Tuesday 1 October 2013

Autumnal Altered Book

Hello everyone and lovely to have you drop by here. Today is the first of the month and that means challenge time over on the Artistic Stamper. The theme this month is Alter Something. I decided to alter a book and make it into an Autumnal decorative piece
This was a fun project to do and I will put a quick step by step here. I saw the idea of this ages ago on Pinterest, but then I gave it my own twist.
Start with any old book you can pick up at a charity shop. A hard back book will make the project more sturdy. Fold all of the pages in half, about three or four at the time, until it looks like this:

I covered the covers with Gesso and then edged everything with a dark brown paint dauber. As you won't really see the covers I could have left that bit out really...

Next I inked the edges of the pages with gathered twigs Distress Ink and then created two background panels. As I wanted my project to have autumnal colours I used Distress Stains in Wild Honey and Rusty Hinge on pre-wetted water colour papers. I splatted the stains around, added more water to mix them well and added a handful of coarse kitchen salt for added texture. Once the papers have dried you wipe that off and are then left with a wonderful pattern.
I inked around the edges with some Aged Mahogany Distress ink, to deepen the colour a bit more.
I then used these cool stamp sets by Katie Fox available from the Artistic Stamper.

 And also this Chevron Stamp
Here are some close up photos so you can see more or less what I did:
I ran the top panel through a Tim Holtz texture fade, stamped my chosen stamps in one of the new Wendy Vecchi Archival Inks, Potting Soil, I also used an Artistic Stamper Script Stamp and one of the Chevrons in Red Geranium Archival. I covered the top panel of the book in some printed tissue paper first.
Then I glued my stamped panel on top. I curled the edges a bit an stuck some bits and pieces underneath for a bit of added interest:

The bottom panel was done in a similar way:
The bit on the bottom is a bit of chip board painted in brown acrylic paint and then embossed with some gold embossing powder. I love how the leaves when you stamp them and then cut them out look so realistic.

I adhered a piece of lace underneath the panels to hold the book open at an angle and then decorated the top with some die cut sprays and leaves and flowers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the leaves were cut with the Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings strip die.

Well, hope you like this, it's great fun to do and of course you can do it in any style you want. I may well do a Christmas themed one for my Christmas table and I think a Spring one with butterflies and pastel colours would look lovely too.
Thank you for visiting today and you have a whole month to play in the Artistic Stampers challenge where one lucky winner will win a fab stamp set of their choice!

62 comments:

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid
It is so rich and beautiful, a unique decoration and very eye catching, I love it.
Smiles:)
Sue

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a wonderful automn project , great colours , great image, I really am a fan, for this beautiful ART work!!

Greetings
Maria

marda said...

This is just beautiful..I love the colors of autumn and your color choices and design reflect that perfectly. Your Artistic efforts continue to amaze me.

Scraps of Elegance said...

Gorgeous rich colors. Love how you explained how you achieved the rich colors.

Rosie said...

Wow, this is gorgeous, I love the colours of Autumn.

Have a wonderful day, Astrid

Brenda Brown said...

Beautiful Astrid from the rich autumnal palette to the gorgeous embellishments this really is a wonderful piece of home decor that I am gonna have to case for Christmas.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Marisa Job said...

What a gorgeous project! Love everything about it!!

barbarayaya62 said...

Stunning project! love all in this project! BArbarayaya

Suzi B said...

Wonderful creation , fabulous colours and decoration! just the inspiration I need to get me going again.
Suzi B xx

Anke said...

WOW WOW WOW was für ein traumhaft schönes Werk, ich bin sprachlos, sowas von schön.

Herzliche Grüße
von Anke

Helen said...

I have seen books altered in a variety of ways and think that this is a completely stunning version - I love the rich colours, and the way you've held it at an angle with the lace is fabulous. I hope to have a go at this one day!

Agnieszka Korman said...

Beautiful and unique.

Almo said...

Hi Astrid, This is stunning, I love the rich Autuminal colours and the little added touches of the curled corners with little bits in them. Hugs Mo x

Annie said...

Wow Astrid :-) such a fantastic project and I love your take on it. Wonderful colours and beautiful stamps/leaves. Great idea with the lace. Look forward to viewing the Christmas and Spring make

Would make the most amazing gift too

TFS
Annie x

Elaine said...

This is a beautiful project Astrid, I have wanted to make one of these projects for ages, but I have to say this is one of the loveliest I have seen. Beautiful autumnal colours, great design with all the little touches like curled corners, berries etc. Very inspiring! Elaine x

Wendy L said...

Very beautiful, you come up with amazing ideas xxx

Linda Page said...

Astrid this.is just beautiful x

Paula Whittaker said...

WOW a truly stunning stand alone creation.

Heather Jacob said...

OMG Astrid, this is totally out of this world , I am gobsmacked by it
s beauty , amazing and inspiring , love it x

Redanne said...

Not just a makeover Astrid, this is a truly stunning piece of art! Absolutely gorgeous piece of home decor. Hugs, Anne x

Maryann Laursen said...

Oh my goodness this is awesome Astrid. I absolutely love, what you did to this old book. I actually made a few like this some years agom even they were decorated a bit different, but they never looked half as good as this. This is stunning. MAybe I should get some out and give it another try again and see, if I could learn something from one of the best ever.

Rita said...

Wow Astrid. How beautiful. I love all the different textures. It will certainly look fabulous on a table or sideboard. I'd like to have a go at one myself. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

Unknown said...

Oh my! This is brilliant! Absolutely stunning! xxoo

Caroline said...

Consider my breath utterly taken!!! :)))

sharon said...

Wow and WOW! I can't believe how gorgeous this is! I always admire the amount of work you put into a piece, this is really exceptional Astrid! Over the top!

