Years ago, a friend asked me a simple question: “What would someone do with an old hymnal?”
An old hymnal can be lovely simply sitting on a piano or tucked into a shelf of antique books. Open one, and you may find familiar songs associated with Sunday mornings, weddings, funerals, or someone you once heard singing from the pew beside you.
However, not every old hymnal remains in a condition that allows it to be used as a songbook. When the binding has failed or pages are already missing, the remaining hymns can be given a new purpose through framed art, Christmas ornaments, wreaths, handmade gifts, and other paper crafts.
If you have an old hymnal that has reached the end of its original life, here are several meaningful ways to preserve a few of its pages.
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Before You Take Apart an Old Hymnal
Before removing any pages, take a few minutes to look through the entire book.
A hymnal with a family inscription, handwritten notes, a church dedication, or another meaningful connection may be better kept intact. The same is true for an unusual or particularly old edition that you have not researched.
I own several intact hymnals that I would not use for crafts. Their value to me comes from the books as a whole, including their worn covers, familiar songs, and evidence of the people who once used them.
For a project, look instead for a common hymnal that is incomplete, damaged, or no longer sturdy enough for regular use. If you want to create something from a meaningful family hymnal without cutting it, make a copy of the page and return the original to the book.
This is also a good time to choose the hymn carefully. A song connected to a wedding, a loved one, or a family tradition will make the finished piece more meaningful than a page selected only for its appearance.
Where to Find Hymnals for Crafts
Old hymnals can often be found anywhere secondhand books are sold. Look in thrift stores, antique shops, estate sales, library sales, church rummage sales, and online resale marketplaces.
When shopping in person, check the condition of the binding and look through the pages for inscriptions or missing sections. A book that is too damaged for a collector may be exactly right for a paper project.
Online listings can also be useful when you are searching for a particular hymn, denomination, or publication date. Because the contents vary from one edition to another, ask the seller to confirm that a specific hymn is included before purchasing the book for that purpose.
Useful Supplies for Hymnal Page Crafts
Many crafts using hymnal pages require only a few basic paper supplies. The materials you need will depend on the project, but these are useful items to have available:
- A self-healing cutting mat to protect your work surface
- A precision craft knife for straight cuts and small details
- A pair of small paper scissors
- Acid-free mounting corners or adhesive for framed keepsakes
- Decoupage medium for boxes, ornaments, and larger surfaces
- Heavy cardstock to give thin pages more support
- Ribbon or natural twine for hanging ornaments and finishing gifts
A hymnal page is usually thinner than cardstock and may have become fragile with age. Work slowly, particularly around worn edges, and avoid applying more moisture or adhesive than the project requires.
See all of my recommended hymnal page craft supplies.
Frame a Favorite Hymn
The simplest way to use a hymnal page is also one of the most meaningful: place it in a frame.
Years ago, I framed a hymn and displayed it on the bedside table in our guest bedroom. The project required very little alteration to the page, but it allowed the words and music to become part of the room.
A framed hymn can commemorate a wedding, honor someone’s favorite song, or preserve music associated with a particular church or season. It can stand alone or be layered with a mat, photograph, handwritten note, pressed flower, or another small keepsake.
If the page is old or especially meaningful, use acid-free mounting materials rather than applying ordinary glue directly to the paper. A simple wood or brass frame complements the warm color of aged paper without distracting from the music.
One of the simplest projects is to place a meaningful hymn in a frame, allowing the words and music to become part of the room.
Incorporate Hymnal Pages into Original Artwork
Hymnal pages can also become part of a larger piece of artwork.
In an earlier project, I used cut pieces from hymn pages in a painting. The printed notes and lyrics added another layer to the image, both visually and in meaning.
Pages can be used as a background for a silhouette, arranged beneath a painted or printed image, or cut into shapes to become part of a collage. If the words will remain visible, consider how the hymn relates to the subject of the artwork rather than choosing a page at random.
