I wrote about this technique in the May/June 2007 issue of Cloth Paper Scissor Magazine.
Here is a quick recap.
Supplies:
Magazine pages and cut-outs, double-sided tape,
sewing machine, gesso, gel medium and acrylic paint.
Pull out seven pages from a magazine. This makes a sturdy canvas.
Stack them up and use double-sided tape to adhere one page to the other.
Machine stitch the entire stack.
Use gel medium ( I use Golden Regular Gel Matte) to adhere other images.
Cover up any logos or identifiable images.
Let it dry.
Gesso over the paper canvas.
Blot out some of the gesso here and there.
The idea is to blur and muddy up the image and text.
Let it completely dry, then paint it with an acrylic paint.
Here I've painted most in white, one in pink and one in yellow.
Now the canvas is ready for you to paint your original art.
RECYCLE, REUSE, REINVENT
GIVEAWAY:
This package of SIX can be yours.
Leave your name to sign up to win.
The random selector will pick out a winner on Thursday.
Enjoy!
I was just browsing and happened on your page..what a wonderful idea. I make journals and this is a great way to create pages that are different
Posted by: addie fuller | February 09, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Alma,
You always get me fired up when I need it the most. I usually make greeting cards for friends and family. Reading the instructions for your mags really got me thinking and wanting to give it a try. Sometimes someone comes along like you and brings the needed rain. Thanks so much for your BIG ART HEART.
Posted by: Geri | August 01, 2010 at 03:59 AM
Hi
I was doing a post on recycling magazines on my blog and chanced upon your tutorial.I absolutely love the idea and have mentioned it on my blog.Hope you don't mind.I am never sure about the protocol for such things,so I thought I should let you know.
Posted by: sumi | July 17, 2010 at 11:57 AM
As one who can never throw out a magazine, thank you for a way to use some of the pages I don't need!
Posted by: Jeanne McBrayer | June 24, 2010 at 08:31 PM
excellent way to use at-hand items as art supplies...no need to spend any extra money! Thanks Alma!
Posted by: Barbara | June 24, 2010 at 09:59 AM
love it! going to give it a try and hope to win these amazing samples!!
thank you for the tutorial.
Posted by: celeste | June 23, 2010 at 08:35 PM
I love this idea! This summer I am sharing some art ideas with a neice. This will be a great one for making a journal. Thanks!
Diane
Posted by: Diane | June 23, 2010 at 09:44 AM
This is such a great idea and super cute! I just discovered all of the great uses of gel mediums lately
Posted by: Haley | June 22, 2010 at 01:57 PM
This is a great idea and really accessible. Can't wait to have a go at the weekend!
Posted by: sheila | June 22, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Excellent! I have oodles of magazines I can't throw away! Now I know what to do with some of them. thanks for the giveaway too.
Happy days, Joanie
Posted by: Joanie Hoffman | June 22, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Great idea - I love that you can recycle and make something that looks great. Thank you!
Posted by: Marilyn K. | June 22, 2010 at 01:03 AM
Very cool project, inspires lots of ideas. Thanks!!
Posted by: Lorie | June 22, 2010 at 12:01 AM
This was really fantastic! I have a TON of magazines that I haven't known what to do with. Now I do! I really liked the sewing them together part, I can't wait to experiment, thanks so much, have a Blessed week.
Posted by: Cassie Shella | June 21, 2010 at 09:28 PM
Alma, you are AMAZING! How do you come up with crazy ideas like this one? I want to try this out now! :-)
Posted by: iHanna | June 21, 2010 at 04:33 PM
hmmmm, lots of ideas humming - thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Diane Petersmarck | June 21, 2010 at 04:32 PM
Love this! I use magazine paper for tons of stuff but hadn't thought of sewing a bunch of pages together yet. Yeah! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Amy Steinberg | June 21, 2010 at 01:24 PM
Can't wait to give this a try!
Posted by: maxine | June 21, 2010 at 12:53 PM
This is a GREAT idea. Can't wait to try it, but maybe with a few less pages to use in journals... FUN!
Posted by: Heather | June 21, 2010 at 02:17 AM
Wish it wasn't already after 10pm on Sun. night -- I'd love to get started on this project right away! Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: Joanna Price | June 21, 2010 at 01:19 AM
Oh! I always love your teaching techniques!
Posted by: Gypsy | June 21, 2010 at 12:29 AM
So why am I sitting here typing! I should be playing with this technique!!
Posted by: Robbie | June 20, 2010 at 08:13 PM
Just when I needed a cover for my journal..thanks Alma!
Posted by: Dotti Cullen | June 20, 2010 at 05:37 PM
Nice tutorial! Now I can do something with all my husbands magazines. (Not mine though - no one can touch my Cloth Paper or Quilting Arts- under penalty of hanging by the ears from the ceiling.) Thanks for the tips.
Posted by: dolores fegan | June 20, 2010 at 04:04 PM
a wonderful idea especially for people who don't own a sewing machine ( and don't want to !!!) and have wanted to try some pages with stitching -----thanks sam
Posted by: sheila sabatino | June 20, 2010 at 02:42 PM
What a great way to use up all those discarded magazines.
Posted by: Jan | June 20, 2010 at 11:40 AM
love it! now i really need a sewing machine
Posted by: Brigitte | June 20, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Oh this is a great idea! Thank you, I am going to try it!
Posted by: Rebecca | June 20, 2010 at 10:40 AM
wow!!!!what a fantastic and useful idea!!!
Posted by: eleni | June 20, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Brilliant! Thanks for the recap, I've only discovered Cloth Paper Scissors in the past year!
