Tips and Tricks - Digging Up Free Art Supplies

Tips and Tricks - Digging Up Free Art Supplies
by Kim M. Bayne

I'm often asked about being a "pack rat." The term comes up when I talk about how I gather my art supplies. For example, I'm an avid dumpster diver. I lie in wait for my next-door neighbor to take out his trash then secretly rummage through his discards to find materials for assemblage.

Last week, while picking through broken egg shells and rotten cabbage, I came across a used toothbrush. I thought, "How could someone throw away something so incredibly valuable?" I hid the treasure in my pocket and sneaked back to my house as fast as I could.

The next thing you know, I'm listing the toothbrush on eBay under the heading "Altered Art Collage Pack." Twenty-seven people bid on it, with the final auction price ringing up a whopping $275.87. And to think my neighbor thought his discarded personal hygiene implement was mere junk.

Okay, I'm sure you're thinking I've lost it by now. Yep, gotcha! It's April Fools' Day.

Have a fun day...and don't take anything too seriously.

---

Summary: Learn how to turn stained t-shirts, broken plastic spoons and belly button lint into art findings that you can sell for millions.

Project - Altered Books - A Small Gift of Love

Never altered a book before? This is a great first timer's project, with the simplest of techniques. To start, look around for miniature gift books -- the perfect size for altering on a weekend.

While shopping a charity book sale, I found copies of "A Precious Moments Gift of Love," by Samuel J. Butcher and "Simple Wisdom," illustrated by Roxanna Villa. I snagged them for 20 cents each. I altered the first book and used quotes from the second one for collage. ~ Project and Photos by Kim M. Bayne



Materials & Tools List
· Gift-sized Hardbound Book(s), Recommended Sizes: 0.75 x 3.5 x 3 inches
· Creative Memories Custom Cutting System Tools, oval patterns plus self-healing cutting mat and blade cartridges
· Paper Pizazz Ephemera Background Papers, by Hot Off The Press
· Dark Red Paper or Cardstock
· Red Glass Beads
· Heart Charms, Brass and Pewter
· Clear Rigid Plastic or Acetate
· White (Clear-Drying) Tacky Glue, like Sobo Premium Craft & Fabric Glue by Delta Technical Coating, Inc., for non-paper items and the niche interior
· Double-Stick Tape, for plastic window
· Glue Stick, for pages and paper collage
· Vintage Photo of Woman Reading
· Scrap of Fabric Lace
· Die Cut Hearts from Dark Red Paper
· Heart Stickers
· Quotes Torn from Second Unwanted Book (noted above)
· Photo of Vintage Automobile, found in Paper Pizazz Journey Ephemera, by Hot Off The Press
· Piece of Black Paper or Cardstock
· Scrap of Black Background Paper with White Text
· Paperback Dictionary Page with Definition of the word "love"
· Paper Heart Punch
· Oval Medium Blank Page Pebbles™, by Making Memories
· Two Cancelled Postage Stamps, with Flower Images
· Fibers in Gold and Pink, for the Book Spine
· Plastic Heart Beads in Pink, Red and Purple
· White Tissue Paper Imprinted with Gold Hearts
· Pink Inkpad
· Cosmetic Sponge or Wedge
· Red Glitter

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)

1. Open the book in the middle and place a cutting mat behind a single right-hand page. Cut an oval in the middle of the page. Trace the oval on the next page and cut. Repeat until you cut almost all of the right-hand pages, from the middle to the back, with the exception of the last two.

2. Cut two pieces of ephemera background paper, each the same size as a two-page book spread. Fold each paper in half vertically. Slip a piece into your book, behind a cut page and trace (with a pencil) ovals onto the paper. On the first paper, cut one oval on the right half only. On the second paper, cut two ovals, one oval on both halves of the paper (see final book layouts for clarity).

3. Cut a small piece of clear plastic to create the oval window pane. Between the second and third cut pages, tape the plastic piece over the oval. Glue pages together. You've created a small window.

4. Move the window page out of the way to the left. Glue the remaining right-hand pages together, one at a time, working to the back of the book.

5. Clip the glued pages together with bulldog or other large clips. Using your finger, apply wet glue to the inside cut edges of the oval. Add glue to the back of the oval then fill the niche with a scrap red paper oval, glass beads and a heart-shaped charm.

6. Move the window page out of the way to the right. Glue the remaining left-hand pages together, one at a time, working to the front of the book.

7. Collage the first altered book page spread.
Background:
· ephemera paper, aligned to the book ovals
Now add...
On the Left:
· different scrap of background paper (white words on black)
· paperback dictionary page with the definition for "love"
· punched paper heart with the word "passion"
· plastic page pebble
On the Right:
· die-cut red paper heart
· red heart sticker
· quote from "Simple Wisdom" gift book

9. Now you'll make a pop-up image. Trim an illustration of a vintage automobile and glue it on stiff black paper. Trim the black background paper around the image so it creates a thin border. Fold the automobile in half vertically and away from you. Fold about a half inch on each side of the automobile toward you for tabs. Glue or tape the tabs on the pages, taking care to allow spacing for the book to open and close, and for the automobile to "pop up."

10. Collage the second altered page spread.
Background:
· ephemera paper, aligned to the book ovals
Now add...
On the Left:
· scrap piece of lace, glued on an angle above window
· image of woman reading
· quote from "Simple Wisdom" gift book
On the Right:
· two cancelled flowery postage stamps

The Cover
11. Using a cosmetic wedge or sponge, apply pink inkpad color to the cover of the book. Apply liberally. Don't worry about blemishes on the book because you'll cover them with tissue paper next.

12. Tear decorative white tissue paper into pieces. Glue to the cover in a random fashion.

13. Glue heart charms to the front of the cover using the white tacky glue. Fill the cover charms with glue and add red metal sprinkles or glitter.

