About Me

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Hi, Welcome to my Blog. I'm an eclectic kind of crafter delving into many pots. I am just about managing to keep up my Scrapbooking Diary (usually about 6 months behind), plus any cards as required. I have a new found love of watercolour and Bible Journaling plus recently Junk Journaling too. Previously I've also dabbled in ATCs, Tags, Altered Books, Mixed Media, Art Journaling, Décopatch, Knitting, Crochet, and Embroidery amongst other things. I live in Surrey, UK with my husband, our son has left home now. For exercise I usually play Badminton and go Ballroom and Latin Dancing, but am plagued by a bad back. I like walking which I couple with Geocaching and sometimes Bouncing on my Rebounder (mini trampoline). I guess I am officially retired now. I am a born again Christian, currently worshiping at my local Vineyard Church.

Saturday 10 March 2012

Altered Book : Part I


I have taken on the challenge of Elizabeth's Altered Book Lessons which will run fortnightly over the next 40 weeks or so! Here is the result of lessons 1-3. Finding a suitable book was quite a challenge to start with. This one is about a cricket commentator! However, the title did spark the theme of Seasons. Here you can see I have removed a good chunk of pages from the front section of the book (under the elastic band). In the back section I will be creating a "niche" so I have glued the pages together and the pegs are holding it in place whilst it dries. I still need an item to go in my niche and will be rummaging around in the loft later for a suitable Christmas decoration which will go nicely in the Winter section of my book!

Well I found a silver glittered snowflake which was shallow enough for my niche so went ahead and cut the hole and pegged with "mini pegs" this time! I then covered the block with snowflake paper from my stash and cut out some additional snowflakes in the niche backing card. I speckled them with white paint and glittered the backing paper too. Couldn't decide whether to cut the decoration's hanging string off or not and in the end just glued it to the outside of the niche. I'm loving my Altered Book :)

Here we go then, reinforced front pages. The papers were the ends of a 6x6 pad so a bit of patchwork was in order, covered by carefully positioned sticky ribbons! I cut up an old card I had made some time ago for Spring and have had hanging on my wall ever since. Added glossy accents, decoupage and crackle to the elements.  For the "bump" on the next page have stuck some mulberry paper. Sort of want to incorporate the book's title somehow??
I have cards already made for the other seasons too and one for all of them which might have to be on the cover (when we get to that bit) one way or another............ Happy Bunny!

Couldn't help myself, just had to do the other half of the back page next to the niche. Had to do a bit more patchwork as I didn't have enough of the patterned/mulberry papers without joins. Shame the white glitter doesn't show up on the photo, but I know it is there. I think lessons 1-3 are done for me now................

13 comments:

Ann B said...

Just seen your link on Elizabeth's page and thought I would say 'hello' as a classmate. Love your theme and lots of scope there but I love your 'clamps' even more. Had to look twice to see they were clothes pegs - hadn't thought of that and have been raiding my stash for bulldog clips.
Hope to see more as the book develops.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

It just goes to prove you don't need to go out and buy anything for this class. I assure you, if I hadn't been given those clamps, I would have been using clothes pins, too. Way to go! And thank you beyond words for linking up this week.

SandeeNC said...

HA! LOVE all those clothes pens, too funny, you got them all lined up just so! Love the idea of a Christmas ornament in your niche, cannot wait to see which one you pick! waving hi and altering my book from the hills of North Carolina :)

voodoo vixen said...

I love your snowflake, it stands out beautifully in the niche with the rich colours around it.

Julia S-W said...

I love the snowflake pages BJ. They are one of my favourite christmas things. I'm quite envious that you are doing this - just didn't have the time to search for the right book - you'll have to teach me how to do this please!The spring pages are lovely too - especially the hedgehog.
Juliax

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Well BJ, I am back and loving the snowflake niche and the springtime front page. I appreciate how you have taken your theme to the limit here. I am in love with your book, too!! BTW, I saw the white in the snowflakes (grin).

SandeeNC said...

Those mini pegs are just too darn cute!! Love the snowflake charm in the niche and you decorated those pages beautifuly too! Also you front page is awesome, you are doing such a fabulous job! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Thanks for reposting this. I'm glad you did. I'm sure someone will want to see what you have done.

Terrie said...

Your book is looking great! I almost chose seasons for a theme too -think it offers lots of possibilities. Your niche turned out beautifully. Although my sea glass might imply Sea for a theme, it's actually going to be Daydreams - I dream of being at the sea :) but also I thought it gave me a broader base for ideas. I look forward to seeing your book progress.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I am also in the AB class...I think your niche and front page reinforcement is just perfect. I had a small pad of papers I wanted to use, but just could not figure out how to "patch" them. I am not someone who has worked with paper a lot or scrap booked. Your snowflake niche is lovely!

Sherry said...

Fabulous! I love how you've done the page facing the niche - it really all blends together. I wasn't sure about doing that page, so all I've done so far is a light coat of paint.

Your front end pages look good too - the mulberry paper is a great re-inforcer by the looks of it - and fits in with your theme. I had quite a bit of trouble in doing those pages and thought at one stage it was all going to fall apart! The glue seems to have held now though.

Look forward to see your next stage too x

peggy aplSEEDS said...

wow, your niche is so wonderful! i love the way you made the whole spread!

Karen said...

WOW!!! Just been looking at your newer pages and had to pop down to see your niche :-D This page is sooo pretty BJ! I love the idea of a snowflake in the niche! xxx