Altered Books| Altered Books Ideas | Altered Book Tips|

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Altered Book Ideas

Have you ever wondered how an Altered Book is made?

Read on to find out everything you need to know

Enjoy!
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What Is An Altered Book??? 

For Those Who Have Never Heard Of An Altered Book!

Altered books are unloved, discarded books that are turned into works of art.

They can be part scrapbook, part journal, part canvas, part mad experiment.

Altered books are an on-again off-again passion of mine. I love the concept and have gathered a collection of books, stamps, papers and ephemera that should allow me many hours of creativity.

Altered books are a creative means of exploring your world. This multi-medium process of resurfacing of an otherwise "dead" book provides an opportunity to experience a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional embodied process of creativity.

Have A Look At This INcredible Altered Book 

Check out these amazing backgrounds and techniques used in this wonderful Altered book. It is truly an inspiration!

Altered books*Virgenes*

Altering books is a fast growing kind of art that I fell in love with, I usually use old big books and cover them all so I won´t have trouble with copy rights, so, here is one for you to enjoy about Virgins wich I adore! Thanks for being cool and rate my work!!Visit my blog at: http://monicazuniga.blogspot.com/

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Altered Books Are: 

Altered Books Are:

1: A book which has been Altered (changed)into a piece of ART by painting, drawing, gluing stuff on, stamping,or beading over the print, collaging onto the pages or cutting a niche and putting items into it.

2: There are No Rules in making an altered book so the pages can be cut, folded, glued together and you can cut niches into the book

3: The pages can be covered with fabric, polymer clay, you can make textile pieces and pockets and put hidden messages in your Altered Book

4: The main thing is to have fun and let your creative side out!

Altered Art For Sale 

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My Experience With Altered Book Round Robins 

I was introduced to Altered Books before they became a main stream art. I was very fascinated with them and interested to know more about them, so I started a yahoo group and invited some friends of mine who were Fiber Art Dolls Designers. They were keen to explore different mixed media art like a hobby as their dolls were their main job.

We started doing Altered Book Round Robins, where we would choose a theme for our books, then each start our own book. Every month or so we would send our own book to the next person on the list to do their thing in our books. Usually we would do a couple of double page spreads in each Altered book, then send it to the next person.


Altered Book Pages to Check Out! 

69/365: Altered Books by PlayfulLibrarian

69/365: Altered Book...

Best Frends...Book by thegoinggreenboutique

Best Frends...Book

Clare #2 by fotologic

Clare #2

More About The Round Robins 

At the same time we would receive a book from another artist and would have to tune our creativity into their chosen theme and work in their books.

This was a sometimes daunting task and it was also so exciting to see what others were doing and learn new techniques.

Finally the time came to get our own Altered books back. What an exciting time it was. Once in a while we would be a bit dissapointed about work done in our book,  but most of the time we were thrilled and so grateful for the beautiful art work that we got to keep for the rest of our lives. I would encourage everyone to give this type of art a go, its so much fun and you really can not go wrong.

Altered Art Books 

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Use a Childrens Board Book To Make An Altered Book 

One of the easiest ways to make an Altered Book is to start with a children's Board Book.

You can usually get these books on sale so they don't cost you an arm and a leg.

This saves hours of gluing pages together and these books have very thick pages so they tend to hold together better in the long term.

What you do is use Gesso to paint over the shiney pages to start with then you can use acrylic paint and handmade and other paper techniques to get the base of your page before adding ephemera and other 3 dimensional objects.

Some people say that you need to give the pages a light sanding first but I have never done that and never had a problem

The picture is of a book that I altered the cover of.

Altered Book Idea Reminder

Go To your local thrift shop and buy a book with a nice stable cover. Then you will be ready to Alter your First book!

Which Book Is Your Favorite? 

Altered Book Arts

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More Altered Book Ideas 

New Directions in Altered Books

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/05/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $19.95

For several years now I thought I was done with the concept of an altered book, but then I hadn't seen or read Gabe Cyr's book until this summer. Gabe puts to shame other authors who have come along and offered us formularic ways in which to create--to alter--by intoxicating us with new paths, stimulating our senses and re-invigorating this old dog into thinking once more of reclaiming a tired, discarded friend and turning her into a piece of art.

Her steps are easy to follow, but she doesn't instruct so much as lead one along a path to one's own creative urges and juices. It is this ability to arouse the creative urge and the plethora of eye candy she has included in the book that makes this among the best books on the subject of altered books!

If you want to learn, or regain your excitement about altered books, this is the book to own!

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

More Arty Information 

Why Would You Want To Create an Altered Book ? 

