Tutorial: How to turn junk mail catalogs into sketchbooks
TUTORIAL
Have a bunch of junk mail catalogs showing up in your post? Feel bad about throwing them in the bin? Don’t toss that junk mail just yet—turn it into a sketchbook instead!
It’s a fun, low-pressure way to create a handmade art journal using materials you already have.
Here’s how to do it…
PREP THE BOOK
I use small clothing catalogs that show up in the post about once a month. But you need to prep the book a bit before getting started.
Start by gluing every other page together to make the paper sturdier. This reduces the number of pages and gives you a more substantial surface to work on. I use glue sticks, but any glue can work.
Once the glue is dry, brush a layer of gesso over each page. This helps cover any existing text or images and creates a fresh canvas for your artwork. You won’t cover the page entirely, but seeing glimpses of the original catalog is part of the fun.
GET CREATIVE
Now it’s time to play! Use whatever media you like—paint, collage, drawing, or mixed media. Don’t worry about making “good” art—this is your place to experiment.
When your pages are finshed, you might want to trim the edges of the catalog to clean up any uneven areas. A paper trimmer or craft knife works great for this step.
FILL YOUR SKETCHBOOK
That’s it—you’ve got a one-of-a-kind sketchbook made from junk mail that you can fill up in no time! Keep it nearby for daily creative play, a fun mixed-media collage, or quick sketches.
Want to see the process in action? Click to watch the full video tutorial on YouTube…
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