DIY Network

Recycled Books Turn unwanted books into portable art. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-123

Don't just buy a blank book—remake a book as a work of art.

For Michele Beschen, "art books" aren't those glossy tomes found on well-appointed coffee tables—they're books that someone has turned into art.

The B. Original host is a big fan of recycling unwanted books into journals, scrapbooks or other creative pieces. She says it's amazing how much self-awareness and creative growth one can find just by working with books. And the finished product is like having your own little gallery ready to pull out whenever you want.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen's tips on recycling your own art books and get a peek at some of her creations.

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You could create a dreamy dream journal.

Find the Right Book

Decide how you want to use your book—as a journal, a display piece, a scrapbook, whatever—and start looking for a book that fits the bill.

Scout thrift stores, yard sales, used bookstores or even your own bookshelves. You're looking for a book that interests you as an object instead of something to read. You want a book you like the feel of, in everything from the cover to the size, shape and texture of the pages. Michele Beschen suggests starting off with a book with flat, matte-finish pages—glue, paint and ink don't stick as well to glossy pages.

It takes a little bit of everything to make a great art book.

Gather Your Tools

Recycling books as art can use any or all of your art or crafting tools. Keep pens, colored pencils, markers and paint supplies on hand, as well as erasers, glues, sewing supplies, scissors, rubber stamps, glitters and glue-on embellishments.

But you don't have to stop with traditional craft supplies. Trick out your book with funky bits of hardware and wires, fortune-cookie fortunes, lottery tickets, take-out menus, tiny transistors—anything is fair game. It doesn't even matter if you can't get the book closed once you're done.

How about a tidy gardening book?

B. Original With Your Book

You can do just about anything with your book—and even an experiment that doesn't work out can be helpful if it gives you creative ideas for next time. Michele Beschen likes to use recycled books to capture dreams, experiences, ideas and inspirations. Doodle, fold or create pop-ups. Add ticket stubs, postcards, stickers, photos—anything that helps tell your story.

You can "subtract" from your book as well:

Head to the scroll saw...

And give your pages artfully wavy edges.

Or slice through several pages...

To create a secret hiding place—or tiny gift box.

Recycled books are a great way to capture your hopes and dreams or express your ideas and inspirations. There's no wrong way to do it—just get started and B. Original!