What Works in a Collage Layout - and Doesn't - and Why: Altered Book Layout

Today I am making an altered book layout using collage and vintage papers. Join me as I talk through a variety of possible layouts and possibilities, how and why different elements work - or don't - together.
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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:
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Not sure? Here is more detailed information:
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To see printable scans of vintage paper: holy cards, cabinet photos, and botanical flowers, they are here:
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See my online course showing how to make a variety of no-sew book bindings:
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Want more details first? Find out more here:
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And 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:
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[@susanjane4784]

Over the years I've heard about the flow of collage energy and having the characters talk to each other, but never something about sight lines which is so cool. Here you've provided a great example on how eyes do connect collage elements without words! Thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you, SusanJane. That is truly nice to hear. I discovered teaching this technique by accident as I assumed people would find it boring but one day I added some thinking out loud to a video and the response was amazing. Now I often spend time talking about why and why not. Kelly

[@donnaattwell9325]

You are never boring, I have learned so much.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you, Donna. I wasn't fishing 🐟so much as surprised that it was so well accepted! Since then I have done about ten and always get good feedback. I hope you have a creative weekend!

[@traceyhall5687]

You fire my imagination and desire to create! Thank you Kelly ❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Please for give my late response, Tracey. I love your message and it truly makes me happy. This what I do it for! Kelly

[@flyspotter4404]

So, so lovely! I loved winged creatures, as well! Thanks!!

[@robertakeirn1870]

I never realized that learning about collage would help me design journal pages. I am not an artist or a creative, but your layout method has changed how I “see” my pages and their interactions. Thank you! 🖤

[@lynnetteb4784]

Omg I never knew this!! I’ve made about 20 altered books with collage and I add images intuitively- but I was never told what you so eloquently explained today! Thank you!!! I can’t wait to see where my art goes next.❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Wow, thank you, Lynette. This truly makes me happy. Teaching and cheerleading is a vocation for me and sometimes I feel as though I am throwing out digital messages in virtual bottles and it means a lot when someone lets me know that "found and opened" one of those messages. Here's hoping you have a creative week! Kelly

[@cynthiahillstrom7321]

Your videos are all so enlightening. I have tried to use your reasoning when I made my own. I really like the results!! Telling a story is monumental!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Cynthia, thank you. I accidentally fell into doing these videos when I explained one little thing and had a ton of questions asking for follow up so now I try to show how the mystery of a perfect layout comes about. Do you work in collage or collage-adjacent?

[@debbieyanta5753]

So inspiring, to watch you as you choose how and where to place the collage images, I just love your "stories" as you move images around and laugh and decide what images "make the cut" and are used. I have not been able to create for quite awhile, and always feel satisfied, as I watch "you," create a book layout etc. Thank you for your continued inspiring videos!!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so, Debbie. I am sorry you can't create right now but I am truly touched that I help speak to that in the meantime. Just know that it isn't going anywhere and when you can create again you will be raring to go and make. I wasn't able to work like this until I was in my late 50s and I so grateful - it did get here in the (middle) end. Kelly🌷

[@irinadalah9089]

you said madona, added the fish, and laughed! the fish definitely goes with a madona, since it was involved in one of the 2 miracles jesus performed for the masses. i also loved the striped horse-creature with the colored birds and the head-dress woman. it tells of wonderful adventures in the Argentines! because, you see, that head-dress shouts "south americas" to me, and so do the birds. and maybe, there are striped horses there I love this videos of yours: they really do show how everyone is the same and also so different. we all look for the story, the colorful, the aesthetic. however each of us have a different definition and eye for each of these. you also teach us to look for inadvertent lines continuations in all the chase after the story and the complementary. thanks for sharing!

[@robertakeirn1870]

Reviewing some great collage videos (love this one) and your line “I know butterflies can be a little precious” exactly captures how I feel. I like butterflies, but they are so overdone in the craft world!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Ha! The problem is I know I am not going to stop using them. I wonder if there is any way to make sardonic butterfly wings a thing?

[@barrylytle5118]

Love you layouts. Thank you for sharing you creative process. 💙💚💙

[@BookandPaperArts]

Barry, it is my real pleasure. 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@MissDaisyParsley]

Love to hear how you choose images for your pages! I always learn so much from all your videos! This turned out beautiful! I love all the color and the story it tells!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, dear Susan. It is a very satisfying thing to work in. I don't suppose a piece has to tell a story, it's just that I find that before you know it, they do!

[@esmeraldahuber5097]

Kelly, I love listening to how you put your collage pages together. Your stories and final pages are awesome!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Esmeralda. Usually I plan a video within an inch of its life but in these I really do just move stuff and around and see what we see. It is good fun.🌷🌼🌻

[@TRoseTheArtist]

I am amazed by this particular video! It may be my favorite so far, but, I am learning so much from all of your videos that I love them all. I like the way you work through this process, the thoughtfulness.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you. About a year and a half ago I carelessly nattered on about why I put something somewhere and wham, tons of comments and questions so I have done detailed ones from time to time ever since. Collage is a funny thing and it has rules that you then bend; I try to talk about both. 😎

[@diane2941]

Thanks. Love your collage!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Diane. I do love some birds on pages. Anything with wings. 🌷🌼🌼🌻

[@MissSandraK]

I love your thought process!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Sandra! 🌷🌻

[@lynnboyd33]

Kelly, those colored birds are so vivid and amazing! I hear you, about how long it can take to find the right focal points for our pages. Then cut them out, and it's not what you imagined, so more hunting and more cutting, and on and on it can go. But well worth the end result! Thanks for this beautiful share and stories behind them!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Lynn. As tedious as it can be, I do love it when it starts to come together and all of the sudden something that wasn't there, didn't exist, now does. It is exciting and very, very satisfying. 🌷🌼🌻

[@reginaeid1568]

I love watching your process and the results were amazing!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Regina.

