Right now I'm going through an interesting phase of my life, which means I have a good few creative ideas in my mind, but still can't figure it out what to do, how and why. All I know is that one way or another, I'm going to create something interesting and fun. This idea and plan is not new, it's just that now trading is taking up most of my time and attention, but there's a platform that still keeps me motivated to start something.
Vinted has an algo, as any other platform these days and the more you click on certain items, the more the algo fills your feed with items of such kind.
Recently I came across of some very nice scrapbook "ingredients", so to speak. Scrapbooking is an activity I've never tried out, but has been on my list for ages. Which list? The "Maybe On Day" list, which is why I don't even know how it's done, but I have some other creative ideas that I'd like to use for creating something that needs old paper.
Most likely I'm not the only one using old paper for creative purposes, which is why some people thought it's a good opportunity to make some money. I've seen packs of paper listed for sale, titled as material for scrapbooking.
Now obviously we all have different possibilities and options, but in a world where printed books are almost worthless (unfortunately), even old ones, selling a few pages of yellowish, stained paper is a fooking genius idea, if you ask me. The economist in me sees a huge opportunity in this regard, but no way I'm going to pay for it. I'm smarter than that. (Oh God, I'm going to be punished for this as I was raised to never praise myself, always be humble and it feels terrible to say I'm smart.)
Knowing I have several old, damaged books at home, obviously my first reaction was to go to my study and look around to see my options. To understand how things stand, these books have not been damaged by me or my family. Partly it is due to time as paperback does not last forever, and partly it is because back in the day books were printed on the worst quality paper possible and definitely not designed to last. Hard cover was almost non existent, thus, unfortunately, quite a few are damaged.
So I took out the most damaged one and when I saw the end is missing, I said this is it, this is the one I'm going to use it, as the quality and color of the paper was what I'd want. Then I checked what it is, and ... and knew right away I'm not going to use it.
The book is basically a world encyclopedia issued in 1926! This book, or what's left of it anyway, makes 100 years this year, or it's a century old, if you like this expression better.
Was trying to remember what I could about the book, but I think I brought it home from somewhere, maybe from my grandmother's place, after I saw what it is, so it wasn't in my care, when it got in this condition.
Age is not the only factor I'm considering when I say I'm not going to use it. After seeing what it is, I started browsing through the pages and reading bits and pieces of it and it made me smile. It's an encyclopedia, so obviously has a lot of information, spread through every possible area of life, information that must have worth a fortune back in those days, but today, in 2026, most of it is outdated, or incomplete as since then, life has changed a lot, evolution has never stopped and so many theories have been proven wrong.
This is not new, I've said previously that I have a strong love for paper and try to use it the best way possible, which includes protecting paper the best way I can, repurposing, reusing it as well. (This is why I have sold the egg holders 😂)
Deciding not to use this book for my creative project was a bitter sweet decision, but the right one. However, another plan popped in my head right away. There are quite a few places in the city, where you can pick up and/or drop off books that you don't need anymore, so I thought I'd go and have a look there, to see if I can find something usable. It's a good idea, but in the same time, I've seen this movie before. There was an occasion, when I went to a book shop selling second hand or pre-loved books, to pick up one with yellow, old pages. I got a very good one, but when I got home and started to brows it knew I'm not going to have the heart to tear it apart.
Knowing this, there's a huge chance I'm not going to be able to use the book I'm picking up from these collection points.
Look at these drawings. I love these drawings in old books.
Back in those days there were no photographs in books, just drawings.
There are a few colored drawings/paintings as well, but only a few.
How do you feel about this? Could you destroy a book in acceptable conditions just to use it for your creative project? What do you think about the matter?
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Hello!
Last year, at first, I had a similar resistance to tearing up books. My collage learning journey was only a year old then, but I found myself wanting to try some new styles, some of which included torn out book pages. I soon got over it, but I'm pretty sure I have still not torn up any books that would have been unusually valuable.
Valuable... to who? .. to me? ...to someone else?
At first I was looking more for the kinds of books that I could tear out the pages, paint them in different ways and use them in my collages, maybe leaving hints of their words peeking through here and there or strips or squares of them unpainted & glued in as well. Dictionaries, thesaurus, music pages, other languages, books of cliches and Vanderbilts book on etiquette.... .or the such.
