How to Make an Art Journal from Old Book Pages

[@kathysaleeba3397]

Yes! I have saved many teabags and need some inspiration! Thanks Kelly.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Kathy. I keep putting this one together in my mind then I think, no, that's silly. But I use them a lot in my art, even the "real" stuff that I sell, so maybe I will actually do it now. Maybe next week. (I have DRAWERS of tea bags and had to train the cleaning lady and my husband not to throw them away while drying.)

[@debbieyanta5753]

I would love to see how you use tea bags in your journaling adventure.. having used t.bags in the past ,,stamping onto them and also typing "text" onto the bags..I'm always inspired by other artists and how they use t.bags. I did not know you could make gesso "on the cheap" and thanks for the recipe. Loved the bracelet you were wearing in the "gesso" video!!! Your little journals are just too cute,,looking forward to Sundays video!!!! Thanks.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Debbie. Thanks for this. You sound as though you know about using tea bags already as those are some of the things I use them for, also. The bracelet was from an early experiment in making jewelery from vintage paper and resin and I loved them so much but boy, were they a ton of work so I just kept a few for me and threw out the resin. Resin and I did NOT understand each other. 🙄🙄😎😎

[@CatherineSunnysideJournals]

I SO look forward to my Kelly-Fridays! Fun as usual. Thanks. ~~C.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, dear Catherine. 🌻🌼🌷

[@lynnboyd33]

Yes, YES, Kelly, lets see you use some used T-bags as art supplies! I love their look and texture! Thanks for this great video, 2 in a row! Makes for a wonderful artsy week!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hey, Lynn. Done and done. Tea bags will be featured next week. 🎨😺😁

[@moongl0]

This is exactly my preferred binding method for all my DIY sketchbooks. Simple and strong, you can't go wrong with a good pamphlet stitch in 3 or 5 hole varieties. Nicely done, Kelly! I am loving this series of mini art journals.😁

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Jenn. Yes, I'm with you. I do know how to make different bindings but at my age simple and sturdy is what I use. If the book is heavy I may go nuts and use five holes but I often even go with two if it is light and just for me and for fun. Kelly

[@kristinev7671]

This is your tea bag encouragement🌝. Thanks for another inspiring video.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Kristine, done and done. And now you know what you will be seeing in the week. 🎨😺😁

[@kristinev7671]

@@BookandPaperArts Hooray! Looking forward to it. ❤️

[@karenmilligan3590]

Tea bags unless I haven't found the one you already made. Thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Karen, try this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4XIfIuVeMqHaLM

[@lauramarycann9590]

Tea bags........ yes! Bravo!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Laura Mary. Coming next week then. I have drawers of them. My husband thinks I am bats. (Could he be right? Hmmmm.)

[@ymrabc]

That little journal looks adorable. I have so many book pages to use up and this is the perfect way to do it.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Yvie. I really think of it as a zero-waste art supply and am thinking about doing a series of videos just on that - how to use our left-overs.

[@verachyz9079]

Yes, please, on the tea bags, thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Vera, you got it, later next week. 🎨😺😁

[@nicolaj3294]

Hi great little journal, went back and watched the gesso video too, had no idea you could make your own gesso, very handy. Yes to teabags!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Nicola. Once you have that gesso on hand you use it more than you might think. And I love these tiny journals, just throw one in my bag and I am always covered.

[@rgporter1957]

Teabags! Teabags! Teabags, please!💗 I always want to know more ways to use my teabags!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Robyn, I heard that! I use mine a LOT and believe it or not there is a "right" way to dry a tea bag. I'll get working on it this weekend. 🎨😺😁

[@jodimartin4250]

Yes do use some tea bags. I’d love to see that. Thank for another informative video. 💐💐💐

[@denisestone9119]

Really, enjoying your channel. Love this little project.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Denise!🌻🌼🌷

[@sandybe11]

Thanks for this fun way to use up book pages. I didn’t know clear gesso could be used for primer, I have used it like a varnish. Thanks so much Kelly, I learn so much from you!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, dear Sandy. This makes me happy to hear.

[@michellelmaher57]

I'm giving you encouragement on doing a video on using tea bags.. I'm totally with it!!😉 please!!

[@CandyB843]

Love your channel! Thank you for sharing and for all the inspiration!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Candice. This is really nice to hear! Happy making. 🌷🌼🌻Kelly

[@michaelahodson8844]

Yes please make a video about tea bag covers!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Michaela, done and done. Look for it next week. 🎨😺😁

[@michaelahodson8844]

@@BookandPaperArts thank you Kelly! Looking forward to seeing it! 😊👌👍

[@bettymetz3746]

Enjoyed watching your video and now need to back up and see how your DIY clear gesso is made!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Yes, ma'am. It is a short video and once that stuff is made, you find you use it more than you would have thought. Kelly

[@AliceDel]

i, too, say yes to the tea bags. :)

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Alice, done and done and look for it later next week! Kelly

[@lorhen82]

I would also like to see a teabag video please. 🤩

[@BookandPaperArts]

Okay, Lori, you got it! Look for it next week. I have drawers of those things and use them all the time!

