For those who enjoy working frequently with book arts, it is no mystery how difficult choosing the right journal or blank book is at times. In some cases, when the right journal or blank book can’t be found a handmade book will work just fine. However, it isn’t uncommon when nothing at all seems right.
In cases such as these, an altered binder is an excellent option to consider. Not only are there limitless opportunities for creative exploration on the cover, but also the paper within the binder holds no bounds. The thickness of the paper, the style of paper, and the number of pages change as frequently as the artist’s mind.
Materials:
- Brown paper bags or newspapers
- Standard binder (at least 2 inches thick)
- Glue gun
- Decoupage medium
- Canvas board (8 inches x 10 inches)
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Sponge brushes
- Small containers of water
- Ephemera
- Scissors
- Distress ink
- Gems and other embellishments
Instructions:
- Cover the entire work surface with brown paper bags that have been cut open or newspapers spread open. Set out all materials for ease of use and convenience.
- Start by creating a mixed-media painting on the canvas board. Use ephemera, embellishments and acrylic paint liberally. Avoid using a theme in order to prevent dictation of how the interior pages will be worked on.
- Allow the painting to dry completely before moving on to the next step. Speed drying time through use of a heat gun or hair dryer.
- Rub distress ink along the edge of the canvas board, and allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Attach the canvas board to the front of the binder’s cover using the hot glue gun.
- Further embellish the cover with more ephemera using the decoupage medium and a sponge brush. Apply the medium right the edge of the back of each piece, as well as to the front when attached to the surface.
- Add some ephemera to the spine, as well to the back of the binder.
Variations:
- Use gel medium rather than decoupage medium to prevent stickiness in humidity.
- Add gems, sequins, and skeleton keys; puzzle pieces, and game pieces to the front of the binder, as well as to the spine.
- Embellish the interior covers using old book pages with deckled edges and distress ink rubbed on their edges.
- Alter a wooden ruler with paint, inks, and collage materials. Add the altered ruler to the spine of the binder using a hot glue gun.
- Cut out large alpha-letters from magazines and old books to create a word, quotation, or statement on the front of the binder.
There are so many options and opportunities to consider when created these altered binders to use as art journals. Consider using old binders that are typically discarded following the school year. Often times, these binders need little not no repair aside from ink and other markings that will be covered up during the alteration process.
Once the binder is completely finished and 100% dry (this may take several days depending on how much is done to the cover) fill the binder with a wide variety of papers. Choose standard drawing paper, writing paper; magazine pages, calendar pages, and whatever else is eye catching during the binder filling process.
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