Upcyclng pages from old books, maps, music and comics is wonderful way to source paper for your next papercraft project. They already have a printed pattern, they are often inexpensive and you can make something beautiful from them, so what’s not to love?

You can find old book pages or printed sheets in all sorts of places. I often scour charity shops keeping my eye out for books, maps, sheet music and old sewing patterns that I can use in my projects. Also check out your local library as they frequently have old book sales and they can be great places to pick up books in different languages. Don’t forget to look at home too; perhaps you have some old books you no longer want on your bookshelf, or maybe you have just replaced your old road atlas with a more up-to-date version.

Wherever you source your old book pages, be careful not to rip up any rare finds and check that they really are unwanted. Mass-produced items like modern dictionaries and out-of-date road atlases are fair game and make perfect papercraft fodder! The paper you find may turn yellow with age and if you look at old books they can have a colour to them already or colour just around the edges but don’t let this put you off using them – it often adds to the interest. Just go with the colour or change the colour with ink and paint. You can also build up more layers on your paper finds with drawing or stamping. It really can be a very versatile way to add extra interest to your projects.

Once you’ve sourced your papers to upcycle, simply use them as you would a piece of patterned paper: tear it, cut it, colour it or even stamp on it! You’ll find that it can create interesting backgrounds too. Alternatively, if you need the paper to be thicker and more durable, then try tearing it up into smaller pieces or strips and decoupage it onto a piece of cardstock.

There is something really special about adding a little found ephemera to personalise a project, so get ripping and try it today!

1

Create a green 15cm-square card blank and cut a panel of white cardstock slightly smaller than the card front

2

Stamp the sentiment onto the bottom-right corner of the white square of cardstock cut in Step 1

3

Die-cut circles from the sentiment panel, securing the dies with reposition-able tape to keep them in place

4

Trim a piece of sheet music to fit behind the die-cut sentiment panel and secure it behind the piece using 3D foam pads so the sheet music shows through the apertures

5

5 Affix the sentiment panel onto the card front and embellish the design with sequins as shown to finish

Belated birthday wishes- musical dotted aperture card
Panel card with multiple circle apertures, revealing sheet music background, embellished with sequins and stamped sentiment
Stamping1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White & green cardstock
  • Old sheet music
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles LG & Standard Circles SM dies
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • Lime Cordial Little Things from Lucy's Cards Sequin Shaker Mix
  • Repositionable tape
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam pads
Best wishes- wire branch musical tree cardw
Simple contemporary card with curled wire tree sticking through leaves die-cut out of sheet music, tied with gift label with stamped sentiment
Die-cutting1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White, lilac & shades of green cardstock
  • Old book pages & sheet music
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • Waltzingmouse Stitched Tags Die set
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • Wire
  • Pliers
  • Purple baker’s twine
  • Paper-piercing tool
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam pads
  • Corner-rounder punch
Happy birthday- sheet music rose bunch
Simple curved corner birthday card with stamped sentiment and die-cut flowers out of sheet music
Stamping1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White & lilac cardstock
  • Old book pages & sheet music
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • Mint To Be Avery Elle pigment inkpad
  • Sweet Lilac & Eggplant Mama Elephant pigment inkpad
  • Pretty Pansy Little Things from Lucy Cards Sequin Shaker Mix
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam pads
  • Corner-rounder punch
New home- map patterned stag head shield card
Shield shaped new home card with stag-head silhouette cut from road map layered with stamped sentiment
Stamping1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White & aqua cardstock
  • Old map
  • Shield card template (download from www.papercraftmagazines.com)
  • Free Woodland Christmas stamp set from Creative Stamping 27
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam pads
Time to celebrate- musical diamond card
3D die-cut sheet music diamond in circle aperture repeated sentiment card
Scrapbooking1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White & lilac cardstock
  • Old sheet music
  • Project Life High Five Edition 6x6” paper pad
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles LG & Standard Circles SM dies
  • Waffle Flower 3D Diamond Template die
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • Interference Blue (Fine) Golden acrylic paint
  • Golden Regular Gel
  • Pretty Pansy Little Things from Lucy's Cards Sequin Shaker Mix
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam pads
Just a note- vintage travel luggage label shaker card
Luggage label shape shaker card with map background, stamped die-cut sentiment and sequin embellishment
Die-cutting1 min read12 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White, green & light green cardstock
  • Old map & map reference pages
  • Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings stamp set
  • Manual die-cutting machine
  • Waltzingmouse Stitched Tags Die set
  • Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink
  • Golden Regular Gel
  • Green baker’s twine
  • Acetate
  • Lime Cordial & Pretty Pansy Little Things from Lucy's Cards Sequin Shaker Mix
  • PVA glue
  • 3D foam tape
  • Double-sided tape
  • Paintbrush