add a little extra paper there for flex, so maybe 1/4 inch or a little more. As if you were adding a little fabric to a piece that needed some give. Then pull the rest of the paper to the other side. NOT TIGHT. Make sure you have that extra give in the middle. Put some greaseproof (wax or deli or parchment) paper between the pages and make sure it goes up to the seam where you have left a little give. When it dries it should open and not crack. This works two out of three times. The other time, well, it is an imperfect technique. But try it! Practice in an old book. Practice with some thin paper such as mulberry paper or even a tea bag. Please let me know if this makes sense and if I can advise further. 🌷🌷Kelly

[@sherrybarfield8446]

So how do you prepare the board book? Do you peel the glossy layer off.....or sand the pages.....or just gesso over the pages and then add book pages or other things to cover the bright pages of the children's book? How do you keep it from bulking up? Absolutely LOVE your finished pages!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello and thank you, Sherry. I was light on the details as preparing a board book is a big video and one I am saving for an online mini-course. But the short version is that I strip/peel the pages of the glossy paper as they don't take glue or paint well, then gesso the board. Sandpaper can help. It can bulk up a little but not a lot so I avoid 3d elements and pockets which in a book with a sewn binding I would add throughout and stuff with paper ephemera. Here I focus on flat layouts, carving niches, doors, and windows, and for fun, the cover can bulk up with pockets and fabric. Hope this helps! Kelly

[@sherrybarfield8446]

@@BookandPaperArts Thank You!

[@sunni4aday]

Did you gesso all of your pages before glueing?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Sharon. Not all. Some I covered with other paper (print, text) and worked on that. When I started to work on a board that I had stripped of the glossy paper, THOSE were primed with gesso, otherwise the stripped boards are too "thirsty". Does this make sense?

[@sunni4aday]

It does. Thank you for the info. Greatly appreciated