Feb 18, 2016

Mixed Media Altered Book and Recycling

page 1

I promise I have not fallen off the face of the earth.  Rather, this weekend we went on a little trip.  It was much needed for my family.  We rode up to Charlotte.  Besides doing nothing, my goal was to find a great book to alter.  I hit the jackpot and found this book that is almost square.  I love the format!  My criteria when altering a book are: 1. cloth cover and 2. stitched signatures and 3. size.  This book had it all!  The only down side was that the pages were glossy photography.  But I decided I would either cover them with text pages, scrapbook paper, or gesso them as is.  On the way home I removed all of the pages except the first page set of each signature.  When I got home I went straight away into the studio to play.  Honestly, I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with trying to fit different elements into my art based on the challenges I participate in.  I decided to remedy that by sitting down to play with no preconceived notions about what "needed" to go into my pages.  What good fun!  I am still struggling a little and feel an "artist block" has come upon me, but am determined that I will play until it passes.

page 2

For my first spread I gessoed the blue pages lightly, allowing the original text to show through.  My friend Barbara passed a section of this sheer embroidered curtain panel to me, once she grew tired of them hanging in her home.  I cut each circle out with fabric scissors and then used matte Mod Podge to adhere them and the lace strip to my pages.  I cut the lace in the middle after gluing it down so the book would open and close properly, but that is hidden in the spine.

page 3

I just love how these stitches showed through in my layers of gesso and watercolor.

page 4

Another part of my play was to try embossing hot glue drips.  I decided I am not a fan of this...  For one the EP got wedged in my lace and made it look dirty.  Boo!  Also, I don't know if it is because my glue gun cost $3, but I couldn't get the glue to glob out properly like a water drop...  So I stopped after three blobs.  Kudos to you girls who make this look amazing!

page 6

This is one of my favorite sections.  I stamped this Tim Holtz stamp in lime ink, spritzed heavily with water below a section of lace.  I just love how the ink pooled.

page 7

To embellish my page I tore the baby wipe I used during the process into long strips and wadded it down into glue.  Loved this discovery!  To conceal some of the ugly "dirty embossing" I spackled some dried up Lumiere paint over the lace.  I have several bottles of this that have dried up and I am going to use this way.   Most of the stamping was done in Archival Ink in Cornflower blue.  The black is either a rub on or stamp from 7 Gypsies.  The wee little metal butterfly was a gift from my friend Madelyn - thanks Mad!!!

page 8

I used this image of these darling little girls from the Found Relatives collection by Tim because they remind me of how my Grandma would buy me pretty dresses from the big department store, even when they were too expensive for us.  The little price tag is representative of how little the cost really was compared to the value of those precious memories.

page 10

This is the first altered book I have made in over ten years (and Linda Findley if you're reading I was thinking of you every step of the way).  I'm sharing with:

42 comments:

Debi said...

just a stunning LO ! love the soft pretty colours and textures, Debi x

brenda said...

Lovely colours and textures Autumn and that is such a lovely vintage image.

Many thanks for sharing your lovely creation with us at Stamping Sensations challenge.

B x

A Pink said...

Wow Autumn the pages you have altered are outstandingly exceptional- the type you could look at for hours and still be left wanting to look some more. The colour tones are gorgeous , the delicate yet detailed feel of the pages so perfectly designed and executed, the adorable image and the price tag and what it represents have really stole my heart .
hugs x

Juliz Design Post said...

Breathtakingly beautiful. I adore your lace circles and the beautiful soft colours against your found relatives is wonderful. Love you to link up to That Craft Place where the challenge is Anything Goes.
Hugs, Julie x

Vintagehandmade said...

Wow, Autumn, what spectacular colours and awesome textures! So vintage and delicate! It's stunning! Love it! Hugs! Branka xxx

Lisa said...

Oh wow, Autumn, your pages look amazing!! What fabulous texture!! I love the colors and the details!! The vintage image is so sweet!! I absolutely love everything about this!! Stunning, stunning pages!! Wow!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Wow! this is so gorgeous. Love it, Angela x

Art By Wanda said...

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diana said...

Autumn i love this!! and the use of the baby wipe is awesome. i always look at mine and say i am going to use them but never have.you have inspired me to add the to a page. thanks for joining our challenge of anything goes at Emerald Creek Dares!

Linda Breedlove said...

So beautiful, Autumn... the laces and colors are stunning... so much texture. Just fabulous!!! Love those drips, and your tiny butterfly! Great job, lady!

experiments in paper said...

Autumn, this is spectacular, and a testament to the power of "play"! I love everything about this, even your hot glue - but I really love how you are using those Lumiere paints - beautiful touch on that lace! This is a fantastic layout - I envy your ability to do this so beautifully! xxx Lynn

Lucy said...

What a lovely altered book. I enjoyed reading about your decisions as you made this piece of art, specifically, "I decided to remedy that by sitting down to play with no preconceived notions about what "needed" to go into my pages." That really helps, doesn't it?

kiwimeskreations said...