14. Cut three to four 12-inch strands of fiber. Thread the fibers through the spine and tie the ends together. Add beads to the ends of several fibers.

Project Tips
· Line up your background paper exactly with the sides of the book page before you trace your ovals.
· Cut ovals in your background paper before you glue together the pages and niche.
· For pages, use a glue stick for the fastest drying time and least amount of mess.
· A scrap piece of paper, slipped behind a book page, allows you to glue all the way to the page edges.
· Be generous when applying glue, to hold your pages and treasures in place.

Additional Reading
· Altered Books 101 by Beth Cote
· Altered Books 102: Beyond the Basics by Beth Cote
· Altered Books 103: Little Books, Decos, CDs & More! by Beth Cote, Keely Barham

Product Resource Guide
· Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com
· Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: No time? Complete this altered book project in a weekend.

Technique - Making Packing Tape Image Transfers

I'm working on some pages for a new altered book project. The theme is "time," any aspect. I'll start with an obvious image -- watches -- and see where the creative process leads me.

Recently, there was a question about how to make packing tape image transfers, posted to the alteredbooks list on Yahoo! Groups. I decided to make transfers of watch images found in magazines just to answer that question.

What are these image transfers good for? They look great glittered or gilded from behind, suspended in a greeting card window, or slipped into a slide mount tacked on a page. ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne

Materials & Tools List
· Popular Magazines or Other Publications with Glossy Paper Stock and Plenty of Photographs
· Roll of Clear Packing Tape, like Scotch 3750 Box Sealing Tape
· Aluminum Cookie Sheet
· Spoon, Bone Folder or Burnishing Tool
· Scissors, like Armada Velvet Touch Scissors
· Plastic Dish Pan
· Plain Ol' Tap Water

The Steps

1. Tear pictures out of unwanted magazines. I selected the monochromatic image of a Rolex watch, found in an ad running in Travel & Leisure magazine.

2. Trim close to and around the image you wish to transfer. I like using the Armada Velvet Touch Scissors because they're comfortable to hold.

3. Tear packing tape off the roll in strips about 8 to 12 inches long. Roll back the ends to affix to an aluminum cookie sheet, with the sticky side facing up. Now both of your hands are free to work. Sometimes I just tell my hubby to hold the tape for me so he "sticks" around to see what I'm doing (pun intended).

4. Place the image side of your clipping face down onto the sticky side of the tape.

5. Burnish the image (rub the back of a spoon or other tool over the back of the picture) to adhere it securely to the tape.

6. Here's a neat trick: fold a half inch of the tape back onto itself (to form a tab) then put the tape piece back on the tape roll. Now burnish the image without worrying about it sticking to your tools. When you're done, lift the "tab" you made and remove the tape piece from the roll easily.

7. Put a few inches of tap water into a plastic dish pan. Place your tape in the water (paper and sticky side face down). Walk away and do something else.

8. After the tape has soaked a bit, gently rub the paper off the back of the image using your finger.



9. When you've removed most of the paper, you will see that the ink has adhered to the tape.

10. Your images are now ready to use in a project of your choice. By the way, the sticky side of the tape should still work, if you want to stick the transfer directly on an altered book page or other paper project.

Project Tips
· Glossy pubs seem to work best and have the best clarity after transferring.
· You can use color or black/white images -- both work for this image transfer technique.
· Trim close around your image. If you forget to trim any of the background, it could show up in the finished transfer. I left some background around the larger watch image so now I have a bit of green surrounding the watch outline.
· Before soaking, peek at the glossy side of the tape under a strong light and at an angle to check for bubbles or gaps between the tape and the image. Burnish again until these are gone.
· Soaking Times: For thin paper, check back in about 10 minutes. For thick paper, you may need a little longer. I often let my tape soak overnight and forget about it. The paper comes off easier when I do that, but I have to admit sometimes the tape curls.
· After soaking the tape, avoid rubbing the paper too hard or you might damage your transferred image and be unhappy with the results.
· The Armada Velvet Touch Scissors have Teflon on them, so when you trim your final transferred image, the packing tape won't stick to the blades.

Product Resource Guide
· Buy Armada Velvet Touch Scissors at MisterArt.com
· Project photos taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: Learn how to make quick and inexpensive image transfers with easy-to-find packing tape.

Project - Artist Trading Cards - An Arizona Sunset

One of the biggest trends in paper crafting is Artists Trading Cards. These 2.5 by 3.5 rectangular cards are the artist's equivalent of business cards. Scrapbooking conferences and similar expos often have trading sessions where attendees can swap and build a great collection of cards.

If you haven't tried your hand at making your own ATCs, I'll take you through the steps of how I built my own. Here is the first in a series of articles on creating ATCs.

The theme for an ATC can be anything you desire. I live in Tucson and creating artist trading cards with a local theme was a natural for me. First up, an Arizona sunset ATC. I used layers to create a floating three-dimensional look for the cards.


CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Materials & Tools List
· Picture of Arizona sunset cut from a local brochure
· Plastic or Acetate
· Cardstock for your ATC "canvas"
· Dark Brown Paper with a Leather-like Texture
· Puffy 3D Star Stickers in Colors
· White Sticker Paper or Label Stock
· Green and Beige Inkpads, Different Shades
· Medium Point Black Marker
· Scissors and/or Paper Trimmer
· Scallop Corner Punch from Armada Art 6-Pack Corner Punch Art Set
· Double Stick Tape or Scrapbooking Adhesive Tape

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)

1. Cut color pictures from magazines or glossy brochures to suit your theme. Crop each image to 2.5 by 3.5 inches each. Cover up any writing on the image with matching color markers.