Altered Books are a popular way to creatively share words and images and artistic expressions .

Altered Books are a fun and enjoyable way to create new books and journal from old books. By removing pages and painting layouts, unique creations may be made from books, which currently lay on the shelves collecting dust.

Altered books are a popular trend among artists using drawing, painting, collage, as well as other skills like stitching and carving!

The International Society of Altered Book Artists (www.alteredbookartists.com) defines an altered book as "any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art.

Altered Book Supplies 

Forest Blaze Angelina Fiber

Forest Blaze Angelina Fiber

Angelina (r) heat fusible fibers are polyester fib more...0 points

Altered 104: Everything! by Beth Cote

Altered 104: Everything! by Beth Cote

Altered Books and Altered Art seem to be falling i more...0 points

Hand-Collected Ephemera for Altered Books

Hand-Collected Ephemera for Altered Books

This is an eclectic collection of ephemera that is more...0 points

Gold Iris Angelina Fiber

Gold Iris Angelina Fiber

Angelina (r) heat fusible fibers are polyester fib more...0 points

Now its Your Turn To Squidoo! 

Now it's your turn....
Make your own Squidoo lens
Squidoo is a great place to create a web site (called a lens). You can share your thoughts on gadgets, crafting, arts, food or what ever's on your mind and maybe make a little $$ along the way....oh and did I mention it's FREE!
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Do You Make Money From Your Arts And Crafts? 

2Eklectik wrote...

Great idea! Interesting lens.

ReplyPosted May 27, 2009

BevsPaper wrote...

Love this lens! 5*s and I lensrolled it to my Make a Purse out of Old Books lens.

ReplyPosted May 22, 2009

0ctavias0fferings wrote...

Very interesting lens. Not something I would do to any of my existing books but I might consider experimenting a bit with something picked up from a thrift shop. 5* and a sprinkling of Angel dust for your Altered Art.

ReplyPosted April 04, 2009

Lensmaster

alana wrote

hi di!
Alana here from 'Budget Direct' (and then I moved back home to New Zealand) I'd LOVE to hear from you, I think about you often. Email me? alanaalana (at) gmail DOT com

Reply Posted October 23, 2008

Gandree wrote...

I just heard about altered books this afternoon. What a unique way to put a discarded item to use - Very Green :0)

ReplyPosted September 04, 2008

annetteghallowell wrote...

I love this lens! I have been "itching" for some new projects as I face the imminent departure of my one and only to college next week. I am thinking of doing this combined with photography...Now I just need an old board book! 5* and a new favorite for referring back to!

ReplyPosted August 10, 2008

alteredkat wrote...

cool lens! very informative!

ReplyPosted May 23, 2008

beachbum_gabby wrote...

very cool and creative. Rewarding 5*!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2008

mulberry wrote...

Very unique topic and lots of great information about it. Great lens!

ReplyPosted May 03, 2008

Winter52 wrote...

Before this morning I had never heard of an altered book and you are talking to someone who can't squeeze one more book onto her shelf. I'm definitely adding you to my Happiness 101 lensroll because I think that this could be incredibly relaxing. I know that I have been on your lens for ages and I haven't even had breakfast yet. 5 stars definitely.

ReplyPosted April 26, 2008

nightcats wrote...

I;m thrilled to see that you are using my Board Book video that put on YouTube. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence!

ReplyPosted April 23, 2008

PatinKC wrote...

Wow, who knew?

ReplyPosted April 03, 2008

SemperFidelis wrote...

Excellent lens. Until now, I've never heard of a 'altered book!'Blessed by a Squid Angel today! :o)

ReplyPosted April 02, 2008

GypsyPirate wrote...

This was new to me, I really enjoyed reading your lens and learning. Thank you.

ReplyPosted April 02, 2008

kristinedior wrote...

Wonderful source of Information!
If You would like to know more about
Free Books and how to get them, Please Go Here

ReplyPosted March 25, 2008

PotPieGirl wrote...

Di - what a wonderful lens! You are so talented! I'm lucky if I can draw a straight line!

Keep up the good work -

Jennifer

ReplyPosted March 11, 2008

Lensmaster

Emma Fashokun wrote

Hi!
thanks for the kind comments about my 'GOLD; book, it was a lot of fun to make!
emma jane

Reply Posted January 18, 2008

Wonderful Arty Sites For Your Enjoyment 

Di McDonald
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Di McDonald More Mixed Media Art
Posted on August 28th, 2008 by by Hi again guys,
Today I have a picture of my own work from my own book. For the background I actually used some paper towels that I had used to mop up excess paint when doing another collage.
Th

by DiMcDonald

I am a mixed media artist and teacher.
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