THIRD POST IN THE ALTERED BOOK SERIES

The cover of a book you alter must, of course, be striking. The one below is dimensional, with the leafy design sculpted of paper pulp. You could duplicate the idea by using Sculpey or other products. Press them into a mold if you don't want to form them yourself by hand.

The background is fabric.

I added shading around the paper sculpture (above) to incorporate it into the design of the cloth cover.

Here's another cover, below, done with a board book I altered. Each "page" was carved into a different curvy shape. The eye (on the inside facing page) shows through  a cut-out hole in the cover.

Imagine, by P. Guhin

Remember to design an interesting spine and edges, too! 

Beaded trim adds a decorative touch.

IDEAS FOR ALTERING UNWANTED BOOKS

Second in a series about altered books.

A closure device can be a nice touch. Below, you see a finished cover (I left quite a lot of the antique book cover showing) with a polished horn and leather loop at the open side.

Rusted metal, fibrous fabric, imagery, and corrugated cardboard.

Here's a side view of the finished book, below.

Close-up of my closure device.

Now for a freebie offer (now closed) for my followers only! I have sooooo many books and not enough room, so the first person (who follows this blog) who contacts me privately with their postal address (U. S. only, please) WINS the antique schoolbook shown below. I think it's from the 50's.

With color illustrations inside!

I'll mail it to the winner at no charge, of course, and I promise I won't use your mailing address for anything else. When the book has been given away, I'll make a note here.
The winner of this vintage book is Jo Rice!

ALTERED BOOKS ARE AWESOME!

How many of you have altered an old, unwanted book and created something both beautiful and useful? This post begins a short series on a few formats to try, details to add, & more. You'll also find links to other helpful sites.

                      This tiny, fold-up "book" stands alone for display. I used slide frames, tiny holes in the corners, and jewelry jump rings.

Anyone Can Draw, by P. Guhin

And here's another idea I love: Make a double picture frame or an altered art shadowbox!

Sea motif with images, glass pebbles, shells, etc.

For this stand-up shadowbox , I had to cut the center rectangles out of a discarded book. And here's a video link to a method of making a hidden shadow box inside an old book!

I love horses!

I made an altered art book on equines, and folded this page so I could slip some mementos into the pocket.

Are you a visual arts educator? This site includes tips, assessment, and more!

MAKE JEWELRY WITH THRIFT SHOP FINDS, TINY TOYS, EVEN OUTDOOR FAUCETS!

Create unique jewelry with recycled and upcycled materials. It's easy and fun!

Find inexpensive costume bits and pieces to assemble into a new necklace! Alter old-fashioned screw-type earring backs by snipping off the screw and rolling what's left into a loop. The backs of clip-on earrings often pull right off with pliers.

Start your design at the center of a chain with the largest elements. Work outward on each side with smaller parts.

This neck candy was made with junk pins and ear bobs.

I like to use all silver-tone or all gold-tone pieces together,
but you can mix and match.

Necklace above done with deconstructed brooches and earrings on a spare chain.

The two pieces seen directly below utilize a common piece of 

hardware: faucet handles! Other materials include vintage 

earrings or buttons, chains, clasps, findings (including jump 

rings &/or jewelry wire), and a few beads. Tools needed

 are pliers and wire cutters. I also added a touch of metallic 

acrylic paint to the "flower" shapes.

Old faucet handles as elements in a bracelet and a necklace. 

String some beads & add a few novelties!

This necklace is a mix of high and low: 

glass beads left over from other projects, 

and plastic key chain dangles. Achieve 

a similar Pop-art effect with small 

novelty pencil sharpeners.

(Be sure to see some tips on jewelry-making, at my last post.)