WLS -- Intro to Gluebooks Swap

Whole Lotta Swappa

This is a Whole Lotta Swappa swap. WLS is a group of devoted and proven swappers. If you would like to join WLS, please check out my profile for a link to the group -- WLS is always looking for great new members!

A little while ago I discovered gluebooks and quickly started my own. I've started a few for friends too. Now I want to share the love. I've been wanting to start this swap for several weeks, but I've been overcommitted and wanted to have some time to devote to it. I'm gonna make this a WLS swap because I want to be sure no one is disappointed [if the WLS-ers are not that interested I might open it up, we'll see].

Gluebooks are a sort of altered book/daily diary/art journal, but they are much, much easier. It's just cut-and-paste. Like in pre-school! Yay!

Instructions, as per mixed media artist Lisa Vollrath:

1) find a book -- New, used, old, blank, non-blank, journal, composition book, notebook, textbook, any book. I prefer to use books that will lay open flat, like composition books or wire bound blank journals.

2) find some glue -- Any kind that works for you. I prefer gluesticks, or non-wrinkle rubber cement, or Elmer's glue applied with a foam brush.

3) find things to glue into said book -- I like making collage out of magazine ads, clippings, junk mail, scrapbooking supplies, found items like whatever I pick up on my daily journey, bits and pieces from swap items or envelopes [like those cute stickers people use to decorate their envelopes!], fabric or scraps from crafts projects, etc.

And that's it!

For this swap we will acquire a book and start a gluebook for our partner. The book can be any book as long as you can mail it. You can handmake the book, but it is not required -- gluebooks are easy.

We will make 5 pages which will include the opening page -- can be the title page -- of the book and the next 4 pages, which can be done individually or as two 2-page spreads.

The book should have more than 5 actual pages in it, so our partners may continue the gluebook upon receipt. If you want to go all out, you can decorate the cover, incorporate your partner's name into the title page, etc.

Make these pages in any design or on any topic. Pick images your partner will like.... or make it about you... or make pages about your daily day ... or pick topics [Nature, Night, Gratitude, Sky, Love] and look for stuff on those topics... do a daily challenge from the internet.... or any combo!

Other materials and techniques [stamping, inking, distress, folding, origami, painting, embossing, drawing, etc] can be used, but aren't required. The primary focus of the book is just gluing.

The only restriction I will place on this is NO DIGITAL ADDITIONS (downloading pictures, text, or layout off the computer and gluing that into the book).

There are tons of websites and galleries online so google or PM me for more info. And if you want to add some additional treats into the package, all the better! [but again, not required]

This is an AWESOME swap for crafters who do not normally do paper crafts, since all you need is a blank book, some glue, and some magazines or catalogs, and you don't have to be an artist or scrapbooker or anything. So come on, join in! You could literally finish the whole thing in an hour.