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Fun with Altered Books
 
Are you familiar with Altered Books?  The idea is to find a book with nice thick pages, one that you don’t mind, um, altering. (Some would say ‘ruining’.)  I went to a thrift store and looked until I found “Impressions of Love”, a counted cross stitch instruction and demonstration book.  Since I have less than no interest in counted cross stitch, but HUGE interest in Love, it was perfect.
 
I usually prepare four to six pages at a time with the first step, which is laying on a thin glaze of either watercolor or liquid metallic acrylic ink. This way, the text may still be slightly seen. If the page is too obnoxious, just paint over it with opaque watercolor or acrylic paint. The following steps are, for me, pretty seat-of-the-pants stuff. I just start doodling and let each step suggest the next.
 
Since my theme for this book is love, so far it’s fairly much what you would expect: hearts and flowers. I promise to loosen up as I progress through the book. Right now I’m having so much fun with paint, glue, glitter, beads, collage, wax resist, gel pens, Sharpies, stamp pads for texture, puffy fabric paint and Painty Pens.
 
You should try this. It’s so freeing and relaxing. Perhaps start with a children’s book. They often have thicker paper and fewer pages so you don’t feel overly committed. For more ideas, visit your library. There are quite a few Altered Book Books with all kinds of approaches. Have fun!
  
Melissa






















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 Greeting Archives:
April 2008- Back on Track
May 2008 - DaisyArtDog & Mel Tackles Clutter
June 2008 - Here Comes The Sun
July 2008 - It's Hot! Pour & Scrape
August 2008 - Video, Patronage and Flowers
September 2008 - Fall Colors, Show & Kitties
October 2008 - Definition, Baby.
November 2008 - Dear Majella
December 2008 - Holidays and Art Quotes
January 2009 - New Year with snow
February 2009 - Hearts of Love
March 2009 - Famous Traveling Art Chair
April 2009 - The Studio in Spring
May 2009 - Lesson in the  Studio
June 2009 - Journaling for Fun
July 2009 - Return of the Sun
August 2009 - More Moleskine
September 2009 - I Journal therefore I Am.
October 2009 - Journaling is my life.
November 2009 - Special Tools
December 2009 - Majella's Journals

January 2010 - Amazing Students
February 2010 - How to Break Your Dependence on Reality


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So many pix you'll have to see PAGE 2 . . .