How to Collage a Book Cover

Inspiration for Altered Book Art

Now that you understand a few basic collage techniques, you can experiment with other types of supports, materials, and mediums to create your own collage art. The possibilities for creating a variety of unique and unusual art pieces are endless!

Here we're going to show you how to apply your new collage skills to a blank book cover, to create interesting art that some might consider an introduction into altered book art.

Part 4: Book Cover Collaging

Additional Materials:

• Blank book or old book you want to alter

These are two examples of magazine collage assembled onto the cover of a blank book support instead of thick paper.

Technique: The book cover was first painted over with gouache paint and let to dry. Next, the magazine collage was assembled over the cover and glued down and sealed with clear glue (Mode Podge). The sealing helps protect the cut papers from handling and wear.

With the growing interest in altered books, book cover collage is a good place to begin experimenting with unusual arrangements of type, color, and imagery. For more tips and techniques on altered book art, see this excellent Altered Board Book Tutorial by Karen Hatzigeorgiou.

Your collage journey is just beginning! Move on to part five to learn how we created some interesting textural background effects for our collages.