How To: Altered Books

Basic Supplies: No cost-libraries already have these supplies on hand.

Save books from book sales (look for unique covers, sizes, text, pictures ect.)
white glue
paintbrushes
wax paper (place between wet glue or paint pages to continue working on others)
acrylic paint
hole punches
paper plates
water
clothes pins (to hold/separate pages)
scissors
hair dryers (speeds up the drying process)
hot glue guns

Click the "read more" link below for the entire program layout

Additional Supplies: I asked staff to clean out their junk drawers. I had an amazing variety of items and did not purchase anything. I used the stamps from the children's department.

stamps
ribbon
yarn
greeting cards
tissue paper
beads
stickers
glitter
buttons
magazines
other old children's or craft books that have pictures (to cut & use in the altered books)

Set Up:

1. cover the work space with newspapers
2. place wax paper, scissors, clothes pins, glue, water and paper plates on each table
3. arrange the other supplies on a separate table
4. display the books on a cart or table for easy viewing

Program: I had a local middle school art teacher come talk about altered books and teach the teens a few techniques. However, you can easily conduct the program yourself.

This can be a single or an ongoing program. I held mine over 2 weeks. The first day they chose a book, tore some pages, learned a few techniques and started on the inside with tissue paper and glue. Day two they painted and decorated the covers. There was some time for a little more work inside and then they each took a few supplies to continue work at home.

1. Have the teens choose a book-they should find one that has a shape, design or color they like.
2. Demonstrate how to tear out 5-10 pages at various points throughout the book so that it is not too thick when they add new items. It does not have to be torn perfectly, jagged pages create a neat effect.
3. Show a few techniques: creating pockets, using tissue paper to highlight text, windows ect.
4. Let the students get started tearing pages and doing some basic gluing and pocket creation. (watered glue with paintbrushes works best)
5. Paint, stamp and add items to decorate the covers.
6. If possible allow the teens to take a few items to continue work at home.

Explain that you are not hurting the book but giving it a new purpose. Sometimes books must be discarded and turning them into an altered work of art it another way to value books.