How much money I save by making my own watercolor sketchbooks (and it’s fun)
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- čas přidán 30. 09. 2023
- This video is all about homemade watercolor sketchbooks. I share my paper choices, techniques, tools and the cost to make a sketchbook versus buying a comparable book. I’ve recently subscribed to Emma Carlisle’s Patreon and her Fast Frogs and Bears and Hedgehogs show up in my Red Acupuncture sketchbook. Emma makes a delightful Patreon; I really love it.
Thank you for clicking on this description! At the moment I uploaded this video, my subscriber count was 3314 people. It just keeps growing! :-) Thank you for watching my videos and leaving delightful comments; it makes youtube so much fun.
There are amazon affiliate links sprinkled around in here. These are items that I have found to bring joy to my life and I hope they do the same for you. If you click on the link and actually buy something (anything!) from amazon, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you - and that helps to support this channel.
All music is from the youtube audio library.
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What I used in this video:
Arches watercolor paper, roll, 156 lb, cold press: bought from Blick Art
Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper, 140 lb, cold press: amzn.to/45cbghl
Montval Canson watercolor paper, 90 lb, cold press: amzn.to/46iMr4U
Fabriano Tiziano colored papers: amzn.to/3th9QoD
Alvin 18x24 cutting mat: amzn.to/48xpLiB
Alvin 18-in. Stainless steel ruler: amzn.to/3PZycMo
Bookbinding starter kit (mentioned, but not shown): amzn.to/45i0rdA
Lineco Waxed Linen Thread: amzn.to/3Q00o1R
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Favorite supplies that usually appear in my videos:
1. A porcelain plate or tray from the goodwill makes a great palette. So does a plastic lid from a yogurt container.
2. A used talenti ice cream cup is perfect for swish water; also a great way to buy art supplies when you “have to” eat the contents first.
3. A cheap Robert Simmons Expressions brush is perfect. The one I’m using here is an E85 Round, size 12. You can buy one at Blick Art.
4. I use a glass bottle that used to contain facial toner for my spray bottle. The toner was expensive, but it has a very pretty label. The spray is a fine mist and the bottle is the perfect size for using at home and also for taking out on location.
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What I use to film and edit my videos:
Small, flexible tripod with screw-on grippy attachment that holds my GoPro: amzn.to/3mEEGUU
Desk mount device that I use with the screw-on grippy attachment that came with my tripod - the desk mount (in combination with the grippy attachment) holds my GoPro 18-inches above my table: amzn.to/3L81XbK
Blue yeti microphone: amzn.to/3Fw1IE7
Lightning to USB Camera Adaptor - this is what I use to connect the blue yeti microphone to my ipad for voice over editing: amzn.to/3ZNxuUE
GoPro Hero10: amzn.to/3TFnvyU
It takes some getting used to, but for filming on hikes it is much better than using my iPhone.
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Instagram: kendra.lwebuga?...
Thank you so much for this inspiration. I just made out of my sketch block a sketch book with tape, black cardboard, and stickers. I loved this immediately. Now I know how to do this in an even better way. 🙂
I love this! I also started by making some pretty “lightweight” (not stitched, no hard cover, etc) books, which are also fine and sometimes preferable. But these Coptic-bound hardcover books have been a delight.
The best part is you end up with a one of a kind, unique sketchbook! :) I've only made a few simple pamphlet stitch sketchbooks as gifts, but hope to try coptic soon.
For sure! I’ll never pick up the wrong sketchbook with such unique covers. :-) Thank you for your kind comment.
Yup! You cracked the code! Commercially made journals are astronomically priced. I make my own writing journals and love the individuality and unique style I can get. Customized to fit my needs. Love your Beautiful artwork too! Thanks so much for your great video! ❤️🖋🙋🏼♀️📗🎨 Sea lemon is great! Check out Bitter Melon Bindery as well.
Ahhh, a kindred spirit! :-) Thanks for the lead to check out Bitter Melon Bindery!
Beautifully done 💛
Thank you! 😊
Before Hobby Lobby withdrew their 40% off coupon I was using it each week to buy a 9x12 arches pad for $15. I cut each piece in half so I have 6x9 paper and punch a short side for discs so I have a discbound sketchbook that is almost infinitely flexible. I can keep just a few sheets together at a time and I tend to move finished pages onto the large discs that live in a drawer. I just split the top cover of a couple pads in half so I can use them as front and back of the sketchbook to protect the paper. I do have the backs of all the pads I’ve cut up. I’ve made a couple meander sketchbooks out of hanamulle imperials and used the chipboard from pads to make covers for those. I know I bought the imperials on clearance at a local art store so I’d say I paid $4 each for them.
Wow, imagine a Arches 9x12 block for only $15! :-) Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing. I've made multiple small sketchbooks to take out and about. Each of mine would amount to one of your signatures. I think binding my finished small signatures using the hard board and coptic stitch you have shown may be the way to go to compile and store my small sketchbooks. I have a very difficult time using old books for art. Books have been an important part of my life and I feel like a part of history would be lost in the cutting up and reusing. I guess it just hurts my heart. No computers or internet in my childhood and we spent hours looking through encyclopedias, Time Life books, periodicals and other reference books. Peace.
I started that way, too! Just a single signature with just 4-6 pages. Then, if I liked the sketch, I could easily tear or cut it out and put it on the wall. :-) I also felt reluctant at first to cut into old books… but then I noticed how many old books are offered up in my neighborhood’s many “Little Lending Libraries,” or are available at second-hand stores for just a dollar or two. I suspect that many of these great old books get thrown in the landfill. Once I got to that conclusion, I felt great about reusing the covers for my own sketchbooks. :-)
Thank you. Logically, I'm all in. I see lots of books in the little neighborhood lending libraries and second hand stores too. May be time to try making my own journals with fancy old book covers using a new attitude. Peace. @@klwebuga
I have made some small sketch books but thank you for the great ideas!
Thank you for your kind comment! Maybe you’ll have to make some BIG sketchbooks now! ;-)
Super inspiring, thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you!
Thank you. Great video.
Thank you! :-)
Thank you so much for a very useful video.
You are welcome!
Very nice!
Thanks!
Nice sketchbooks, for sure. I made only one so far and have used it pretty exclusively. I started a watercolor on a single sheet yesterday for the first time in a long time. There is something about using s sketchbook, especially one you’ve made yourself, that encourages me to paint, on one side, both sides, and across to pages. Yours are beautiful! Larry Misiak
Do you also love the process of making the book? For me, there is something really meditative about cutting the pages, folding them, and stitching.
@@klwebuga I did not find it meditative, although In do meditate. It was a construction project. I wasn’t confident I would be able to complete it, and that it would be useable. I took some shortcuts. Pushing the needle through the many layers was sometime painful. The most satisfying thing was adhering two paintings to the front and back cover. I will take it to our art club here sometime and hear what others think of it! Larry M.
The cost of watercolor paper is what drew me to gouache😅😅
It’s such a huge difference! I’ve been testing out acrylics on different papers this week and I’m amazed at how awesome it is. I love the magic of watercolor, too, but for a bit, I’m going to play with gouache and acrylic. :-) Thank you for your kind words!
Very cool. But what did you do with the pages from the books?
I haven’t tossed them yet… do you have cool ideas for them? Thanks for your kind comment!
I would use them in junk journals or sell little bundles.@@klwebuga
You’re up to 3.31k. Hope you’re happy.
The subscribers just keep going up. :-)