2. Cut clear plastic pieces to 2.5 by 3.5 inches each.


3. Cut card stock pieces to 2.5 by 3.5 inches each.


4. Freehand draw or trace the outline of a Saguaro cactus onto the back of white sticker paper.


5. Using a direct-to-paper technique, dab or rub green inkpads onto the front of the sticker paper. Use a blender pen or tissue to blend the colors to create a softer look for the cactus green.

6. Cut out the cactus shape from the sticker paper. Using a black marker, freehand draw scribbles and lines to create the shading in the cactus.


7. Peel the backing off the cactus and stick it to the plastic layer, slightly right of center.

8. Tear a 1/2-inch wide piece of brown paper. Adhere the brown piece to the front of the plastic layer at the bottom of the cactus. This becomes the "ground."


9. Assemble the ATC card layers in this order: plastic layer with cactus, Arizona sunset layer then card stock layer with any printed side hidden in the "sandwich."


10. You might not be able to fit the top left corner into the corner punch after you apply the puffy stars, so cut the top corners now. Hold, but don't glue, the three ATC layers together. Position the card sandwich into the punch, then carefully cut the top corners.


11. Apply three star stickers of different sizes to the front of the plastic layer, in the sky to the left of the cactus.

12. Apply adhesive directly behind the cactus, brown paper and stars on the back of the plastic layer. Adhesive should be hidden when you assemble the layers. Do not apply adhesive anywhere else on the plastic unless you want it to be visible from the other side. Place the plastic layer on top of the sunset layer, being careful to align the scalloped corners.


13. Apply adhesive to the back of the sunset layer and attach it to the card layer, again aligning the scalloped corners. If you didn't cut them the first time, you can now cut the bottom corners with the scallop punch.

14. Sign the back of your ATC to identify yourself. I include a sticker with my name and email address instead -- it's faster for me and easier to read at a glance. In addition, you may wish to number each ATC you create as part of a series. I number mine in batches of nine, since trading card sleeves hold nine cards. This Arizona sunset artists trading card is my first in a series of identical cards. I labeled it 1 of 9.

Project Tips
· When you go to a trade show, everyone wants to stick brochures in your hand. Take a quick glance at the images before you say "no." You might decide to take this free paper home and recycle it after you read it.
· Old plastic report covers are great for recycling into ATCs. I've used both clear and colored vinyl covers for my ATC creations. Whenever my daughter wants to throw away an old folder or report cover, I try to salvage a 2.5 by 3.5 inch piece before it hits the trash.
· Second choice for plastic: packages, packages, packages. Open something you bought at a store and you've probably got clear plastic you can recycle into an ATC.
· Discarded folders and old cardboard take-out menus are great for free, interesting card stock. I recycled a local pizza parlor menu for this ATC.
· If you use layers, decide if you want to cut your paper corners before or after the ATC is assembled. You may have to experiment to see what works best for your design.

---

Product Resource Guide
Find your choice of materials online. Shop for:
· Dotto Adhesive Applicator
· Scotch Double Stick Tape
· Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials 3pc Precision Scissors
· Fluid Chalk Inkpad-Dark Moss
· ColorBox Pigment Ink Pads
· Fujifilm Photo Sticker Paper
· Avery White Inkjet Labels, Shipping, 3 1/3in. x 4in
· EK Success Corner Adorner Punch - Corner Stone
· Victorian Frame
· Dual Sided Cardstock, 12x12" - Neutral Colors
· Brown Decorative Paper at Amazon.com
· Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Templates - A Plethora of Torso and Other Tags

Are you signed up for a Torso Tag Swap? Download some printable templates right here! I've even included a foot tag template, if you're inclined to alter something sole-ful.

Do you need a new shape? Want vintage hat tags? How about people's heads or profiles? Post a comment here. ~ Article and Images by Kim M. Bayne

How To Use These Templates

These templates are GIF files, which means they are graphics or pictures. View them in your browser by clicking on the thumbnail picture and printing from your browser, if you like. You can also download these templates to your computer so you can manipulate them in another software program.

To Download: In Microsoft IE,
right click on the picture you want
select "save picture as"
save the picture to a directory on your computer.

To Print: Using Microsoft Word, select
Insert
Picture
From File

Browse to the directory where you saved the template. Doubleclick to insert the picture into your Word document. Drag the corner of the picture to size it. You can duplicate and size it as much as you need to fill up an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper.

By the way, if you'd like to have your torso tag art featured at BellaOnline, please let me know. I'd love to share what you do with my templates!

Female




Male


Child


Parts

---

Note: These templates were designed by me -- Kim M. Bayne -- for non-commercial use by individuals engaged in personal at-home crafting, making gifts and/or swaps. Thanks for your understanding, support and respect for my hard work.

Article Description: Are you signed up for a Torso Tag Swap? Download printable templates right here.

Project - Making Paper Beads with Dagny and Lil

Sunday is family dinner night. Our family drives across Tucson for a great meal and a few games of cards with Ruth and John, my husband's folks. One weekend, Dagny (Mom's friend and next-door neighbor) invited me over to look at her paper beads. This weekend, I had my camera handy so I could snap some photos. Dagny demonstrated how to make the beads, with the step-by-step instructions illustrated here. ~ Article and Photos by Kim M. Bayne

Materials List
· Covers of Colorful Paper Church Bulletins or Flyers, about 4.75-Inches Wide, or Your Choice of Paper (gift wrap, gift bags, decorative paper placemats, etc.)
· Ruler
· Pencil or Pen
· Pair Of Scissors or Paper Trimmer
· Box of Round Wooden Toothpicks
· Tacky Glue
· Sewing Needle and Thread
· Ace Instant Drying Lacquer or Acrylic Sealer Spray, in Matte Or Satin Finish
· Beading Thread and Crimp Beads
· Small Spacer Beads made of Glass, Ceramic, Plastic, Metal, Whatever -- Gold, Silver; Pearl-Like Blue, Lavender, Purple or Your Choice

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)

1. Choose your paper. For print materials, like church flyers, you may have to collect a few copies before you have enough beading paper with the same color scheme. This means going to church regularly and/or asking friends to save the flyers for you. Besides using flyers from the church she attends, Dagny collects flyers from other churches in the area.