[@rgporter1957]

This really turned out great! I had no idea how you were going to go!❤️🥰

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Robyn, nor did I. Could have sworn it would have involved cute koalas but there is always the next layout. Sometimes - a lot of the times - pieces just speak to you and let you know where they mean to go. It is very exciting, like a puzzle that turns out right. 😺😺

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

I LOVE that lady!! The charcoal outline is perfect!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Nola. It is messy but very satisfying. 😺

[@valorimendrala1912]

Great tips!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Valori. Hope you make some fun pages! Kelly

[@laracraft82]

Love your book and your collarge pages are so so imagative 😀💟

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Lara. Hey, we hav🌻🌻e sun! Let's go out and get in it.

[@laracraft82]

@@BookandPaperArts yes been a beautiful day today ☺ 😊

[@roksannastephens4375]

Beautiful rendition ty

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Roksanna. 🌷🌼🌻

[@roksannastephens4375]

@@BookandPaperArts surely!!!

[@keystojournaling9290]

Love the inspiration!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so! 🌷🌷🌼🌼🌻🌻

[@sirbimsaranadirangaalmedaa403]

This is an admirable creativity from my point of view this is one of the most practical way to spend ( manage) the free time Thank you for sending me this video. Je te remerci!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Avec mon plaisir, M. Alemda. Collage is good. It is not expensive and is fun. Do you make something, with collage or with painting?

[@cuddlesanddaisy]

You're looking for a "feel" and that's how I work as well. Whether decorating a room, putting together an outfit, making art. 💗

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there. Thanks for checking in! Yeah, I agree about style. What feels comfortable but also gives personal theatre. (Okay, as I get older I lean more toward comfort but...) 😎

[@NoYBW]

I think the birds are thinking ooh dinner, I've got to get there first! Love your process videos. I'm learning so much from you

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you. It makes me happy to hear that. And dinner, that's always a good guess. Goodness knows it motivates me.😺😺

[@SusanThomas-jq7iq]

Love it!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Susan. This is truly nice to hear. 🌼🌼🌷🌷🌻Kelly

[@bagobeans]

On your most recent video, I would have liked to have seen you put the bird with the long tail on the lady's hat. It would have given more reason for the people and the crow to look at her. Just a thought. Enjoy your videos.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Marie. I do like to compare ideas and that long tail would have been noteworthy! I did try the small butterfly on the hat and as a brooch, as well. So many possibilities. 🌻🌻😺🌼

[@kjstarry7784]

Very informative thank you

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my very real pleasure, KJ. 🌷🌼🌻

[@jeanninecochran9780]

Great eplainer video Kelly! I think the fish is fun too. I learned stuff. 🙂 The animal image that you've had for yonkers; I think it's of a fennec.

[@BookandPaperArts]

OOOh, fennec. Off to look that up. Some of the very old animal images (I have some from 1811) are from a time when almost no one knew what wild animals looked like and they can be adorably off. I got the fish in a field guide for fishermen in a Tennessee thrift store for $1.50, so I do like to tell people you don't have to have the old paper for fun collage. Thanks for touching base, Jeannine. 🐠🐠

[@jodimartin4250]

I totally get what you’re saying about how long it takes to find the right images. The charcoal smudging really makes everything pop. Love it. Question… when you spray fixative is it shiny or sticky when dry? Happy creating.💐💐💐

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Jodi. The fixative comes in matte or glossy. I like matte but it is purely a matter of style. However, fyi, I did have some (high quality!) fixative react weirdly to some old paper and almost ruined a layout so now I am careful to test it before jumping in with both feet. Hope this helps!

[@wendyb4741]

Hi KZbin.

[@dottimatyi4719]

This might be a dumb question but why don't you just make a copy of items in an old book rather than cutting the actual page? it just seems almost sinful to destroy a book that old.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Dear Dotti, this is a good question. The sad fact is that more and more books are taken off of library and bookstore shelves to be pulped. I found that this happened with some 19th century picture books I donated and was just sick. If a book is rare then you are quite right, it is better to conserve it. But if, as is usually the case for me, a book is missing a cover, or has mildew or some other damage, then it would not be up for conservation but for destruction. This way I take the text and images and transform them into art and projects that will be cherished and cared for and so give the pages another life. I hope this makes sense! 🌼🌻🌷Kelly

[@nanwilder2853]

Your heavy black outline did not “make the page pop”, it killed it! In fact, I’ve seen several videos where you’ve done the exact same thing : Kill the esthetics of your collage via heavy, black outline-at which point I can no longer watch! I’m really surprised that you can’t see what you’re doing with the heavy-handed, UGLY black outlines, given how much you analyze what you’re doing, but, to each her own….