Altered Books for Gratitude: Working with What You Have
Sometimes, life is just heavy. And when you are carrying a lot, being asked to write a list of things you are grateful for doesn’t feel helpful—it can feel hollow, or even a little cruel.
A blank page feels like a demand. It’s another problem you’re expected to resolve, another place where you have to perform, start from scratch, or pretend to be an "artist."
An altered book is different.
Because the pages already have words and images on them, it isn't a demand. It’s an invitation. It is a surface to land softly on—one that doesn't judge you, push you for solutions, or hand you empty platitudes. It simply meets you exactly where you are on any given day.
Whether you are showing up in frustration, joy, or total exhaustion, this creative practice is just a buddy to hold you.
Below is the material list to get you started, followed by an 8-part video series to guide you through the process, step-by-step. Let's work with what we have.
What is an altered book?
It is simply an old, discarded book that you paint, draw over, tear, or collage on—transforming its existing pages into your own creative canvas. The book becomes an art object or artifact in the process of gradual transformation. CHoices can be made, pages can be ripped out or added in. The whole object becomes a space to play with ‘what if…?’
Materials List: Working with What You Have
You do not need to buy a long list of expensive art supplies for this. In fact, most of these materials are probably already sitting around your house. You don’t need all of them at once, either—just grab what you have close by.
An Old Book: The foundation. Find a discarded hardcover or paperback book with pages that feel good to touch.
Glue & Scissors: For tearing, cutting, and securing pieces.
Mark-Making Tools: Pens, pencils, markers, or textas. Whatever you have in your drawer.
Collage Materials: Old magazines, scraps of paper, junk mail, or wrappers.
Colour & Texture: Watercolour paints, embroidery thread, a needle, or bits of fabric.
Pack a small basket with whatever is within arm's reach today and let that be enough.
Mindful Morning Altered Book Practice -Video Series
Follow along or join in this 8 Day series guiding a daily altered book practice focusing on gratitude.
DAY 1
Start your morning with 5 - 10 minutes of creative presence. In Day 1 of our Gratitude Altered Book series, we use blind contour drawing and watercolour to honor the mundane objects we touch first—like a simple tea spoon.
DAY 2
In Day 2 of this series, we explore spontaneous mark-making using the textures of everyday objects. It's a low-pressure way to add layers to your altered book and maybe be surprised along the way. Tune into your senses, rhythm, and repetition, and turn down the monkey mind.
DAY 3
Slow down with some repetitive, mindful watercolour marks or any other mark making medium you prefer. In Day 3, we decorate and fold paper pockets to keep our gratitude notes safe. A low-pressure way to bring more intention to your morning art practice.
Day 4
You don't need to be a writer to find poetry. Today, we use the "block out" method to find hidden phrases and ideas on the page. It’s a gentle way to explore your morning thoughts and turn down the monkey mind through mindful tracing and discovery.
Day 5
Today brings a shift in rhythm. We’re using a simple running stitch to work into a page we’ve already altered. It’s about the tactile feel of the thread and the quiet space created by repetitive movement. Let the needle lead the way and turn down the noise of the morning.
Day 6
Today is about the rhythm of the stitch and the quiet of the mark. We’re using one simple fold as a base to combine our favorite techniques from the last few days. A low-pressure way to see your morning practice start to take shape as a whole.
Day 7
Today is a longer invitation to slow down. We’re spending 30 minutes in a deep-dive collage practice, using the prompt: "If gratitude were a garden, what would it look like?" Take your time to shift, gather, and layer your images, creating a lush space for reflection in your altered book.
DAY 8
We’re getting playful and tiny. Using the pages we removed from our altered books earlier, we’re folding super mini pockets to tuck away our smallest, most mundane gratitudes. A sweet, tactile way to wrap up our 8-day morning ritual.
What now?
This practice isn't about finishing a perfect art piece—it's just a space for you to land each day or time you need a space to hold you. Work through these eight videos at your own pace. Some days you might only have five minutes to tear or fold a page, and other days you might want to spend longer painting. Each page can be revisited and worked with or into. There is no wrong way to do it, because there is not right way to ‘do’ gratitude, just different ways to be with it.
Follow Along on YouTube If you want to keep exploring these kinds of guided creative practices, techniques, and prompts.
For more creative prompts and practice exploring gratitude check out my other blogs below:
We've all been told to write down three things we're grateful for. But what if that feels like more of a barrier than a doorway? Here are 20 creative prompts for developing a gratitude practice that meets you where you are.