Maryanne said...

Oh my, Astrid!!! I can't tell you how much I love this project!! It has all my favorite things, old books, old books used for book art, Fall colors and the richness of the leaf garland. So beautiful! I hope you don't mind if I borrow the idea!

Margaret Mifsud said...

My gosh Astrid, I am absolutely gobsmacked and drooling all over my computer!!! I love this, it is so gorgeous!!! I have seen these kinds of altered books before but this one is really amazing. Such beautiful and rich colours and of course your stamping and embellies are perfect for this book! You are such an amazingly talented lady!! Loooove it!! oxox

Kelly said...

Gorgeous book, just love these. Your florals across the top are fabulous and the colors you chose are great for fall. This book could be done for all seasons, you make it look easy, thank you for the inspiration!
Have a great day,
Kelly

Meggymay said...

Stunning project and such a great idea. The colours are so rich, a wonderful piece to have displayed to reflect the season of the year.
Yvonne x

SusanK said...

This is the most rich and luxurious piece of altered art I've seen! Wowza!

ria gall said...

Hi Astrid
this is the second book that I have seen made up and decorated in this way and I have to say it looks a lovely project to do.
You have really done a fantastic job on this book and your colours and added items are wonderful, I really want to have a go after seeing this
Ria

craftimamma said...

I think I saved one of this type of alteration on my Pinterest boards too (probably collected it from you in the first place, lol) but you have certainly put your own spin on it Astrid and a beautiful spin at that. I really want to have a go at this now but doubt it would look as beautiful as yours.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Kath Stewart said...

fabulous stunning project Astrid...I altered one as a Christmas decoration ages ago...a lot of work but such fun to do...hugs kath xxx

Marianne said...

This is truly wonderful. Lovely warm autumn colors and great embellishments. Stunning project!
xxx Marianne

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow!!! This gorgeous book has shot straight to the top of the list of my favorite projects you've blogged. It's absolutely stunning! Off to pin... yessiree!

Netty said...

wonderful stand alone creation Astrid, Annette x

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

This is unbelievably gorgeous! Thank you for the wonderful instructions!

lisa said...

This is stunning Astrid. The colours are gorgeous and I love all the detail on the panels. Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial. This is one project i'm definitely going to try.
Hugs Lisax

Carol Q said...

absoluteley love this Astrid. such rich autumnal colours.a beautiful piece of mixed media art.

froebelsternchen said...

simply GORGEOUS! WOW!

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

Simply Stunning and definitely altered!

Barbara Rankin said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! I love your version of the altered book, and if you don't mind, I am storing this in my memory banks so I can pull it out and make one of my very own. TFS

May said...

O my word Astrid...Love it... the detail & rich colours are simply beautiful...Thank you so much for the tutorial... Hugs May x x x

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic project! It's absolutely beautiful Astrid!
Alison x

Christiane Courtin-Mangez said...

Georgous, I love !!!!!!!!!!


Hugs from France, Christiane

http://mescouleursdevie.blogspot.com/

Paper Profusion said...

You are absolutely rocking these earthern fiery tones Astrid! Stunningly beautiful! Nicola x

Dorthe said...

Astrid, this is an amazing piece.
First I love the little book you used, in it`s altered tones of old ..looking so wonderful together with your chosen orange/yellow tones. Your stamped leaves and flowers are totally wonderful too,- and the idea with the flowers falling over the pages looks so VERY beautiful!!
Thankyou for the TUT. I would love to try making one for christmas....we will se if time will be there for it :-)
Hugs from Dorthe

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, that's breathtaking - such a wonderful piece of art.

Bärbel said...

Wow, Astrid, so eine prächtige Dekoration, die aus einem alten Buch erschaffen wurde! Ich bin sprachlos angesichts dieses Werkes.

Margie said...

This is fabulous Astrid! I love folding books but you've taken the art to a whole new level with your gorgeous colours and the panels. Definitely a centre piece to be proud of. Margie x

Anonymous said...

Hello Astrid
Sorry I am only visiting now. I cannot even blame AOL for this!
It is as though the book is glowing, radiating a soothing warm on a cold Autumnal evening.
Wishes
Lynne

Words and Pictures said...

A stunningly beautiful creation, Astrid - your altered book is just breathtaking. I'll be back to indulge myself with a longer look very soon...
Alison xx

Ros Crawford said...

This is stunning!! I have a picture of one of these books on my 'to do' list - you know I love altering books - I don't think I could ever come close to this though ... Beautiful!

Tone M. said...

It's beautiful, and really in season

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

A big thank you for this tutorial, I was wondering how you did it, your book is really outstanding !!!

Nicecrane Designs said...

Abslutely a Play of Art Astrid,,,wowwww,,, love it, love it..

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Wow wow woW! This is amazing Astrid! I absolutely adore your book alteration and the Autumnal theme is simply stunning! Did you secure the pages with an adhesive to stop them unfolding? xxx

Rossella said...

This is just stunning, Astrid
Rosie x

Dianne said...

WOOHOO, OUTSTANDING WORK, I'm standing and cheering, oh my goodness, this is just so creative and freaking gorgeous, loooooove the colors you blended, head bowed, wings together, Namaste to you dear Astrid..Thanks for sharing...

Unknown said...

Graciasss. Un trabajo precioso!

Sin City Stamps said...

This is an amazing altered book Astrid! Great use of Sin City Stamps! Beautiful!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Astrid, your book is amazing and the steps used to create it is very detailed and helpful. I have stopped by for a visit to see your creation from a link shared by Dorthe in her post today. So nice to meet you and thank you for sharing this last fall. I have so enjoyed my visit.
Have a very Merry Christmas.
Hugs from Texas, Celestina Marie Design

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