I read somewhere that you can turn almost anything into a bonsai.

Not quite. It must have the following traits:
Woody stem & branches.
Small leaves. If the leaves are medium size, they must reduce with bonsai care.
Small flowers & fruit. I. e. cherries & crabapples, not full-size apples.
Must be amenable to container growing. There are many trees, like mesquite,
which look as though they would make wonderful bonsai, but are almost
impossible to grow in a pot.
What species of trees do you find in a wooded area in Kansas? We will tell you
which ones to use for bonsai. Dig up the whole tree. Don't bother with
cuttings.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"A tree never hits an automobile except in self defense." - Woody Allen