Posted by: Kathy | June 20, 2010 at 09:21 AM
Stunning idea, gorgeous thing, thanks for the opportunity :D
Posted by: Nela | June 20, 2010 at 08:50 AM
Awesome idea!
Posted by: Julie K in Taiwan | June 20, 2010 at 08:41 AM
Thanks for this fabulous tutorial.
Posted by: Sharon Bull | June 20, 2010 at 08:34 AM
Thank -you so much for posting this again, I love this idea!!!
Janey
Posted by: Janey Jennings | June 20, 2010 at 08:26 AM
What a cool idea! No dye here, but I bet I can think of something...
Posted by: Paula Bogdan | June 20, 2010 at 07:17 AM
Alma, girl I LOVE this...i am going to try it though the sewing part might be a challenge....you are a doll to share...blessings Eden
Posted by: Eden | June 20, 2010 at 02:26 AM
Very original! What a creative idea.
Posted by: April Cole | June 20, 2010 at 01:16 AM
Great idea! Saves money + provides for more artistic outlets. Love it!
Posted by: Wendy @ Living Creatively | June 19, 2010 at 10:45 PM
What a great technique....will definitely try it! Would love to win this!
Posted by: Melanie Davidson | June 19, 2010 at 10:42 PM
What a fun idea - have loved all the tutorials. Thanks you all so much.
Posted by: Joy Vale | June 19, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Great tutorial! The added texture and depth makes for a fabulous background.
Posted by: Heidi | June 19, 2010 at 09:46 PM
Fabulous idea - I only remembered part of this, but used it to recycle an old calendar and make it into a large journal a few months ago. Love it.
Posted by: Sue K. | June 19, 2010 at 08:25 PM
What a fantastic idea... these tutorials have been fantastic, and I personally want to thank you.
Posted by: A. Carole Grant | June 19, 2010 at 04:55 PM
What a good use for my old mags. Thank you!
Posted by: Sharne | June 19, 2010 at 04:33 PM
What a great idea, love to recycle and have lots of magazines that I hate to throw, so this is the answer, thank you Alma for sharing this with us.
Posted by: Hermila | June 19, 2010 at 03:57 PM
Thanks for reposting this tutorial - I'm sure I read it then, but it speaks to me NOW! ~Denise
Posted by: Denise Funfsinn | June 19, 2010 at 03:00 PM
Lovely idea. I love recycle...old Country Homes here I come.
Posted by: snowbird42 | June 19, 2010 at 02:52 PM
Great giveaway!
Posted by: Devan Brittain | June 19, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Ooooh! I bet you could bind multiple pages together and make your own art journals! Great tutorial! What a week this has been for new ideas! Thanks so much to all of you creative tsunami ladies! Hope I win as I'd like to see these up close.
Posted by: Susan in Seattle | June 19, 2010 at 02:20 PM
Great idea! Thanks for sharing it again!
~ Iva
Posted by: Iva Wilcox | June 19, 2010 at 01:41 PM
FABULOUS idea! THANK YOU for a GREAT idea and I'm sure DH will be ever so happy that I'm now saving more magazine....LOL!!!
Posted by: Dale Anne Potter | June 19, 2010 at 01:30 PM
How tempting & beautiful. I'm always amazed at your use of color - I'm such a chicken when it comes to color & stick to the same old ones. Maybe I'd be braver on YOUR surfaces than on blank white ones. :)
- Penelope
Posted by: Penelope Harris | June 19, 2010 at 01:24 PM
I have always felt guilty about throwing away old magazines so this is a great tip. Thank you.
Posted by: Maggi | June 19, 2010 at 01:09 PM
Great idea--I've got a bunch of old magazines that I hate to just throw away--now I can recycle for art!
Posted by: Elizabeth in NM | June 19, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Awesome idea! Thanks!!! This has been such a fun week... thanks for putting this together for us all!!! :)
Diane
Posted by: Diane Rathbun | June 19, 2010 at 12:27 PM
I love this idea, I've always got magazines about my studio, thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Sharon | June 19, 2010 at 12:05 PM
Great Idea. I was about to throw out a bunch of mags. Maybe I'll keep a couple. Great tuts.
Posted by: Mary Ann Littlejohn | June 19, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Very cool.
Posted by: Jenny Doh | June 19, 2010 at 11:17 AM
This is really cool!and CLEVER. love it. gonna do it!
Jane
Posted by: jane lafazio | June 19, 2010 at 10:32 AM
What a great ideal! I am inspired to make some today!!! Thank You!!!!
Posted by: Heather | June 19, 2010 at 10:27 AM
This is awesome, def's gonna have a go :) Would love to be entered in your giveaway
Posted by: carol taylor | June 19, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Oh, my goodness! What a great project. I can't wait to try it. I'm off to buy some gesso (it's about time).
Posted by: Ruth Anne | June 19, 2010 at 09:33 AM
Oh Alma--those are spectacular! I've already sketched out some glossy covers of food magazines on fabric and now I want to try this! Thank you for sharing! Kelli
Posted by: Kelli Nina Perkins | June 19, 2010 at 09:31 AM
How fun. I do not have to throw away magazines again. These tutorials have been a bright spot in my week.
Thanks
Posted by: Mary Ann Van Soest | June 19, 2010 at 09:26 AM
what a great idea! thank you!
Posted by: Marlis | June 19, 2010 at 09:23 AM
What a terrific idea, especially since I have some old gesso (off brand) that needs to be used up.
Linda Knight
knightsquilt@aol.com
Posted by: Linda Knight | June 19, 2010 at 09:10 AM
I don't have any dye so Shibori was out of the quesiton, but not now!!! How cool is this?!!! Thank you Gloria!
Posted by: Michelle Smith | June 19, 2010 at 08:57 AM