2. With the color/picture side down and print side up, mark the flyer in 5/8-inch increments across the long sides.


3. Draw diagonal lines across the paper to create elongated triangles.


4. Cut the triangles using scissors or a paper trimmer.


5. Put a bit of tacky glue on a strip of paper at the short end (on the picture side). With the print on the inside, wrap the triangle strip around the toothpick, taking care to tuck in the end before starting. Roll the paper up, like you're making a crescent roll. Apply tacky glue on the inside of the paper as you roll.


6. Put the toothpick aside and allow the bead to dry. Using a new toothpick, start work on your next bead. Continue until you have about 36 beads.


7. Pull the toothpicks out of the beads and string them on a "dummy" thread temporarily, using a needle and any type of sewing thread. Tie the thread together at the end.


8. Take your string of beads outside and spray them with lacquer or acrylic sealer. Allow the beads to dry overnight.

9. The next day, cut the "dummy" thread and remove the beads. Restring the beads on beading thread or wire, alternating paper beads with your favorite glass or other bead.

10. After restringing the paper beads, hide your final knot (or crimp bead, if applicable) within a paper bead.


Paper Bead Necklaces by Dagny and Lil


Dagny Sharp, 77, and her sister Lillian Lindsay, 91.

Project Tips
· Pick a color scheme before you start and start collecting flyers to match.
· If you use flyers or brochures, don't worry about words over the picture. The print adds a nice design to the bead.
· To avoid paper curling, apply the glue to the strip of paper while you roll, rather than all at once.
· Avoid getting glue on the toothpick or it will stick to the paper and you won't be able to remove it from the bead.
· Dagny says, "If you don't want to muss your hair, make your necklace long enough to slip over your head." (I'm making a paper beads necklace and matching earrings for my mother-in-law and I don't think she wants to wrestle with a clasp, either.)
· Lil says "Try rolling the paper strip with the print on the outside." Alternate paper beads with black and white beads to complete the look.

Product Resource Guide
Project photos taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: Dagny Sharp, 77, and her sister Lillian Lindsay, 91, show Kim Bayne how to make paper beads using colorful church bulletins.

Tools of the Paper Crafts Trade

If you've ever registered for a beginning crafts class and read the phrase "bring your basic supplies," you may have wondered what that means. In fact, most paper crafts folks have more junk amassed than they know. Yet, they still ask the same basic question: "What supplies should I bring?"

Below are some items you might want to have handy plus a few comments about why. Now when you take a class, you won't scratch your head at the last minute trying to figure out what to tote along.

One more thing: there are no rules in altered art, so don't treat this page as Gospel. After you've finished reading it, I'll edit it again and again. Bookmark this page and check back for a refresher once in a while -- and to see if I've added anything new. ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne

Legend 1 = Altered Books Basics 2 = Altered Books Cover Art 3 = Altered Board Books 4 = Altered CDs 5 = Artists Trading Cards 6 = Domino Art 7 = Matchbox Pocket Shrines 8 = Terrific Tag Art

Essentials

Tape, Glue and/or Adhesive ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8}
· "Tape" and "glue sticks" are excellent for paper on paper, but poor for heavy embellishments. Choose a wet glue instead.
· If you want to hold together two to three altered book pages, you can get away with using just a little bit of "double-stick tape" in the page corners. If you don't care about acid-free, then get by with some cheap stuff from the dollar store.
· For groups of altered book pages, use glue stick or wet glue, or faster yet, just punch some holes and wire the pages together.

Cutting Tools ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8}
· Use "Scissors" with special edges -- like pinking or scalloped designs -- for finishing the edges of altered book pages or artists trading cards.
· Flat, table top "paper trimmers" make fast work of cutting white card stock into artists trading cards.
· Using an "X-acto knife", with extra blades, is a very standard way to cut niches in books.
· Lately, I've used large round and square "paper punches" to make page niches. If you do the same, just make sure you line up the previous page hole and check your alignment frequently, or you'll get a strange skewed niche when you're done...hmmmm...maybe that's not a bad thing, after all.

Metal-Edged Ruler ^{1, 2, 7, 8}

Pencils, Colors and (don't forget!) Plain Black ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}
· Recreate the vintage look of hand-colored photographs using soft watercolor pencils on a black and white photocopy. This will look great in an Ancestors Altered Book project.

Markers, Colors and (don't forget!) Plain Black ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}

Applicators ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}
· Brushes
· Sponges
· Stipple Brushes
· I love the look of "cosmetic wedges" when used to apply ink to altered book pages. If you're going for a soft look, it can create a romantic look.

Alterable Images and Photocopies ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}

Embellishments ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}
· Fibers
· Charms
· Stickers

Favorite Rubber Stamps, including Alphabet Stamps ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}

Inkpads, Colors and Document Black ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7}

Paper ^{1, 2, 3, 7, 8}
· Cardstock, White and Colors
· Paper, Scrapbooking
· Paper, Specialty

Embossing Heat Gun ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}
Collage Materials ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8}
Acrylic Paints ^{1, 2, 3, 6, 7}
Circle Cutter ^{1, 4}
Paper Punches ^{1, 5, 7, 8}

Around the House
· Rubbing Alcohol and Cotton Balls⁶
· Roll of Wax Paper^{1, 2, 3, 6}
· Sandpaper^{2, 3, 6}

Specialty Items
· Hardbound Book^{1, 2}
· Children's Board Book³
· CD disks⁴
· Package of White Card Stock⁵
· Standard Size White or Ivory Dominoes⁶
· Small Bottle of Household Bleach⁶
· Kitchen Size Cardboard Matchboxes⁷
· Pack of Manilla Hang Tags⁸

Tips
Only look for acid-free if it matters to you. For example, books are not acid-free, so you might not care. Acid-free only matters if you want your art to last for years. If you're just playing with technique, grab anything that's available, even your kids' arts and crafts goodies.

