Start an Altered Book Journal

altered journals junk journal mixed media

Have you heard the term "junk journal"? Probably you have.

But what about "altered book journals"? If you're new to that term, you're in for a treat! An altered book is a type of journal that starts with a hardbound book — old or new — and gets transformed into a creative playground for your ideas. It’s different from a junk journal, which is usually made from a variety of loose materials. With altered books, you're taking something old and giving it a new life. I absolutely love old books, and when I come across ones that have seen better days, I love the idea of upcycling them into something beautiful and unique. Plus, there’s something special about working with a book that already has a story, don’t you think?

Why Altered Books?
You can fill your altered book journal with anything that sparks your creativity. Want to write? Draw? Paint? Create collages or save special memories? An altered book is the perfect spot for it. I love saving things — quotes, cool scraps from craft projects, ticket stubs — things that don’t have a real home but feel too special to throw away. Instead of letting those things pile up in a drawer, an altered book gives them a place to live and come to life.

And the best part? You make the rules. You decide how to fill the pages. There’s no "right" or "wrong" way to do it. You’re the artist, and it’s all about what you want to create.

Getting Started with Your Altered Book
So, you’re ready to dive in. The first thing you need is a hardbound book. You might already have one lying around (I know I do!), or you might want to hit up a local thrift store. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your book:

  • Hardbound: The book needs to be a hardcover. Softcover books just won’t work for this project.
  • Condition: It can be old or new, but check the binding. You don’t want your journal falling apart before you’ve even started. The spine should be intact and sturdy.
  • Size Matters: Aim for a book that’s over 1 inch thick. Trust me on this one — you’ll want plenty of pages to fill with your creativity!

Once you’ve got your book, think about the cover. Some people leave the cover as-is if they love the design. If it’s a little worn, that can add character. But if you want to create a custom cover, go for it! Just make sure whatever you use is sturdy enough to hold up.

Gather Your Supplies
The next step is finding things to fill your journal. You probably already have lots of fun supplies lying around. Things like:

  • Paints, watercolors, and colored pencils
  • Scraps of old craft projects (I'm obsessed with leftover IOD transfers!)
  • Stamps (IOD’s Apothecary Labels stamp is a favorite of mine — it comes with the entire alphabet in different fonts and tons of cool labels)

Anothesr reason I love using Iron Orchid Designs (IOD) products is that their ink is a permanent ink, which means no smudging. Plus, you can use them on fabrics, which is super fun if you want to add texture to your pages.

You don’t have to go out and buy fancy supplies either! Thrift stores are full of hidden treasures — patterned paper scissors, old wrapping paper, paper punches, stickers, tissue paper… you name it. If something catches your eye, grab it. You never know when it’ll come in handy for your altered book!

Let’s Create Together!
Are you excited yet? I know I am! Grab your book, pull together your supplies, and let’s get started. I’ll be hosting regular altered book journaling sessions on my Facebook page, and I’d love for you to join me. It’ll be a space to create, share ideas, and just play. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a creative outlet where the only rule is to have fun?


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