Mixed Media Art Supplies | Reusing Old Cookbooks

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

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[@KathyBrooksArt]

This was so interesting, will definitely look for a good cook book at the thrift store. I love the fact that there was no music as I often find it distracting myself. Super fun to see this, thanks!

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

Yes! Re; background music! I agree with you on that score (pardon the pun lol) I prefer tutorials without music for two reasons (a) I have a hearing disability & (b) I find it too distracting.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Music is always a tricky thing - as a brand new channel I'm still experimenting with what works and what doesn't on the videos, so we'll see what sticks. However, when I do the LIVE Q&A videos, I will not use music ever. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to let me know what works for you. 😀

[@KathyBrooksArt]

@@sandrafisherhayes3219 Same here, 70% deaf in my left ear, I find it distracting (if not annoying) unless it's very soft and piano, no drums. I like the sound of art being made too. I'm with ya.

[@KathyBrooksArt]

@@PaintedPaperStudio But, ya know, I'm half way through one of your other videos on YT and the music is very soft and mellow (no drum beats) which I found to be very pleasant. I have a hearing loss 70% in one ear, but could hear you well, and music was so soft. Videos with drum beats, I have to mute and watch CC, but yours was very nice. And, great content. I'm subscribed now!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

@@KathyBrooksArt Thank you lovely, but I think I am going to let the music go for future videos. I truly hope that everyone who wants to watch, has the best experience possible. The background music can create friction, and it doesn't really add anything of substance. However, when/if I do flip through videos, I may have music and little or no voiceover. We'll see.

[@ChapmanGriffith]

First of all, fantastic demonstration. I’m hoping to see a flip through of your journal.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Be on the lookout - there could be a journal flip-through in the near future 😀

[@ibelf2465]

I love when I find cookbooks in the thrift stores! I love their shape & durability! Glossy pages I collage over & throw some gesso here & there. Adds texture & gets rid of that blank space! Love your version!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I agree, Elizabeth - they are the perfect "canvas" for playing, and I'm so happy that you paint in them too. 🥰

[@DreamyBohemian]

Shazam! How many books do I have with these glossy pages that I have no idea what to do with but can’t part with?! (Runs like Forest Gump to get them and paint!)

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

😂 😂 😂 This made me belly laugh! Thanks for watching Dreamy 🥰

[@beckerj.gutsch1243]

Brilliant idea for the use of old cookbooks. Who knew the strength of the page? Not me!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

So strong - just begging to be used for this purpose 😍

[@gr8fng]

You're such an inspiration thank you for sharing your passion, play, & process so generously 💝

[@cindycreateforlife]

Well, that page of the cookbook is awesome, I can just imagine how it feels! Soft and leathery! Pretty challenging to work in the heat and humidity, let alone a fever! Sometimes it feels like the more we want a pull to turn out, that’s when it sticks to the plate! You got most of it though, thanks for sharing your cookbook!💕🇨🇦

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

It does feel really good, and Cindy, you just gave me a genius idea! I think I'm going to put a thin coat of wax medium over the top so it has the leathery feel (YUM)...AND...so it's protected from the facing page when the book it closed. 😍

[@valerieharrison7745]

Thanks for giving me some ideas for tomorrow 😊

[@catherineminor5323]

So awesome! I love this! Thanks for sharing your work!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Catherine 🥰

[@cindyfromsydney7693]

I normally don’t cringe when people use books as a substrate but I own that cookbook and it cost me a fortune 😂😂😂❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

😂 I was waiting to be called on that one 😂 My husband and I had a crazy honeymoon, and it ended at The French Laundry. Our friends are lovely and sentimental, so that year we were gifted 3 copies of this cookbook 😍. I donated one to the library, I use this one as a sketchbook, and the other lives (safely) with all the cookbooks in the house. What's your favorite recipe in the book?

[@rnr2304]

I have lots and lots of old DIET cookbooks that need upcycled with a literal attitude change!! Instead of scarcity lets go for COLOR!!

[@josinawashington6744]

OMG that seems like a crime to use that book. No offense. As a Chef it's almost like a Bible❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I know what you mean, but I feel like he might get a kick out of it 😂 @@josinawashington6744

[@turtlesilk]

I know! I recoiled!

