Since I finished collaging all the pages in my eclectic-page, coil bound gluebook, I’ve been meaning to start a new book. It takes time to gather a good set of pages. It also takes effort and good organizational skills. If you’re wondering what a gluebook is, I wrote a post about them.
Instagram for inspiration
I haven’t been in the gluebook making mood lately so I’ve decided it was fortuitous that I saw some photos on Instagram from an artist who makes these kinds of travel-journal/gluebooks. She is Burke7Vintage. First, some of her photos of her journals (used with her permission):
Pretty neat, hmm? Here’s a photo with some of her collage art on some of the pages. This is the same idea I had for how I would use a book like this.
I decided that I would like to work in a similar book, but one with rings. I’d order the next available large gluebook that she made that was bound with rings rather than wire-bound. I don’t have anything against wire-bound, it’s only that I just finished a wire-bound and wanted to try something different.
I wasn’t disappointed in journal I received from Burke7Vintage — 300 pages of vintage papers. Three hundred eclectic pages!! I could do a collage a day and it would practically last me a whole year! Isn’t that crazy cool?!!
I got started pretty much right away. After all, how could I resist the call of those pages?
The book is close to 5″ x 7″, which is a good working size– it’s not too large to commit to a single page at a time as a short project, and it’s not too small to lose visual impact.
I’m keeping these collages pretty simple. I want to be able to create something and complete it without making it too complicated. Also, I want the background of the page to show through. This page is simple graph paper, but most of the pages are quite image heavy.
I realize that as I create collages, these pages will fatten up. I may, at some point, have to remove some empty pages if the book gets too thick. Possibly, it could be that one book will eventually turn into two. That’s one of the benefits of having a ring-bound binding.
Here’s a video with a flip through of the other pages and a little bit more of my process for creating the collages on these first pages.
The Dilemma of using vintage materials or copies
Thanks for sharing your process! Cool book 🙂
You’re welcome, Laura. And thanks for stopping by 🙂
Would you be kind enough to let me know where you purchased the eclectic page journal … when you figure it out?
Hi Susan, here’s the link: https://www.instagram.com/burke7vintage/
Would love to know where you purchased your book.
I need to go back and edit my writing because a couple of people didn’t see the link at the beginning of the article to the person who makes the notebooks. Sorry about that! https://www.instagram.com/burke7vintage/
I love this idea and can’t wait to try it! You said the book is made up with vintage papers, graph paper etc but do you reinforce the edge where the binding is? Do they rip if they are fragile?
I get so inspired when reading your blog – thank you so much
Awesome, Alison. I hope you make one. Do I reinforce the punch area? Yes, I do for the lighter papers. If you want, use papers such as old manila folders or even cardboard if you are concerned about fragile paper. You can always glue light papers onto the heavy stuff. Another idea would be to glue two pages together. Experiment with a couple of options and see what you like better.
I love this concept, I make altered books all the time and this is such a wonderful fresh new idea. Especially when you have tons of scraps that you can’t part with. I can t wait to get started.
Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful article one a medium I’ve wanted to get into. Good to know it doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Thanks for sharing your examples.
Thanks, Jeanie. I hope it inspires you to make your own. They’re lots of fun 🙂
Where did you purchase the large 5″ rings?
I probably got them on Ebay. I buy lots of art supplies from there 🙂
I wish it would not be published in comments section, but I’d really love to ask a question that is on my mind so often. What is the purpose of these types of books? I understand scrapbooking, and sketching and water coloring and nature journals…but this is basically like using found things to stick onto pages. For what purpose is this done? I see it is very popular and my goal is t to belittle, but rather to understand. Thank you for understanding my question and giving me a very honest answer. I find if I don’t understand things then I am very impatient w them. And sometimes, after understanding, I find them of great use and value. I do believe these books are wonderful in themselves. But it is what people put on top of the “decorated” pages they confuses me to no end. Just a ways to use scraps? A way to do art using found things, like an art book? Thank you for helping me to understand something that baffles me!!! ❤️
Hi Jessi,
I wrote my thought about this subject in a post here: https://www.margaretemiller.com/purpose-for-creating/ I hope you’ll let me know what you think!