Article Description: A checklist of what to buy and why for all your paper crafts projects.

Book Review - An AB Primer by Naumann and Dukes

reviewed on papercraftseditor.blogspot.com

How To Make Altered Books If You Think You Can't

by Sara Naumann and Paris Dukes
Oregon: Hot Off the Press (2003)
ISBN:1562318993; Paperback book: 32 pages
Reviewed By Kim M. Bayneproduct
Rating: ★★★★

If you've never created an altered book, this book should be your first purchase. In snippets of text written to motivate beginners, this book walks through the basics. One downside -- the overemphasis on Artsy Collage is a bit distracting, even though these products provide an almost turn-key solution to the craft. If you can overlook the sales pitch, you're home free.

For starters, the authors admit you won't see any painted pages here. Covering a page with paint is an accepted way of preparing a background, but it's not their way. Who can blame them? Part of the fun in trying a new art form is not having to wait. Altering book pages with paper, instead of paint, allows you to reduce, if not totally eliminate, that show-stopping drying time. This book shows you how it's done.

The page designs in this primer are a bit sterile, showcasing a rather tame -- spelled Hallmark -- version of this outsider art. The projects are devoid of the edginess that appeals to unconventional souls normally attracted to book altering. Perhaps that's not so bad -- the authors' emphasis is that you don't have to be an artiste to try your hand at this. If you want to create altered books with calm, cutesy charm, here's your bible. If, however, your style is more akin to graffiti, you'll be so bored you'll want to alter this book.

"How to Make Altered Books..." includes clear, detailed color photographs of a variety of layouts and techniques. Novices will appreciate the simple explanations of layering, niche cutting and playing with text. Designers Naumann and Dukes provide easy-to-understand help throughout to inspire the budding ABer.

Product Resource Guide
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Book Review - Holly Harrison's Altered Books Adventure

Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking
by Holly Harrison
Massachusetts: Rockport Publishers, 2003
ISBN: 1-56496-995-9
Paperback; 128 pages
Book Review by Kim M. Bayne

The Bad News: If you're a novice, in need of hand-holding or step-by-step project instructions for making altered books, pass this by. You'll only become frustrated as you try to discover exactly how all this wonderful art was created.

The Really Good News: Brief materials lists accompany featured works, so you're not totally in the dark. If you're seeking inspiration, this book is gorgeous. Like a coffee table book, large color photographs showcase the best of the best. It's hard to just flip through the pages. You'll want to stop and gaze. If this appeals to you, then run -- don't walk -- to the nearest bookstore.

I have taught beginner arts and crafts classes so I know what it takes to instill interest in altered books. I can barely put this book down. Every page has something of value. Sidebars include insights into the creative process by featured artists plus some wonderful tips. You'll find help on topics like protecting pages (use wax paper or a spray sealer), using found materials (tissue paper roses transformed from cheese tray decorations), and photo transfers (using caulk as a solvent, of all things).

Check out the Technique Highlight on Digital Art, featuring Melissa McCobb Hubbell. If you have yet to add PCs to your arsenal of artist tools, here's your motivation. The checklist of ways to rework original art includes inverting images, adding color layers and creating mirror images, something you can't do easily without technology. (Isn't it nice to live in an age when art has reached a new and empowering level?)

After perusing this book (again and again), I'm looking forward to tackling several altered book ideas. You'll enjoy reading about exploring books as sculpture. Meanwhile, I'm going to troll through used bookstores or auction sites to find a medical or hotel ledger to alter -- an idea inspired by an example in this book. Next, I'll want to tuck an AB collage into a record album sleeve, as seen on page 50. (Note: My Dad performs in two bands, so he has scores of old record albums and sheet music. Just wait until I try to explain what I'm going to use them for...ahem...but I digress.)

"Altered Books, Collaborative Journals..." is packed full of exciting ideas that are sure to make you a better artist. Or at the very least, you'll wish you were.

Product Resource Guide
· Buy Holly's book now at Amazon.com by clicking here.
· Find Holly's book at a discount on Half.com.

Project - Decoupage a Fantasy with Altered Tins

My family and I had just seen "Peter Pan (2003)" with Jason Isaacs and Jeremy Sumpter. The movie inspired me to decoupage a fairy-themed altered tin.

I decided to raid my daughter's "Art Cart" and use some of her art materials for this project. My daughter and her cousin worked on tins at the same time, and they enjoyed using products (like Elmer's) that they already knew and loved. If you decide to do a similar project, you may want to use professional crafter's glue for adhering the image and tissue paper onto the tin. It's up to you! ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne



Altered Tin Materials List
· Discarded Altoid's or Other Breath Mint Tin (Size: approx. 2.5 by 3.75 by .75 inches)
· Self-Adhesive White Mailing Label, Rectangular, large enough to fit the lid of the tin
· Scissors or X-Acto Knife and Blade
· Expired Plastic Credit Card
· Elmer's Washable School Glue No Run Gel, or you can use your favorite clear-drying professional glue, like Diamond Glaze
· Color Copy of Fairy from Favorite Book, Reduced (Size: 2 by 3 inches)
· Small Paintbrush for Applying Glue in Small Places
· Acrylic Craft Paint in Purple
· Purple Tissue Paper, Torn into Small Pieces
· Marvy Metallics Marker in Purple
· Wing Stickers cut from dragonfly on sheet of Sandylion Sticker Designs
· Elmer's 3D Washable Jumbo Paint Pens (Gold, Purple, Silver, and Aqua Glitter)
· Elmer's 3D Washable Jumbo Paint Pen (Gold Glitter with Star and Heart Sequins)
· Gold Puffy 3D Star Sticker
· Tiny White Glass Micro Marbles
· "Believe" from Hallmark Cards Word Stickers
· Matte Acrylic Sealer Spray

The Steps

For starters, I "cheated" a little and covered the top of the tin with a label. That became the base for applying all the other materials I added later.