[@Kimhaas007]

I’ve scene so many collage videos, but the way you used the pearl white paste To see where you were at, was brilliant! And I believe in you very much I hope you have a lot of videos for me to binge on!!! ???

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I love to test techniques as I go - it's all part of the fun for me. Thank you for your kind words, and for taking the time to comment, Kim 💜

[@sydneykasmar]

Love the cookbook idea and intrigued by the jelly plate. I've never heard of a jelly plate before and like the idea a print can be pulled off of it. I look forward to your video on this topic. Thanks!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Sydney - thanks for watching! The first time I used a gelli plate, it changed me creatively (this is not hyperbole). I adore using it in my paper painting, and look forward to showing you how I use it 😀

[@Kimhaas007]

Hello Sidney!! Gelli plates are a must have for collages!!! You are going to have so much fun exploring all they can do, it’s amazing!!!

[@SandraPype-nb3ns]

Such a great idea with the cookbook and wood grain thingy!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

It's fun to use the wood grain tool - especially when you go over and over on the pattern. It's almost meditative. Thanks for taking the time to comment Sandra! 💜

[@beccogiallo]

That was interesting. I'm going to have to take a look at my old cookbooks, particularly the ones I've set aside to give away! I know nothing about jellyplates, so I skip a lot of videos that use them, but maybe your upcoming video will explain some things to me, like why the colors you set down before the white didn't dry up!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I will happily accept blame if you fall in love with painting in your old cookbooks 🥰 A (not so) little secret about gelli printing is that the prints get better as the under layers dry on the plate. It's part of what makes the process so mysterious and fun.

[@LollyLiving]

Loved this. Beautiful patina on the cookbook page. Thanks.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Lolly, I'm so happy you liked it! 🥰

[@debbiereed8341]

Love the idea of using a cookbook. Really enjoyed watching the process, and the way they turned out.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Debbie - there is something really freeing about painting in a cookbook. I'm so happy you're here. 🥰

[@renig5059]

Great use of a cookbook much rather play around than cook 🤪🎉

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Amen, Reni - I just don't love cooking anymore. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@ellenvd5543]

What a beautiful result! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Ellen, and thanks for watching! 😀

[@hapijen4828]

Loved the 'Zen' silences. 🙏🏽

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Jen - going forward there will be very few videos with music in the background. 🥰

[@stephanielawson_messyartist]

I did a regular book that i made into a sketchbook that i wanted to finish in a year and it was so fun and surprisingly the paper was really good. I got a chocolate cookbook to do mainly abstract paintings on that im working on right now. I really enjoyed the video.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

OMGosh Stephanie - using a chocolate cookbook is genius! All those delicious shades of brown as a background?! I have a little envy right now 😜

[@stephanielawson_messyartist]

@@PaintedPaperStudio the pages are very delicious looking. The first page was already pretty and the thicker pages sold me🤣

[@cathydale104]

What a great tip, to keep your hello plate at the side. Thank you. Will definitely give this a go.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Have a fantastic time with it, Cathy!

[@fatoomgierdien110]

Your interesting process is Amazing and Effective👌‼️♥️ Thank You. Toom@CapeTown

[@lovetojournal]

Wow never thought to do this with an old cookbook. I have one it weighs a lot but and it was $$. But it’s just sitting around. Now it will become a cool journal. ❤❤❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I'm so happy - and your cookbook will love you for giving it new purpose 😍

[@portlandopenstudios7735]

Funny coincidence. I had two cookbooks in. Box to give away and yesterday, I walked by the box and thought Wait! Cookbook Journal! So now it’s in my studio waiting . . .

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

That is a funny coincidence...or is the Universe telling you to paint in your cookbooks? 😂 I love painting in mine 🥰

[@juliegriffiths4272]

I really enjoyed watching this, thank you.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Julie - I really appreciate the time you took to watch 💜

[@pineconemediadesign]

Great ideas! Love the cookbook idea. The page is gorgeous- be nice to see a closeup. Thanks!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Lindy! I wish I had done a close up too. I think that was my 3rd or 4th video and I had no idea what I was doing. 😂

[@katanyajason3316]