[@NDW1955]

Encouragement: Tea bag ideas, please and thank you!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi, Neva. It is coming at you later this week so stay tuned! Kelly

[@NDW1955]

@@BookandPaperArts Woohoo! I’ll be right here with my nose pressed against the screen, waiting. 🤣

[@volvacations2186]

I look forward to Fridays and Kelly's videos. I love her motto "Use what you have" however I had to change it to "Use what you can find". I am messy like her and appreciate that she "owns" that. Keep those videos coming please.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you! Yes, I know what you mean about what you can find but that also makes us creatively resourceful, no? Keep making. Kelly

[@ShatteredRippleBooks]

Lovely idea

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so much!🌻🌼🌷

[@jeanelliott7491]

Yes please for a tea bag video! I've been saving them for a long time but don't know how to use them!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Coming at you later in the week, Jean. Don't get rid of those tea bags!

[@sirbimsaranadirangaalmedaa403]

Hello Madame Kelly! Thank you for sending me this superior video i always admire your ability.

[@melissaduncan9988]

Great fun!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Melissa. The sky is the limit with possibilities for this. 🎨😺😁

[@llcleary]

Please share how to use a teabag as a cover. Also one of your books has teabags as pages. How do use them-simply as a substrate for collage or do yo write or paint on them? Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Lisa, coming up so stay tuned! I use them in a dozen ways. Painting on them isn't one but if you look online you will find some gorgeous painting using acrylics, making the tea bag a tiny canvas. Kelly

[@La1Senora]

A couple of tips I hope someone finds helpful: 1) Amazon sells a good beginner kit for book binding. I bought mine for $20. It has all the basics. 2) I have seen several book binding people NOT measure or cut their binding thread. They thread the needle, pull it through the spine, and cut it after the final knotting. I've only seen it used for 3 & 5 hole pamphlet stitching. It's the method I use now. I haven't seen it used for any other kind of binding stitching. Just thought I'd share in case it works for someone.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Debra. Thanks for the idea of not measuring thread and getting a beginner's kit is a great idea, too. But, I would suggest getting one from Etsy where there are many offered by independent artists. Amazon is not a good company and this way you can support artists. Off to get my tea bags situated! Kelly

[@NoYBW]

Thank you for this series of videos, truly! I've been trying to figure out whether I really wanted to gesso all my pages, since I didn't want to turn my pages white. I'm going to give you recipe a shot. Sending encouragement your way for making a video on how to use tea bags as an art supply. I can't seem to stop collecting them 😅

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there. Yes, I have tons of tea bags. I even used to make paper maché bowls from them! More soon. Kelly

[@lwhitaker4054]

Great video, I can see doing this, instead of a single greeting card ...looks small enough to mail.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Yes, they make terrific gifts! Super affordable for everyone and handmade, so much more precious than something from the shops.

[@jacqueevelyn6411]

I'll be back after watching part one hahaha

[@BookandPaperArts]

That'll work! 🎨😺😁

[@La1Senora]

Encouragement: I'm interested in a video of tea bag ideas. I hope you don't find it too forward for me to make a request: I drink Southern style sweet tea. I buy tea bags that makes a gallon. They come in a lovely size: 4&1/2 inches by 5 inches. To my surprise, individual sized bags are what most junk journalers use even when making a gallon of tea for paper dying. While I know I can use those ideas on the bigger ones, I'd enjoy seeing ideas using the bigger ones. Love your work!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Ha. Funny you should ask that. We don't have that size here BUT I drink loose tea so I buy my own bags to fill and they come in different sizes and I was concerned about using those in the video as I am assuming a lot of people don't have these and so I was going to focus on the single tea bag but these is a sign! Stay tuned, Debra. 🫖🫖🫖

[@La1Senora]

@@BookandPaperArts thanks for making me glad I made the request. I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations 🌼🌺🌼

[@matthewsbelinda]

are you coating every page with gesso? I love all your ideas

[@turkeyduck6]

Encouraging ;)

[@BookandPaperArts]

Great, Adrienne. That is just what I like to hear. 🌻🌼🌷

[@jeanninecochran9780]

Hi Kelly, cute books! Thank You.. Would matte gel medium work as well to prime the pages? I would enjoy seeing tea bags in use in a journal.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hey, Jeannine, tea bag tutorial on the way by wide approval and requests! The thing about working on gel medium, in my experience is that it does make the paper more robust but it can also repel water-based media. Let me know if you try and keep me posted! Kelly

[@k.g1686]

What's the shelf life of the DIY Gesso?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hiya. Pretty much lasts as long as you want, freshness-wise, but when I leave mine for a few days the cornstarch settles and I find it hard to integrate it back into the glue/water base so I tend to make really small batches as needed then make a new batch for the next time. Does this make sense?