1. Peel the backing off a plain white self-adhesive mailing label. Lay it "adhesive side up" on the table. Place the mint tin "top down" on the label. Use the back of a spoon to "burnish" the label onto the lid and smooth out any bubbles.

2. Use scissors or craft knife to trim the extra label that extends beyond the lid. You can trim it to fit down the sides of the lid or remove the extra entirely.

3. Trim around the fairy image. Using a plastic credit card (one that has expired or a promotional one received in the mail), spread a thin layer of glue on the label. Carefully place the fairy picture on top of the glue, smoothing it to remove any wrinkles. Set aside to dry.

4. After the fairy has dried, you're ready to paint. Using a small paintbrush, apply a thin coating of purple acrylic paint on the sides and top of the lid, covering all but the fairy image and a small border around her. Go take a break while the tin dries -- again! (smiles).

5. Glue torn tiny pieces of purple tissue paper in selected places on top of the acrylic paint, pushing the pieces up in spots to create texture. Don't cover the acrylic paint entirely -- the mix of paint and tissue on the lid will create different shades of purple. With a paintbrush and some gel glue, I glued both sides of the tissue to make it appear somewhat translucent. Go for a walk...while this dries.

6. With the purple metallics marker, create a cloud-like outline around the top of the lid. If you like, you can apply metallic marker to the sides of the lid, too.

7. Embellish the fairy's hair with gold glitter glue.

8. Cut the wings off a holographic dragonfly and apply them to the back of the fairy.

9. Extend the wings "out of frame" by brushing on aqua and silver glitter glue. Before the glue dries completely, add dimension to the wings by sprinkling on tiny glass beads, using a spoon to control placement. If you wish, you can add more gel glue on top of the marbles to create a softer look for the wings.

10. Apply the large gold puffy 3D star sticker just above the fairy's head. Enhance the star with gold glitter and gold glitter with stars and hearts. As you apply the glitter, paint in an arch to resemble a shooting star.

11. Tear the edges of the "believe" sticker. Place the sticker on the lid just under the fairy. Add gel glue and micro marbles on top of the word. Don't worry about the word becoming cloudy. When the glue dries, the word will be readable.

12. To cover the torn edges of the word, tear and glue tiny pieces of purple tissue paper around "believe" to frame the word.

13. If you just can't stop yourself -- like me (wink wink) -- add purple glitter glue in strategic places on the lid and on the sides of the lid.

14. Let dry overnight. The next day, protect your elaborate creation using a matte acrylic sealer spray over the entire design.

It was a challenge to stop altering this tin because I'm very fond of the subject matter. Even after I had completed it, I wanted to go back to add more glitter, but I moved on to other projects -- thank goodness!

Product Resource Guide
· Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com
· The project photo on this page was taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Related Links
· Free Class: Altered Tin Class by Jen Kinton-Bailey, on ARTChix Studios
· Altered Altoid Tins
· Altered Tins and Boxes

Article Description: Take a discarded mint tin, tissue paper, glue and glitter and you´re off to Neverland.

Project - Make a Rustic Western Paper Tag

Colorado Cowboy Western Tag Art (click to enlarge)

Tag #2: Colorado Cowboy:
This tag was inspired by actor Bruce Bayne (Yes, he's related!), as he posed for a Western publicity shot in Cripple Creek, Colorado. I like this tag so much, I decided to host a paper crafts tag swap titled "Old West Artsy Tags". ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne

Starting with a dark brown handmade textured paper tag, I added the following items in order:
• Light brown tag, cut from a Bruegger’s coffee sleeve using a tag cutter and die
• Ink jet printed color photo of my cowboy, cropped with scissors to fit the frame (see next item)
• Corrugated frame, cut from a Cinnabon coffee sleeve, using a square paper punch and scissors
• Torn piece of brown paper from old paper press kit folder
• Brass star charm
• Aluminum pistol charm
• Piece of brown lightweight crafts mesh, wrapped around the tag and taped on the back
• Piece of thin twine, tied and looped to resemble a lasso
• Three old shirt buttons
• Star-shaped brass paper clip, tied into the fibers
• Fibers on the top of the tag include a thin piece of black necklace cord and a wonderful selection of classic brown, tan and white yarns from the sarabooks™ Fibers & Key Collection (Note: Check your local store for these new fibers!)

Tag Art in This Series
• "Night on the Town"
• "Colorado Cowboy"
• "Love and Kisses - Letters from the Heart."

Product Resource Guide
• Project photos taken with a 1.31 megapixel Olympus D-460 Zoom digital camera
• Shop for stickers at eSticker
• Find discount art supplies and craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Article Description: Bring out the cowpoke in you or a friend. Attach a picture to a paper tag for a unique mini-collage right from the O.K. Corral.