You say you left the paper too long on the plate, but actually, if you had left it even longer it wouldn't have torn. When there's a lot of paint on the gel plate, the paper absorbs it and it tears when it's still partially wet. I sometimes leave my prints overnight when I have many layers of paint and when I want to be sure to get everything off (though, I think, in this case just another 1/2 hour would have been enough). That's why it's handy to have several plates :)

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Awesome tip - thanks, Katanya! 🥰

[@katanyajason3316]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Pleasure! I love your channel

[@majesea]

How would you prepare pages in the book for sketching ? To use as a drawing/painting sketchbook?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Maria, great question! Sometimes I use gesso to prep the pages, other times I use a thin coat of matte medium - it depends on how shiny a page is. An easy way to test what to use is to spray a little wanter onto the page. If it beads up and sits there, I will use a gesso. If it absorbs quickly, I might use the matte medium or gesso depending on what I want to so over it. PS - sometimes I don't prep the pages at all, just to see what happens.

[@claudinediamond2555]

Thanks for this. I was wondering the same thing.

[@fatoomgierdien110]

Wow wow...a fantastic idea👌💐♥️‼️Thank You so Much🎁Toom@CapeTown

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

It's really fun Fatoom, I hope you try it! 😀

[@pamelajohansen882]

Well documented and inspiring. Thank you

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Pamela! 😀

[@weaver7249]

I’m grabbing a cookbook and I AM LEARNING!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank great - I think you'll fall in love with the feel of painting on the glossy pages 🥰

[@veronicastewart1112]

I bought an old cookbook at a thrift store, to resell on Ebay. When I researched it, I found that multiple copies were already listed, and therefore the price wasn't worth listing the book. I think I'll use it in this way, as it was beginning to be a bit grungy anyway. FUN!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Well, that's a happy coincidence, isn't it?! Have fun filling out those pages, Veronica. 🥰

[@bleugaze]

grungy deliciousness indeed

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Sometimes I get a little carried away with my words,, but not this time 🤣

[@tracygillard7388]

I love the wood grain tool. I. Use get one of those.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

They really are so fun to use!

[@elsy_love]

I got a flow book, works fine as well

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I love that these books are little creative hiding spots 😀

[@skullingtonfly]

Great video 👍🏼

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you! 😀

[@viviandibrell849]

Do you prep the pages with gesso? Thanks for including us in your creative process. I was in the thrift store yesterday looking for books and sheet music. I didn’t find any sheet music, but I picked up a copy of Lolita. I thought it would be fun to try some of those pages onto the gel plate and or using them in collage, I love this idea of using old cookbooks also. I wish I had kept some of mine. Now I just have to find some old sheet music, not an easy task.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Vivian! The only place I find sheet music these days is at estate sales. Some pages I prep with gesso, and others I do not. I generally make the decision based on what I want to see in the background. If I want to see text elements then I do not gesso. 🥰

[@jameshuntley9674]

Great ideas! Great process❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I love to create in unusual places - it gives me an "extra" layer of freedom to explore. I'm so happy you enjoyed the video. 🥰

[@janybunschoten2025]

I love this

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Jany! 🥰

[@RozWilloughby]

Fantastic 😍

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you Roz - I'm glad you stopped by 😀

[@lindaclements6639]

How do you “seal” the pages so they don’t stick or cling to each other? I love this idea! Just brilliant,

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Linda! I'm so glad you asked - I usually use Dorland's wax, just a thin coat, and it prevents sticking. However, if you don't have the wax, you can always use a little bit of cornstarch lightly dusted over the surface, Thnk you for watching 🥰

[@arttulip100561]

I just went through a torrential rain to get a used cookbook, that’s how much I loved your video. Thanks!❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

LOVE it Lori - I hope you have many years of fun with your cookbook art journal 💜

[@emmajackson5233]

@@arttulip100561 That is commitment 😂

[@melissaeller7029]

Fantastic idea ❤❤❤

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Melissa 🥰

[@marymogckmishmashmary]

Thanks for sharing❣️

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you MishMash - I love that nickname!

