Paper Work in the Studio

This type of paper work is not the boring kind - although some may find the process boring because it is a bit repetitive.  

I was looking at various altered book techinques.  That prompted me to find a webpage where this technique was explained.  I love surprises in books, so of course I want to add some to my altered books. 

This technique involves folding, cutting and gluing the papers to created a lovely pop-up in the book.  

You have probably seen something like this in a party store or at a party or  festive restaurant. 

First I made the circle construction and left it to dry overnight. 

I glued two pages together on each side of the layout to give it a bit more structure. 

Then I gessoed the pages, but added a bit of blue to the gesso. Okay, honestly, the blue was still in the brush I used for the gesso and blended with it - Happy accident. 
(Crafty Cheapskate note:  I use foam brushes for gesso, PVA glue, and a few other things. These brushes are "disposable" but seriously - if I can use them again without washing them, I will.  So I decided to put them in separate ziploc type sandwich bags.  I spritz in a little water - they don't dry out and I can use them for the same thing again. I label the bags with what the brush was used for.)  

Once the gesso was dry, I dropped some acrylic ink on one page (mostly on one page) Then I closed the book to make an inkblot design.  I didn't put any in the very center since the "ball" was going there. 

Then when everything was dry, the ball was glued into the book. 

That one book is taking quite a while to finish because there is a lot of waiting.  I have prepped another book and started gessoing pages in it. 

Sharing with Sunday in the Art Room (SITAR) 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Altered Book Additions

My altered book has really kept my attention and given me lots of creative choices.  I am truly enjoying playing with art that isn't "precious."  

I used the flower print that I drew on with white gel pen and found a page that looked good next to it. 

I am undecided about adding something to the right hand page. I may add a quote, or just leave it as is. 

Another 2 page spread in mostly warm colors

There is a bit of cool color on each page to add interest. 

Again I may or may not add words to either of these pages.

Another fun spread that started with creating an ink blot with acrylic "ink paints" 

Then I added a "Pop Up bridge" 

First partially open

Then fully opened. 

I just love the bridge popping up. 

Finally,  here is gel print that was sitting there waiting to be glued on a page. 

But then I saw the white gel pen right there and said "Hmmmmm...." 
I sat for a minute thinking what I might draw.  Then the quilter in me grabbed the 

pen and started drawing continuous line quilting designs.  

You probably noticed that it isn't all continuous line.  I said "Hey there isn't thread to break and tie off, 

I can add "clouds" in the "sky" and add some extra circles in the bottom area. 

I can hardly wait to get this page glued into my book.

Linking to 

Sunday in the Art Room 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A couple of Altered Book Pages

Happy Friday.  This is short because my Mom turns 90 today and I need to bake two cakes.  (one sugar-free for the diabetics among us- and one sugary one for everyone else.) 

Here are a couple of pages from the altered book I am making.  I have taken several classes on CreativeBug (affiliate link) about various ways of altering books and creating papers. 

Both of these pages use a gel-printed background that is glued to the book page. 

The car was drawn with paint pens and cut from another sheet then glued onto the background

I think this print was a bit busy, but I used it anyway. 

The photos were black and white,  I used acrylic paint pens to colorize them. 

Linking to the Friday Face Off.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Altered Book in the Making

I have come up with a new project that fits my "caregiver" schedule.  I can work on it for a few minutes and then easily walk away.  That is always good when you sometimes only have a few minutes.  

Yesterday I had more than a few minutes.  So I did a fun thing with the back section of the book.  Using PVA glue, I created a section and glued the edges together.  Then I cut a niche in that section - and glued those edges also. 

I still need to clean up the cut edges.  Nothing like a photo so show up the flaws. 

After those edges are cleaned up, I will paint, or maybe cover the area with fabric.

Then I need to find something to put in that niche. 

Here are some other pages in the book I have altered.

This was a nice blank page to work on. 

Painted paper with a face collaged onto it.

My hands traced and echoed

Just fun mixes of color

A face on an old piece of music, and a luscious yellow/orange field of color

Fun with color and images. 

You may recognize that right hand page - I decided it was too busy and added the apple 

image to calm it down a bit. 

Linking to the Friday Face Off

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.