Recycled book page book cover with an unexpected way to color

If you like experimenting with colorants, adhesives and coatings in you art making and crafting I have a few fun tips and tutorials for you today. I was given a Smash Pocket Folio for Christmas and I thought I’d start altering it by working on the cover. Looking for printable journaling items? Check these out on Etsy.

Being that my name starts with “S” that was going to be my giant 6 inch die cut letter to embellish the big cover.

I posted a while back a tutorial on how to make watercolor paint with eye shadow and I was wondering how it would be to use the eye shadow directly on paper.

I wanted to get a twofer out of this eye shadow edging technique so I placed the diecut on another piece of paper and held it still so that as I applied the eye shadow along the edge with a Q-tip I would get another letter S.

I chose the pink outline letter S with a recycled dictionary page featuring words that begin with the letter S behind it to embellish the junk journal cover.

I first spritzed a light coating of the new spray on Matt Mod Podge onto the cover and placed the recycled dictionary page on it.

Then I spritzed another coat over the page and placed the die cut window outline of the letter S.

Finally I spritzed a final coat of Spray on Mod Podge onto the eye shadow embellished letter S.

It worked great and didn’t smudge the eye shadow at all!

Okay, this might be one of the coolest recycled craft ideas I’ve seen in a long time. If you’re into vintage typewriters and also love tinkering with tech, this USB Typewriter project is a brilliant mash-up of both worlds.

Basically, the idea is to take an old manual typewriter—you know, the clunky, charming kind with the click-clack keys—and turn it into a working USB keyboard. Yes, it actually connects to your laptop or tablet, and yes, it totally works. Talk about breathing new life into a piece of the past!

The project involves a special kit that includes a sensor board (to pick up your key presses), a USB interface board (to connect it all to your computer), and some reed switches (those help with the Shift, Space, and Return keys). There’s even a version of the kit that doesn’t require any soldering, so you don’t need to be an electronics wizard to pull it off.

I’d say this falls into that sweet spot of “advanced beginner” when it comes to skill level. If you’re comfortable using basic tools and following clear instructions, you could absolutely tackle this over a weekend. It’s a bit of a commitment, but honestly? The final result is SO worth it.

What I love most is how this blends sustainability with creativity—you’re upcycling a piece of history and turning it into something totally functional for modern life. Whether you use it for writing, coding, or just showing off at your local café, it’s a fun and eco-friendly DIY electronics project that’ll definitely turn heads.

If you’re passionate about recycled crafts or you’ve got an old typewriter gathering dust, this project might just be your next favorite weekend hobby. I’m already on the hunt for my next vintage find to transform! See the full tutorial here.

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