A precision craft knife and cutting mat are helpful when the design includes smaller shapes. For a layered collage, choose an adhesive intended for paper and test it on an unused page before applying it to the final piece.
Pieces of hymnal pages can add texture and meaning to paintings, silhouettes, and other mixed-media artwork.
Make Christmas Ornaments from Hymnal Pages
Christmas crafts are a natural use for old hymnal pages, especially when the book contains familiar carols.
Pages can be folded into simple shapes, cut into stars or trees, rolled into cones, or applied to the surface of an ornament. Thin hymnal paper may need to be attached to cardstock before cutting, particularly if the ornament needs to hold its shape.
Finish the ornament with a narrow velvet ribbon, satin ribbon, or natural twine. The materials can be chosen to suit the rest of your Christmas decorations without covering the music that makes the ornament special.
When selecting a page, look for a recognizable title or lyric that will remain visible after the design is cut or folded.
Create a Hymnal Page Wreath
A wreath made from rolled or folded hymn pages can preserve a large portion of a damaged book in one project.
Some wreaths are made by rolling individual pages into cones and attaching them around a circular base. Others use folded pages to create a softer, ruffled effect. A flat wreath form provides a base for arranging the paper while keeping the finished wreath light enough to hang.
Before attaching anything permanently, arrange the first layer around the form to determine the spacing. The finished wreath can be left simple or completed with a restrained ribbon at the top.
Because old paper can fade and become brittle, display a hymnal page wreath away from moisture and prolonged direct sunlight.
Turn a Hymnal Page into a Meaningful Gift
A handmade gift does not need to be complicated to feel personal.
A favorite hymn can be used to create:
- A framed wedding or anniversary keepsake
- A bookmark
- A handmade card
- A gift tag
- Paper flowers
- A small Christmas ornament
- A background for a family photograph
- A memorial piece honoring a loved one
One reader shared that she used hymnal pages throughout her son’s church wedding, making paper roses, bows, vases, hearts, and table runners. Her comment is a wonderful example of how a simple material can carry meaning throughout an important family occasion.
When making a gift, begin with the person rather than the project. Think about which hymn, occasion, or memory connects the page to its recipient. That small decision is what changes an attractive paper craft into something worth keeping.
Use Hymnal Pages for Decoupage Projects
Hymnal pages can be applied to boxes, trays, drawer fronts, furniture, and other decorative surfaces.
The size of the project should determine the role the paper plays. On a small box or tray, the music can cover the entire surface. On a larger piece of furniture, it may be more effective to limit the pages to drawer fronts, panels, or another defined area.
Before beginning, consider whether the surface is clean, smooth, and appropriate for decoupage medium. Older paper may darken or become more translucent when wet, so test a spare page first.
One of the original sources included in this article showed old book pages applied to furniture, storage boxes, and a lampshade. You can see the paper-decoupage examples at AJ’s Trash to Treasure.
Paper-covered lampshades require additional care because paper and heat are not a good combination. Treat them as inspiration unless you are certain that the shade materials, adhesive, fixture, and bulb can be used together safely.
Give an Old Hymnal a Thoughtful New Purpose
An old hymnal does not need to be dismantled simply because it is old. Many deserve to remain just as they are, particularly when they carry a family or church history.
Others have already been loved nearly to pieces. Their bindings are broken, pages are missing, and they can no longer serve the purpose for which they were made. Those are the hymnals that can be thoughtfully transformed.
Whether one page is placed in a frame or many are gathered into a wreath, the most successful hymnal page crafts begin by choosing something meaningful. The familiar words and music are what make these projects more than decorations.
They allow part of an old book to be seen, remembered, and appreciated again.
Do you enjoy finding thoughtful ways to use old things, preserve meaningful traditions, and create a home that feels collected over time? Join the Belle Antiquarian mailing list to receive new stories and seasonal inspiration for the traditional home and the life surrounding it.
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