Once into it, I also started wanting books with pictures or illustrations I could use as well. Although I've used many pages now as painted collage pages, I haven't really practiced enough with the ones that use images yet, which brings me to today....
Our local library has a huge book sale twice a year. The spring version of it started this past weekend. I planned to go, but alas, so far have talked myself out of it as I have accumulated a handful or two along the last year and I tell myself I should learn to use them better before I gather in more.
Talk about what would be a smart decision...LOL !
I have books on the Wild West, Celtic World, sky watching, flowers (multiples), birds, doorways/doors, watch faces, lighthouses , castles, knights, mythology, aeronauts, mushrooms, angels, decorating books from the past..... you get it, more than that. Sheesh! ha ha ... but I really still wanted to go to the cheap book sale. It is going on till the end of the week, so there is still time for me to cave.
Trash or treasure? Which are they to you? Sentimental value?.. it counts. What are you saving them for? Will someone want them when you're gone? Can you make a valuable piece of art out of a favored page for yourself? ... for gifts? Only you can decide.
I saw something not too long ago where a woman was talking about some things she kept that meant something to her, with the knowledge that her children would probably throw them in the dumpster when she was gone, She said it was ok though, for by then, they will have served their purpose to her. I liked the way she put it.
Still....I do understand the resistance.
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This is what motivates me too. You are a master of this and I am always admiring your work. As I can see you also have experience in collecting books and good pieces of papers.
From my replies, you can see that keeping them has no future, but still. I think I'd rather gift them away, or give it to the local library, which is the best option.
I loved this post for so many reasons, Erikah! It's great that you're exploring your creativity, especially if you have some free time. It's always an activity that distracts us from our routine, and using so many old books to create scrapbooks seems like a solution for all those sheets of paper stored away in some corner of the house. My mom and I have been talking these past few months about all the books that seem like trash these days, but it's been hard to throw them away. It's not easy, even donating them isn't easy. Of course, we don't have any century-old books 😅 those definitely deserve special treatment. I smiled when you mentioned that you smiled while reading it, because I can just imagine everything a 100-year-old encyclopedia might contain. It's so nice to read your post. I hope you're doing well and have a great week 🙏
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You're right about that as after so many hours of staring at the screen and calculating, it's nice to do something creative and disconnect my mind from work.
It's hard for me too, but one thing that I've come to terms with is donating them to the local library, where these books would serve their purpose.
Imagine how much life has changed just in the last 20 years. Look at medicine, just to give you an example. How many studies have been proven wrong.
Thank you @jesuslnrs and have a nice day :)
i'd never destroy a book in acceptable condition, i got too much respect for a book even though nowadays almost no one buys books... expecially old ones, use them would be a crime
You and me both, this is why I said who can guarantee I'd cut the books I bring home into pieces? Maybe I can find some in bad condition or with missing parts, which doesn't hold much value.
How absolutely wonderful! You have no idea how much I love illustrations in old books. They were often handmade by artists, especially in older books, and I don't think it's old-fashioned; now it seems to have become fashionable. I love that final colour illustration; it's like an acrylic painting!😍
Me too. It's like going back in time and reliving those days. Unfortunately that is lost as electronic books don't have illustrations like that, or at least I don't think so. AI is taking over heavily.
You're right about that :)
The work and knowledge represented, for example, by a painting done in Indian ink... handmade. I close my eyes and go back to when I watched my teacher paint and teach me. Thank you for that.
That is a pretty neat idea. My wife used to do a lot of scrapbooking, but most of her books got wrecked when we had our basement flood and after that she just kind of gave up on it. I can't say that I blame her. It was a lot of work lost on her part. It was heartbreaking to see all the memories destroyed.
Oh God, I can imagine her pain as it's not easy to let go of these dear creations.
Hi Erikah,
Yes, you’ve made the right decision… it’s a very old and beautiful book.
Surely we’ll see some of your scrapbook creations here. I hope you’ll soon be able to get down to work when trading allows.
Hello @nanixxx. Yes, you will see my creations here, once I make some progress. However, I think the first project will be a nice shopping bag as I saw a nice design this morning on YouTube 😎 😂
😂
Good morning, Erikah.
I think it's a good plan to go and buy the things for the project with a new shopping bag.