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

I love this! ❤ we have so many cookbooks it's ridiculous considering there are only two of us sharing a house lol 🎨😄 so I might ask my friend if he can spare one or two. Although I am upcycling old personal journals at the moment so have about 20 years worth to work through haha

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Painting in old journals is so therapeutic for me - enjoy your upcycling (the cookbooks can wait). 😀

[@sandrafisherhayes3219]

@@PaintedPaperStudio yes it is, isn't it Jackie ❤🌹you too! Happy upcycling 🙄

[@teresapeterson3953]

What kind of plate do you have your Gelli plate on? Is it glass or acrylic? I love the idea of using like a palette, then pulling a print from it at the end!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Teresa! The gel plate is on a sheet of plexiglass - it helps give me leverage when I pull a print. 🥰

[@teresapeterson3953]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Thank you!

[@hollym2202]

Just found a used French Laundry cookbook on eBay for not a lot of $. Going to use it as a sketchbook. Do you always gesso each page first as a general rule? Want to get started…ps. I enjoyed reading it first but I never cook like that so have no qualms about covering the content up!!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

What a find! Sometimes I gesso first, other times I do not. I haven't had any issues with the pages that weren't gessoed. 🥰

[@Ryan__7926]

Hi, Jackie. I’m really enjoying your videos. I’ve been looking for an acrylic sheet for under my gel plate. It looks like you’re using a 12 x 12 one. Can you tell me the thickness? I’m guessing it’s either 1/4” or 1/8”. Since I can’t find them in person, I can’t handle them to see what I need, but yours looks like what I’m looking for. Thanks! P.S. i’ll be sure to use one of your Amazon affiliate links when I finally get around to ordering one!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Great eye, Ryan! Yes, that plexiglass sheet is 1/8" thick. I think it's the perfect thickness for a gel plate - even the giant ones. Here is a link to the exact one I use: amzn.to/3wL7LTw. Thank you so much for being here. 🥰

[@Ryan__7926]

Thanks so much!!! 👏 👏 👏 .

[@rorygaudio4688]

The wood graining tool 🤯🤯 2:27

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

My sentiments exactly! 😀

[@ILoveMaltese]

How do you prepare the pages for use? Do you gesso them first? Thank you

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Sheila! In this case I did not gesso first, and I usually don't gesso these pages unless I happen to have the gesso out. I've never had a problem with adhesion. Thanks for watching and asking a great question. 🥰

[@ylezAma-artes1919]

Jackie, I just find about you and l like your channel, now l do have a question and a request. What are the ways you use to cover the pages???? Can you please share them, because l am sure you must aproch the pages and a different way. Thank you and keep sharing what you do.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hello y Lezama-Artes! Thank you so much for watching.I'm not exactly sure what you mean by what I use to cover the pages, so I'll try to answer in two ways. If you are asking if I put anything on the pages before I start painting, the answer is sometimes. When I do it's gesso, and then I go over it with paint, or whatever material I'm using that day. I did not put anything down on the page before the paint, in this video. If you are asking what I put on the top of the paint once I'm done, so the pages won't stick together, I use a very thin coat of cold wax medium. If I did not answer your question, please let me know and I'll try again. Have a very Happy New Year! 🥰

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Apologies for the deep "zen" silences - for some reason the music background did not export. I'm going to blame it on my cold 🥰

[@Kimhaas007]

Music was fine, you had so many important points I really don’t think anyone noticed!!!really sweetz!

[@serenityjewel]

I'm glad the music didn't export. A lot of times, the music is distracting and when I want to speed up the video, the music is a mess.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

@@serenityjewel - that is a really good point. I'm taking it all in - thank you 😀

[@janerogers5717]

Prefer it without music

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you @@janerogers5717 ! I have stopped using music in the videos, I hope you'll come back 😀

[@candacenystrom8186]

So fascinating 🎉

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Candace! 🥰

[@Carol-ny2pp]

How do you prepare the pages? Is it gesso?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Carol! Yes, it is black gesso from Nova Colors. I also love to use clear gesso on the pages where I really want to see some of the recipes.

[@vava_s_touch]

La cuisine française est la meilleure du monde c'est normal que ce livre soit parfait ! 😂

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Je suis d'accord avec toi à 100%, Vava! 🥰

[@vava_s_touch]

@@PaintedPaperStudio 😉

[@carylpark7192]

Do you mean cook book 😲 do you mean using an old cook book 🙈 isnt the paper too shiny will the paint not peal off.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Yes 😀 I mean using an old cookbook. I've never had an issue with the paint peeling off, but if that is a concern, you could always apply a primer or gesso first.

[@AliceGoesNomad]

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