Autumn this is absolutely gorgeous - love all the texture and the subtle colour - I cannot see where there is any 'artists block'.
Blessings
Maxine

Ruth said...

Beautiful, beautiful layered textured pages. Gorgeous Autumn! Ruth xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Stunning! Gorgeous colours and fabulous layers and textures. Jennie x

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous page Autumn! Love the colours, and your choices from the moodboard work so well together! Completely dreamy, wowzers! The flourishes in the corners are a great detail and the textures are fantastic! Love it! hugs :)

Unknown said...

EXQUISITE - CHARMING - SENTIMENTAL - DAINTY - ELEGANTLY WONDERFUL.

Absolutely Adore this Autumn. It should be framed. XX j.

Sheri Gilson said...

Gorgeous layout! Love the layers and fabulous texture!

sarascloset said...

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEE-YOU-TEE-FULLL!!! Wow, Autumn, I sure like your version of an artist block better than mine! I think you have done your best work here on these two pages! Love the colors, love the lace, love the hidden meaning of the 50 cent tag...I was wondering about that! I love that you experimented with the glue drips, and I think they add a nice contrast to all the fluff. Great pages, Autumn, and I'm so happy you were able to play and have some fun! Have I said how lovely I think these pages are??? Oh, how I wish I could create soft beautiful artwork like this! Hugs!

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

This is an absolutely gorgeous project, Autumn! The texture of the baby wipes is amazing! The whole page is beautifully balanced!

Jinny Newlin said...

A block?! Are you kidding me?! This is gorgeous, Autumn! I keep coming back to those embroidered circles! LOVE! And the color and textures and baby wipes (Pure genius by the way!) are fantastic! So pretty! SO PRETTY!

Goga said...

Sweet book :) I'm in love :)
Thanks for your entry in our MMW moodboard's challenge - share your project in our inspirational group on Facebook :)

Mona Pendleton said...

Such pretty pages! Love all the texture and the inky background!

Marianne/skorpionen said...

Your book is gorgeous! Love the texture and colors you have used!

Olenkaja said...

Gorgeous! I like so much blue and this project have a lovely shade. Lace add lightness. Magic Mixed Media.

Petra Swart said...

WOW, absolutely amazing, Autumn!!!! So happy for you that you found the perfect book!!! Your page is so amazing - I love every bit of wonderful detail you've got on there!!! Beautifully done!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Hugz

Mimi said...

You are amazing. This is amazing. You are so inspiring, Autumn! Ummm, I always try to pick a fave part... How the heck am I s'posed to do that??? Palette, curtains... And don't get me started on your pricetag symbology... Thanks for sharing this with the world.

Sandra Wright. said...

Beautiful,just beautiful...I adore this,such delicate colours and that image is to die for...
Thank you for joining in with our challenge over at Altered Eclectics...x

Macarena said...

This is so pretty. I love the shabby romantic look and all th pastel soft colors. Thank you for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge!

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

Stunning journal spread Autumn, magnificent colours and detailing. Enjoy the weekend!

Love and hugs
Maarit

Elaine aka Ellapu said...

Fabulous project idea and stunning too -
Thank you for sharing with us over at Altered Eclectics this month and hope to see you again in future challenges.

Handcrafted by Ellapu
Mother Hen for Altered Eclectics
Mother Hen for Eclectic Ellapu
DT Rhedd's Creative Spirit

coldwaters2 said...

Wow I am once again blown away with this amazing work of art Autumn, there is just pure beauty when I look at all the pictures close up, the detail is awesome, truly stunning pages
hugs
lorraine x

Becca Cruger said...

Girrrrrrrlllll every time I see one of your projects I think - how is this girl not in the cover of EVERY stamping magazine. Your work is just incredible.

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

This is GENIUS times a million billion! I love working with fabric, but this piece made me drop my jaw in awe! And if this is what you produce when you have artist's block, I can only imagine what you make when you DON'T have artist's block! Holy cow! I especially love the circles and the drips and the lace and the stamping and the color and the...heck. I love it ALL! Beautiful work and I feel utterly inspired. Thanks for sharing your mad fabric skills with us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

Zoey | Scrapsaurus said...

Autumn, what a gorgeous art journal page!!!
I loved reading how you decided to just sit and play, free!!
hugs hugs hugs

Thank you for playing along with us over Simon Says Stamp! Monday Challange!
Zoey

pinky said...

Wow that is absolutely stunning!! Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations this month.
Pinky

Moje Wytwory said...

Wow. Just gorgeous work. Thank you for joining challenge in Mixed Media Warriors :)

Sally H said...

Wonderful creation! Thanks for joining us at stamping Sensations this month!

Anonymous said...

Ooohhhh, my favorite colors! Love love love this piece! Thank you for playing along with Mixed Media Warriors! Good luck!

Artforte said...

This is stunning.Thank you for joining at Mixed Media Warrior Challenge#1

Ammaris Art said...

Beautiful and so delicate! Colours are simply gorgeous! Thank you for joining us at Let's Craft and Create! Hugs.
Catherine xx

WendyK said...

This is fabulous, love the texture and delicate colours.

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