Making an art journal with a very old, much loved and used cookbook starts with one cookbook that has well-stitched pages and a tub of glue::I use mod podge and glue three pages together, then three more, then another three and leave them open to dry before moving on to the next lot. Before gluing, I’ll tear out pages then go to the corresponding side and tear out the set that’s on that side of the stitchery, thinning the book this way as it tends to get bulky with time and collaging. I like to get all my pages glued before beginning arting in books, but it’s not necessary and I know folks who glue as they go along instead. I work on our dining table, which I keep covered with an old shower curtain.
After the glued pages are dry, I paint two pages at a time with white acrylic gesso, let them dry, then go through about six sets worth to start out. Then I get to the fun parts::moving color around the pages, usually Jasper paints with me and we get some interesting undergrounds done together 🙂
Later I’ll go through them and pull designs out of the swirls, collage, or draw over them.
They sit like this until one day inspiration, energy, and time all come together, then I pull out the paintbook and begin adding in details, turning something of the above over into the below.
Make a paintbook and give it some color, it’s a whole juicy flow to painting your story . . . . cookbook, picture book, board book, composition book, your kids old notebooks; any book is repurposeable once it’s lived it’s original/intended purpose, the one thing to look for is sturdy stitched bindings, then go, glue, paint, give a book new life and flow! When finished give it a cover of your own to show 🙂
The Coddiwomplers Cauldron 
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