Project - Make a Romantic Artistic Paper Tag

Romantic Tag Art Love and Kisses Letters from the Heart (click to enlarge)

Tag #3: Love and Kisses - Letters from the Heart:
This tag was made for my altered book project titled, "Love and Kisses." I made eight different tags, which are inserted into a double-page pocket spread found inside the altered book. ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne

Starting with a pre-made manilla paper tag, I added the following items in order:
• Sand-colored inkpad, sponged directly onto the tag using a cosmetic wedge
• Faux postage cancellation mark from a rubber stamp, stamped in black on the tag
• The USPS postage stamps were found searching on Google.com with the keywords "love" and "stamps." I printed them in miniature on label stock and cut them using scalloped decorative scissors.
• Two pieces of red card scrap, torn freehand. I applied a red inkpad directly to the torn edges before adhering the card pieces to the tag. After putting the scraps on the tag, I cut the edges to match the tag shape.
• Rubber stamped image of a small heart, stamped multiple times on the top piece of red card stock
• Piece of torn botanical-infused specialty paper, applied in front of the bottom red card scrap, edges cut to (almost) match tag shape
• A strip of three red satin puffy hearts -- probably found at a fabric and notions store, but I got them in an embellishment swap run by Deb Rottum
• Heart-shaped aluminum paper clip, tied into the fibers
• Fibers on the top of the tag include a red and gold cord-like yarn and a red eyelash yarn


By the way, please don't let my style dictate how to create your own tag art. Your tags can be as simple or elaborate as you like, using your favorite supplies and tools.

Try designing a few original tags of your own. Now your next gift package can include something extra that no one dare tear or throw away!

Tag Art in This Series
• "Night on the Town"
• "Colorado Cowboy"
• "Love and Kisses - Letters from the Heart."

Product Resource Guide
• Project photos taken with a 1.31 megapixel Olympus D-460 Zoom digital camera
• Shop for stickers at eSticker
• Find discount art supplies and craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Article Description: Ready for some romance in your life? Make a romantic gift tag to attach to your Valentine's Day gift.

Project - Remember Your Night on the Town with a Paper Tag

Wouldn’t it be great to lend your card making talents to something practical and fun? Try Tag Art. Turn boring paper hang tags into the perfect hand-crafted masterpiece or embellishment.

For random acts of kindness, artistic tags are both gift tags and greeting cards in one! Tag Art is also used for altered books, bookmarks, scrapbooks or just for collecting and trading.

If you're into miniature art, you'll love this craft. Tag Art incorporates supplies you have already and you can complete a tag or two during your favorite TV program.

I created three different artistic tags, using a variety of materials. Links to the other two tags are at the end of this article. ~ Articles by Kim M. Bayne

Recommended Tag Art Materials List
• Pack of Large-sized Manilla Office/Retail Hang Tags – any color – size: 2.5 x 4.75 inches
• Small Tag Templates or Dies
• Card Stock to make your own tags, if you prefer
• Hole puncher, if you decide to create your own tag stock
• Adhesive, Tape and/or Glue
• Double-sided Foam Squares or Sticky Dots -- good for sticking on found items and/or for creating a three dimensional look
• Plain and Decorative Scissors
• Square Paper Punches
• Miscellaneous Pigment and Dye Inkpads
• Cosmetic Wedges or Sponges -- great for applying ink to paper
• Favorite Rubber Stamps -- alphabets/letters, backgrounds, images, sayings
• Embellishments -- eyelets and setter, beads and wire, stickers, brass and aluminum charms, found objects
• Plain and Patterned Papers (scrapbooking paper, handmade paper, vellum, gift wrap scraps, etc.)
• Alterable Pictures, Old Photos and/or Clip Art (Folk, Vintage, Victorian, Whatever)
• Fibers -- jute, raffia or hemp strands, satiny cords, luxurious yarns, fabric ribbons (i.e. sarabooks™ Fibers & Key Collection in Ivory)
• Small photo album, with insertable sleeves, to store your growing tag collection -- that is, if you collect them, rather than give them all away!

The Tags
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)


Travel Tag Art - Night on the Town in New York (click to enlarge)

Tag #1: Night on the Town in New York:
This tag was made for my altered book project titled, "New York, New York," which was inspired by my family’s trip to the Big Apple in 2002.

Starting with a pre-made black paper tag, I added the following items in order:
• Piece of holiday ribbon (black sheer wired-edged ribbon with silver sparkles and silver edges), cut to the the exact size of the tag. (Isn’t it great how holiday ribbon can be transformed into a beautiful night sky?)
• Four 3D puffy star stickers, different sizes to create interest
• Piece of silver lace ribbon -- yes, it's there!
• Torn piece of a used silver-colored paper envelope
• Manufacturer’s tag from a blouse that was obviously 'Made in New York'
• Small rhinestone
• Pair of small white satin roses, found in a collage pack
• Pair of silver square beads -- the letters "N" and "Y"
• Small piece of faux rabbit fur
• Fibers on the top of the tag include two different types of black eyelash yarn, thin black satin ribbon and silver rick-rack

Tag Art in This Series
• "Night on the Town"
• "Colorado Cowboy"
• "Love and Kisses - Letters from the Heart."

Product Resource Guide
• Project photos taken with a 1.31 megapixel Olympus D-460 Zoom digital camera
• Shop for stickers at eSticker
• Find discount art supplies and craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Article Description: Now your next gift package can include something extra that no one dare tear or throw away!

Video/DVD Review - Stamp Art with MaryJo McGraw

Stamp Art Inspirations with MaryJo McGraw

Director: Suzanne Lamar
Studio: PageSage
Format: NTSC, Color, 108 minutes
DVD Release Date: May 2003
Review by Kim M. Bayne

If you're just discovering rubber stamping, check this out. This DVD includes step-by-step instructions and cool projects for the budding rubber stamper. It contains great ideas for veteran stampers, too.

