Wedding Album - Take a Word

this is the album I've altered to hold some of Dawn and Graemes wedding photo's. I bought an album, took it to pieces and set about recovering it. I added some backing to give it a bit more depth then used Calico to make a pillowcase type cover. before the cover was stitched together I added all sorts of bits and pieces. A lace doyley was added and lace was added to the top, bottom and sides to create a frame. My main square was done with some material and pieces that I had received from Susie Q. I did lots of random stitching, added some rub ons,lots of hearts, flowers and buttons and found objects. After I had put it all back together I added some ruffled nylon down the spine. They haven't seen it yet - hope they like it

This album falls in nicely with the Take a Word challenge which is "Album"

Recycled Newspaper

I completely made this journal using recycled materials i.e. Newspaper and tin foil !!!

I got my inspiration from a dvd that Donna Downey had produced. I tore newspaper into squares and then with a glue stick attached about 10 pieces together to make one page. I continued in this way until I had 10 pages and 2 covers. I made my pages into 5 signatures by adding strips down the side by gluing and machine stithing them. I covered my front and back with tinfoil that I had embossed in my Vagabond. I then used ten second studio tools to add a bit more detail after coating with black gesso I rubbed most of it off to leave a worn and weathered look. I coated all my signatures with white gesso and did some machine stitching on them before attaching them with a coptic stitch to my covers.

I completed my first 2 pages using pan pastels, stencils, stamping and images. They were both finished off with text

Pretty pleased with the result and will probably make more - might make one out of an old dictionery or telephone directory

Fabric covered book

Another piece for a swap being hosted on the Lotstodo Forum

leather covered board book

I used an old handbag to cover this book !!! I cut all the leather off and then pieced it together before roughing up the edges a bit. I'm not showing the inside yet until the recipient has received it - hope she likes it

Altered Board Book - Vintage Fashion

I covered all my pages with the gorgeous Crafty Individuals papers. I then added lots of images, frames and bits from my box. I made the closure with D rings and ribbon. The tag is hung on ricrac and can be moved from page to page.

This book is for a swap on the Lotstodorevisited forum being hosted by moi !!!

Little Note book

Altered this little notebook for my third item for the swap being hosted by Zoe. I took off the front cover and replaced it with some nice backing paper which I then stamped with the quote and the little cottage.

Altered Book

I've spent about 2 weeks off and on to get this piece done. I firstly glued all the pages together in 2 halves (Bought the book for 10 pence at library sale not spoiling a good book)I then put 2 coats of gesso on and put some hinges in so that it would remain upright. I did a lot of inking and masking to create the sky and the landsacpe. My tree (Thank you Dan) took ages to cut out and ink - I was frightened of the branches falling off !!!!!. I stamped my owl and birds with stazon and my flowers with momento inks.

I'm really pleased with the finished result

Book stand

I got my inspiration for this bbok stand from Sue Roddis - April Craftstamper.

I firstly covered my book with gesso then glued it and left it clamped over night. I then inked it with dye inks and babywipes I then did a bit more inking through sequin waste. I added pieces of serviette and dressmaking pattern before stamping my images on to tissue and adding them. I added some Crafty Individual images which I hade lemon burned. I also did a bit of direct stamping. My bracket was covered with gesso and then alcohol inks before screwing it to the pages. Quite like the way it turned out

Alisons Birthday Book

I altered this book for my friend Alisons birthday - she will have received it by now - hope she likes it. Every page has a little opening of some description

Distressed Blue Book

I altered this board book for a swap on the Lotstodo Forum. I used lots of inking, stamping, embossing and distressing to complete it. There are 14 pages in the book so these are just a sample - leaving some as a surprise for whoever gets it

Distressed Board Book

I'm hosting the board book swap on the Lotstodo Forum. For my book I've used gesso - acrylics and inks for the backgrounds - Lots of stamping going on - the torn papers on the front and back were the pages that I had been rusting some bits on

Lotstodo Challenge - Free Theme

Sams taking a break this week from the challenge site - she has been running it for me for quite a few months now whilst I had other things going on - I am really grateful for the way she has inspired and encouraged lots of you to take part.

I made Sam this Journal as part of my Brave People post. The covers are Canvas Board which I inked with Sams Fav. colours I then added the grungeboard pieces which had also been inked. I just love the screw parts!!! The book is filled with letraset 270g paper which will take any amount of inks and paint without bleeding. I'm sure Sam will have lots of fun with it and look forward to seeing its progress.

Book Cover - Sand

I mixed sand with pva until it had the cosistency of cement - I then, using a palette knife, put it on to my book. I love the way it feels and looks - I'll be adding a titled name plate just as soon as I decide what to call my book.

Altered Hidden Compartment Book

I have really enjoyed altering this book although it seems to have taken forever to get it finished !!!Lots and lots of drying time. I started by glueing lots of pages together and then cutting out niches for my matchboxes. I had lots of fun adding colour and texture to the other pages. The cover is done with tissue and inks and the spine is coverd with lots of bits and pieces. I added fibres along the way and put beads and dominoes in my matchboxes which have little handles made with brads and fibre.Wish you could all have a feel of it - it's very tactile!!!

Cowboys and Indians

A little board book that I've altered for a friend who is still a kid at heart and loves Cowboys and Indians - hope he likes it - the fastener is an old watch strap

Ruler Book

Another ruler book - this time its for a little gift for someone who was unable to join in the swap- again I;ve used lots of inks, stamps and bits and pieces and drilled and bolted my rulers

Kathleens Book

This is the little book I made for my friend Kathleens birthday - I haven't shown all the pages - it had about 12 - the covers are done with balsa wood - Kathleen has now received it and really likes it