There is a new obsession in my life. Glue books! What are those you might ask?
Pretty simple. You glue stuff into books.
You can make them from papers, old print books, expired planners, composition books, a mail envelope, sketchbooks. It’s endless. I started down this rabbit hole after making my own watercolor journal with sewed signatures from a class with artist Laly Mille. In the meantime, I decided I needed to collect holiday magazine images to help when I write my Christmas books. In case that is in July. To put me in a festive mood when it’s scorching outside.
So, one day on YouTube, I stumbled across the Nicole Relax.Cut.Glue. channel. Imagine my surprise to learn she is in Oregon too! Not only is she fun to listen to, but she does beautiful work. Now, I’m a rookie gluer (is that even a word? paster?), but back in 1998 I started my personal journal in an oversized lined book I bought at J.K. Gill. (Still use it) Does anybody remember that stationery store?
I’d pasted several full-page magazine pages in it, featuring a quirky New York bookstore and a Calvin Klein ad. And fortune cookie slips. A drawing of Puss N’ Boots. You know, the usual. Once again, ahead of my time.
Then the two ideas merged.
I could make a Christmas glue book! Turns out folks have been doing this for ages, and I’m late to the party, but I’m all in. I loved the green spiral sketchbook from Michael’s that Nicole used in one video, so I got it on sale, then purchased the glitter glue she uses. (I tried the glue sticks, but I managed to attach myself to everything in my office, so I prefer the liquid glue with the applicator.) And I bought a cake frosting spreader, also from Michael’s, because our Dollar Tree did not have the one she uses.
Next, I was so inspired I MADE a glue book cover out of a 9 x 6-inch mailing envelope based on her tutorial. (See below.) Because heaven knows I have a not so miniature Office Depot in my home office closet. (I love the smell of Post-its in the morning!) Next on my project, I will be cutting paper and using a rubber band to secure the sheets, as she demonstrates.
The deep dark secret that goes along with this new passion is I have WAY TOO MANY magazines, old holiday cards, and pretty calendar pictures in my house. Being a writer and photographer, EVERYTHING gives me an idea or sparks a story. But now, I have a way to put them into themed books and hopefully STOP collecting more scraps. Take the best of the best.
Which reinforces one of my 2025 intentions, since I jettisoned New Year’s resolutions years ago.
Intention number two is: use it up.
That applies to everything from craft paper to postage stamps to freezer food to napkins to chocolate.
Writing about chocolate, there’s a lot of chaos in the world right now, especially in the United States. To those of us on the West Coast, the devastating fires in Los Angeles are affecting many things, including moving adoptable pets to our shelters to relieve the burden on those in California. Organizations did the same thing when the August 8, 2023, Lahaina fires devastated Maui and took so many lives. And the recent California fires affected the Maui Humane Society again when their normal flights of animals to the mainland had to be temporarily curtailed while incoming pets from California were moved north and east.
Plus, huge blessings and thanks to all the firefighters and amazing pilots continuing to battle the fires today. Our contingent of Oregon firefighters is still down there. A firefighter story is on my future books to write list, has been for a while.
We are all connected in so many ways. I remind myself to focus on what I can control, be kind to others, and take it one day at a time. Like I did in Army basic training. That’s why rest and relaxation are a real thing in the military. You have to come off the line at some point and take care of yourself.
Glue books are working for me right now. It’s very relaxing.
And walking on my treadmill. And writing.
I started my next book, Forbidden Warrior in the Moonstruck Makeovers series, on New Year’s Eve Day. Seems I can’t go more than thirty days without writing or I get super cranky.
Writing and glue books.
Saving sanity one day at a time!
Find something that works for you.
To the glue books!
No Sew Glue Book/ Journal Tutorial
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