Thrifty DIY Sketchbook with a Twist

1. Introductions: My name is Kelly. I'm an artist and maker of recycled paper seed greeting cards in Austin, Texas. I am no stranger in having the attitude that a new art project does not need to mean another trip to the art supply store. I want you to keep that in mind as we approach our project today with a more frugal, let's go frugal mindset. It's a lot nicer than calling yourself cheap. A frugal mindset as we look through our art supplies that we already have and make our very own sketchbooks. Apart from being a bit of a natural at this frugal lifestyle thing, I've also had some professional practice being an art teacher because nobody quite knows how to be frugal with art supplies like the public school art teacher. I've yet to meet the RSA complains about having too many empty sketchbooks around, yet I've definitely met a few that complain about having to buy more sketchbooks. So we'll be ending class with the brand new sketchbook today. That hopefully didn't cost you anything to make, and maybe you'll pick up some thrifty new art practices along the way. That also mean you create less waste in your art space. See you in the next video. 2. What's the Project?: As I mentioned in the first video, we're going to be making our own sketchbooks in this class out of recycled materials that we already have in our art space. This is going to be a really nice beginner friendly project in class. Even if you have kids popping around in need of a project, this might be a nice one to pull them in on and have them work beside you. All the written instructions I'm going to go through in this class is going to be in the resources tab below. Before we jump into physically making these sketchbooks, I want you to be thinking about what you're going to be using the sketchbook for, and specifically what kind of medium do you think you'll be using and making sure your medium choice matches your paper choice. Think that through. I think taking a little bit of time to think about that now is going to help this sketchbook work better for you later, and it'll become something that you have an immediate and specific need for and not just something that you make, it's pretty not sitting on the shelf collecting dust. I suggest that you watch the next video about materials needed and then take a little bit of pause and think through what this sketchbook is going to be used for, but also a good look at your own materials. Because remember it's not necessary to match my supplies exactly, but to be looking through your own art space and find materials that are going to be similar enough that can work for this project. So just a gentle reminder that this class isn't just about making yourself a free sketchbook, I mean that is a nice perk, but really take some time to look through your art space and see how you can just be putting things to better use, have them last longer for you, work better for you. All this puts you on a good path of being less wasteful in your art space. With that friends, give yourself a little preemptive pat on the back, we're about to be reusing, recycling, repurposing some art supplies. The next video we're going to jump into what materials we need for this project. 3. Materials Needed: I mentioned before you're thinking through what kind of paper you're going to need and making sure your paper matches your needs. For example, if you are looking for a new watercolor sketch book because all you want to do these days is pack up the watercolors, head to a park, you know what kind of paper you need to use then. On the other hand, if you don't have something so specific in mind like that, or if you maybe want to be having a little bit more mixed media practice in the sketchbook, I would recommend at least a 90-pound paper. If you're unsure if your paper can handle what you have in mind for it or if you really are using a bunch of scrap paper and you don't know what kind of paper it is, I would just recommend doing a little test marking before you really get started on this project. I'm going to be using an 18 by 24 inch size paper. Another good size is 22 by 30. Those are just the standard larger parts of paper that you can buy at any craft store. You certainly don't have to use those sizes though. In fact, just find your largest size paper and that will work for this project as well. If you're using a different size paper, let us know below and show us your pictures. You'll need cardboard or some thicker paper for the front and back covers. You'll also need some card stock paper, or a decorative paper, or paints; everyone we'll be decorating the front and back covers of these sketchbooks, and of course, your DIY craft standby items like glue, scissors, paint brushes, rulers. 4. Benefits of a Sketchbook: If you're watching a Skillshare class titled DIY Sketchbook, I don't think I need to sell you the benefits of a sketchbook. Another way I think about it is why make a sketchbook? Why are we just taking this class? I think whether you approach this video as more of the benefits of a sketchbook or why am I making a sketchbook, it funnels to the same point. I want you to be thinking about your intention for this sketchbook. I know I mentioned it before about what paper you're going to be choosing, but I want you to be specific about what you're going to be using the sketchbook for. Or maybe you're just thinking, Kelly, I seriously cannot have enough sketchbooks. There's no deeper meaning, I just need another sketchbook. Back off. One of the great things about the sketchbooks is that you can treat them as this really precious sketchbooks and fill them with beautiful works of art. Like the real display where this stuff you-all, or you can be much less precious with them. It possibly just costs you your time to make them because you're pulling from supplies you already had in your art space and now that you know how to make one, you can always make more. I know I keep asking you to have a intention or purpose for this sketchbooks, but the purpose could just be that these are your warm up sketchbooks. The space that you're really just putting something down on paper before you're moving on to the good stuff. I feel like that's a lesson I am constantly having to teach and reteach myself as an artist and a maker and someone who tries to have a regular sketchbook practice at least. Is that a lot of times it's just about showing up routinely and getting something down on paper. You-all if you need a Kelly from Texas to give you permission to fill the sketchbooks with nothing but bad art, permission granted friends. 5. Making a Sketchbook: All right. You-all don't forget to download the handout under the Resources tab below. In this video we're going to be walking through how to fold and cut your sketchbook pages, as well as cutting the hard cover for the front and back of these sketchbooks. Let's jump in. 6. Making a Sketchbook Part 2: All right. Your final touches here as we decorate and attach the front and back covers to these beautiful sketchbooks. Let's jump in. 7. Extra Thrifty Alternative Sketchbook: If you've made it through this whole class, you've probably had that one large sheet of paper. If you didn't, this video is for you because we're going to be taking a bunch of scrap paper, cutting it down to the same size to make the sketchbooks. This one is going to be extra brutal. 8. Less Waste in the Art Space: This class is making you look at your art supplies a bit differently, maybe finding different uses for some things, or ways you can use materials that you didn't specifically buy for that use. In this video, I just want to briefly talk about ways that I'm trying to be less wasteful in my art space, and then invite you to share ways that you're doing the same. Then being in the class, I mentioned that I'm of the mindset that a new art project does not need to mean another trip to the art supply store and more money spent on art supplies. I think this is a really great project to show that you probably already have the supplies that you need. You just might have to be looking through your art space in a different mindset and looking at ways you can re-purpose items so they can work better for you. I've been on a real kick lately about trying to be, not zero waste, because I feel like that's a long intimidating most days, but being less wasteful. That feels like a much more approachable concept to me. A good place to start is looking through your trash can. What's filling it up? Are you the person who makes a couple bad marks and tears up this paper, wads it up, throws it over their shoulder. Yikes, if that's you. Also as an elementary school art teacher, my reaction to that would be, you only get one paper, let's make it work. We're talking about realistic baby steps here, and I would love to hear how you incorporate a less wasteful mindset in your art practice. So please comment below, that way we can all benefit from these tips. Honestly, I have so many glass jars, but I can't help it. There seems to be a never-ending good use for them, and if the day comes that I get really into jam making or candle making, which if you know me, you might understand that those days are coming. Friends, I'm going to be ready. 9. Final Thoughts: We have made it to the end of my first Skillshare class. Thank you, and thank you for working along beside me as we make these sketchbooks, and thank you for always having an open mind about looking at ways to be less wasteful on your art space. I am not kidding when I say I want to see how these sketchbooks turned out so don't forget to upload a picture of these sketchbooks in the Project Gallery below, or you can tag me on Instagram @kelly_chambliss. I'd love to see more about how you're filling the pages of these sketchbooks. Also, don't forget to post a comment in the comment section below about your best tips and tricks of how you're being less wasteful on your art space. That way, we can all benefit from your experience, and thank you.