Board books are tiny tanks. Thick pages, sturdy spine, zero drama. Today we’re upcycling one into a flexible journal that can handle paint, collage, pockets, and your future brilliance.

In the video: I grabbed thrifted board books from McKay’s in Nashville for under a buck each. Click the link to check them out!
Look for tight spines and fun shapes. Cut-outs are cute, but save those for a second project when you can focus.

What You’ll Need

• Children’s board book

• Craft knife and small cutting mat

• Sanding block or emery board

• Masking tape or painter’s tape

• Tissue or thin packing paper for the spine wrap

• Mod Podge or matte gel medium

• Optional thicker medium for inside collage (Liquitex gel, Mod Podge or similar)

• Brushes, old gift card or brayer for burnishing

• Printable collage papers or any papers you love

• Wax paper, freezer paper, or non-stick protector sheets

• Ruler and scissors

• Heat tool or hair dryer

• Varnish or matte sealer

Freebies: I made a 3-page printable set you can use for collage and fussy cutting. It’s normally 99¢, free this month with your code. Add your code here in the post: CCFFREE.

BOHO Craft Papers!

Before and After!

 

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Step 1: Quick Prep

1. Wipe dust off the covers and page edges.

2. Lightly sand glossy areas so primer and glue have tooth.

3. Wipe again to remove sanding dust.

Why it matters: Scuffed surfaces grab glue and paint better, so your layers don’t peel.

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Step 2: Open the Spine for Flex

Board books are built differently. Where the text block meets the covers, there’s a paper “hinge” area.

1. Open the book flat. Look at the inner hinge where the first page meets the front cover.

2. Using a craft knife, carefully cut that hinge paper away from the front cover. Neat is nice, perfect isn’t required.

3. Clean up fuzzies with a blade or emery board.

Result: You’ve created room for expansion so the book won’t fight you once it gets chunky.

You can watch the entire Step By Step DIY video here: Turn a Child's BoardBook into an Art Journal

 

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Step 3: Tape the Hinge

1. Tear a strip of masking tape slightly longer than the book’s height.

2. Adhere the strip to the inner spine area first. Burnish with your fingers for pressure and a bit of warmth.

3. Close the cover and wrap the tape over the outer hinge without pulling tight. Burnish again.

Tip: Don’t stress about tape edges. It all gets covered.

 

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Step 4: Wrap the Spine With Tissue

1. Stand the book up so the spine faces you.

2. Brush Mod Podge along the outer spine and 1–2 inches onto each cover.

3. Lay tissue or thin packing paper over the wet glue.

4. Seal from the center out, opening and closing the book as you work so the spine keeps its flex.

5. Add a light seal coat on top and keep gently bending while it dries.

Why tissue: It moves with the spine and adds strength without bulk.

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Step 5: Cover the Back, Then the Front

1. Place a non-stick sheet under the cover you’re working on.

2. Brush on an even coat of Mod Podge.

3. Apply your printable or patterned paper. Burnish with a card or brayer to banish bubbles.

4. Add a thin seal coat.

5. Repeat on the other cover, but let the first side dry well before trimming.

Important: Keep paper a hair shy of the hinge fold so the cover still opens easily.

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Step 6: Dry, Trim, and Round the Corners

1. Let covers dry thoroughly. A heat tool speeds the surface, but deeper drying still takes over an hour.

2. Place a small cutting mat under the cover and trim the edges flush with a sharp blade.

3. For rounded corners, trim gently in little passes or snip with scissors, then smooth with an emery board.

If it snags: It isn’t dry enough. Pause, breathe, sip iced coffee, then try again.

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Step 7: Seal and Flex

1. Add a final thin seal coat to high-touch areas.

2. Open and close the book a few times while it’s still slightly tacky so nothing cures stiff.

3. Insert wax paper between damp spots, close the book, and weight it for an hour.

 

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Step 8: Start Your Backgrounds

Work spread by spread to build momentum.

• Painty swipe: Thin acrylic + damp brush, quick crosshatches.

• Torn collage: Mix printable scraps, book pages, tissue, maps, music sheets.

• Texture: Scrape a little gesso with an old gift card, then stamp or stencil lightly.

Pro move: Leave 2–3 “quiet” spreads with lighter color for longer journaling later.

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Step 9: Add Pockets, Tucks, and Tip-Ins

• Pocket: Glue three edges of a paper panel.

• Side tuck: Glue only the top and bottom.

• Flip-up: Hinge with washi or fabric at the top.

• Tip-in: Tape or fabric-hinge an extra page into the gutter.

These build interaction without much bulk.

 

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Step 10: Finish the Cover

• Title label, tag, or tiny frame

• Fabric or ribbon tabs on edges

• Optional closure: hair tie, ribbon under the spine wrap, or eyelets with twine

• Final light coat of matte varnish

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Ideas For What To Keep Inside

• Favorite cards and notes from family

• Small photos and photo corners

• Recipe cards and holiday menus

• Gratitude lists and monthly highlights

• Quotes, tickets, maps, and tiny souvenirs

 

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Troubleshooting

• Pages sticking: Use thinner seal coats and insert wax paper while curing.

• Paper lifting: Sand glossy areas first and use gel medium for heavier layers.

• Warping: Weight the book closed overnight. Back-paint the reverse side to balance moisture.

• Stiff spine: Re-score the hinge with your fingers and add a little more tissue + Mod Podge if needed.

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Printable Freebie

Grab the 3-page collage printable I used on the covers and backgrounds. It’s free this month with the code CCFFREE. Link is below the video and in this post.

BOHO Christmas Craft Papers

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Quick Checklist

• ☐ Hinge cut and taped

• ☐ Spine wrapped in tissue

• ☐ Covers applied and sealed

• ☐ Corners trimmed and rounded

• ☐ Backgrounds started

• ☐ Pockets and tip-ins added

• ☐ Cover finished and cured

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FAQ

Do I have to sand first? Lightly scuffing helps everything stick better.
Can kids help? Yes. Swap permanent inks for washable markers and use school glue.
What glue where? Thin papers and spine wrap love Mod Podge. Heavy collage layers prefer gel medium.

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I would love to See yours!

If you make one, post a pic and tag me so I can cheer you on. Want the supply list and checklist as a printable PDF? Tell me in the comments and I’ll drop it in your inbox.

-teresa XO