Next to scrapbooking, my favorite past time is thrifting and hunting for vintage finds. I am always on the lookout for items I can use on my projects and I can never pass up vintage books with interesting covers, perfectly aged pages,or wonderful illustrations! I love the juxtaposition of old and new and that carries through to my scrapping projects as well.
Use as Patterned Paper
When layering patterned paper on a layout, look for opportunities where a page (or two!) from a book could be used instead. On this layout I used a page from a Vintage Girl Scouts handbook, I love the texture the book page adds to the layout and it also carries the theme (books/library) through with not only the use of the page but also through the title at the top which is “Adventuring in The Arts”. Keep your eyes open for words/phrases on pages that support the subject of your layout.
Use Book Pages in Your Cameo or Die Cutter
Instead of reaching for patterned paper or cardstock, reach for a book page to use when cutting embellishments. I used pages from a vintage children’s dictionary to create the autumn leaves with my Cameo on this layout. Layer lots of them for added impact! I chose the pages to cut just as I would have selected patterned paper for my project, the ones I used were black and white with a little red to coordinate with the photo I used of my daughter as were treasure hunting one day.
Create a Project Life Spread
All of the paper I used on this Project Life spread came from vintage books. The orange and red 4×6 cards were cut from the title pages of vintage children’s encyclopedias. I loved the little acorn on the page and made sure to incorporate it into my title card for the week. I also loved the “volume” list and used it behind one of my photos. The “This is Our Life” card was created in Word and printed on a vintage book page, I then cut it with my 3×4 punch and stamped it with the date. I have found that heavier weight papers work better when creating Project Life spreads so keep that tip in mind when selecting books to use.
Book Cover as The Base of Your Project
As you start using book pages on your projects, you will find that you start ending up with book covers which are also perfect for projects. By using a book cover as the base of your layout, you can create projects that can be displayed in a decorative stand or by hanging instead of simply placing them in an album, it is a perfect way to display a favorite photo. I chose this cover as it coordinated with the patterned paper I had chosen and the finished project is now displayed in my scrap room. If you wanted to hang your project you could simply punch 2 holes in the top and hang with ribbon, twine, etc.
Create Embellishments
Book pages can even be used for the smallest of details. I tend to save even the tiniest of scraps and these 3 embellishments can easily be made from those. I punched patterned paper and book pages into circles and ran them through my sewing machine to create the garland. Images were cut and wrapped around small wood picks to create the flags and strips of paper were cut and adhered to small wooden clips.
I hope these ideas have inspired you to try using vintage books in your projects. If you don’t have any books on hand to give these techniques a try they can be easily found at any thrift store and usually for under $1.00. Even if vintage isn’t your style, these projects and embellishments can be created with book pages in just about any style simply through the book you chose to use!
Martha is a crafty stay at home mom who lives in the suburbs of Chicago. She has been scrapping since 2006 and also enjoys sewing, crafting with her 5 year old daughter and is addicted to InstaGram. Martha is part of the Paper Issues design team and blogs at MugsyBoo .