For starters, host MaryJo McGraw clarifies the three differences in inks -- dye, pigment and solvent/permanent ink -- then she recommends which ink brands to buy for cost-savings. The helpful demonstration on how to use bottled re-inkers, to breathe new life into spent pads, is well worth the price of the video alone.

In her introduction, MaryJo explains that lessons are geared to non-specific products. She has her favorites, featured throughout the video and in the Extras segment, and she recommends a few brands in order to get certain desired results. MaryJo's bonding agent of choice is Diamond Glaze, but she does highlight PPA (Perfect Paper Adhesive) or another "clear glue medium" as acceptable choices. In each lesson, MaryJo is very conscientious about re-emphasizing which products to use, whether brand-name or generic.

For the finger-painting kid in you who loves to work wet, you'll like MaryJo's approach. She uses her bare fingers to apply glue, and sometimes ink, to just about everything. Tape lovers need not fret -- MaryJo recommends double-stick tape for paper-to-paper applications, which she says "holds up very well long term."

The artist works her rubber stamp magic (on matte card stock, poly paper, acrylic, shrink plastic, mica tiles, and so on) to create interesting looks for handcrafted rubber stamped treasures. Sometimes crafts elements overlap -- Catalina Tiles were featured first alone then later, as part of the project on Mini Books.

If you prefer the multi-sensory approach to learning, you'll be glad to know boxes on the screen appear frequently, offering tips and insights into using specific products and tools. During a Mini Book gluing demonstration, on-screen text cited plastic wrap as helpful in preventing glue from sticking to unwanted areas.

MaryJo offers excellent tips for budget-minded crafters, as well. In the Catalina Tiles project, the on-screen text noted a cereal box as a substitute for chipboard. On occasion, these text boxes clarify MaryJo 's casual comments, too.

While viewing, just relax and forget about taking notes. MaryJo's style is easy-going and easy-to-understand. Plus, the inside cover of the DVD label insert contains a complete outline of all of the supplies needed, segmented by project.

Finally, the nicest feature about viewing MaryJo's projects on DVD, instead of the now-traditional videotape, is the interactivity. The DVD includes a sample artwork gallery that allows viewers to jump directly to the associated technique. For me, the DVD made it easy to just click to the exact project I wanted to tackle.

DVD Project Outline:
• Ink Basics
• Glazing with Glue
• Quick Collage
• Collage Veneer
• Glazed Metallics
• Faux Fresco
• Catalina Tiles
• Quick Cards
• Heirloom Cards
• Mini Book

Product Resource Guide
• Buy this DVD at Amazon.com.

Content copyright © 2004-present by Kim M. Bayne. All rights reserved. This content was written by Kim M. Bayne. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission.

Article Description: A review of the DVD "Stamp Art Impressions with MaryJo McGraw"

Technique - Creating Serendipity Squares

Do you have a box full of random paper scraps that you can’t bear to throw away? Don’t waste them. Remake them – into Serendipity Squares. ~ Article by Kim M. Bayne

What is a Serendipity Square?
Serendipity could be defined as an accidental discovery, like finding out you can use odd bits and pieces of leftover paper to create something beautiful for your paper crafts. A serendipitous discovery might be this article. But seriously, a Serendipity Square is made from paper crafting remnants -- made to be used in new projects.

What can you do with them?
You can incorporate Serendipity Squares into a variety of crafts projects:
• As page borders and headers in scrapbooks
• As background mats to highlight tiny ephemera on an altered book page
• Glued to the front of a greeting card, complete with a different dangling charm on each

Are you game? Let's get started.

Materials List
• Random, small (2 inches or less) pieces of cards or paper -- any type will do (vellum, handmade, patterned, Bingo papers, gift wrap...) -- throw nothing away!
• Adhesive, like a glue stick or glue that dries clear and quickly -- it's no fun to wait
• Larger pieces of cardstock for your collage canvas and for tiny mats
• Your favorite cutting tools
• Embellishments -- charms, wire, stickers, whatever

The Steps
1. Gather your entire collection of orphan scraps. Sort the pieces by main color. Now you have separate piles of reds, greens, blues, etc. Pick a color scheme (one or more complementary colors) and select the pile(s) of scraps to match. The different pieces and patterns will blend to look great when you're done.

2. Grab a large piece of blank card stock for your “canvas.” Select a piece that is at least 5.5 by 8.5 inches so you have room to experiment with your collage design. It doesn’t matter if the background or "canvas" is plain or patterned. The choice is up to you. I prefer plain, solid colors so the background pattern doesn't fight with the paper scraps for attention.

3. Start gluing scraps randomly onto the larger piece of card stock. Cover as much of your "canvas" as possible. You can leave a few gaps here and there, but remember that you'll cut squares later. Be generous with the glue, making sure all of the pieces adhere and no loose ends creep up, trying to break free.

4. After you've created your crazy collage, cut your masterpiece into small (2 by 2-inch or smaller) squares. Sometimes I'm not in the mood for measuring so I use a large square paper punch, as it creates perfect little squares (see Project Tips below). If you prefer, you can use a paper trimmer instead.

5. Mount each of your squares on matching card stock, cut slightly larger than the square. Think “picture mat” and you’re on the right track. Now you’re ready to use your new squares in other projects.

6. Either before or after you’ve cut/mounted your squares, you can embellish them.

Before Cutting
• Rubber stamp and emboss images in metallic ink randomly all over the collage to create added interest
• Add stickers -- what a great way to use up those odd sticker sheets
• Doodle or stencil designs all over with a fine-tip marker, gel pen or metallic pen
• Splatter bright white paint in dots all over the collage

After Cutting
• Rubber stamp a large embossed letter on each square to spell out a word• Add small holes, some wire and beads
• Wrap a short piece of ribbon around each square before mounting it on the mat
• Use a paper punch to punch out a shape on each square then glue a piece of colored cellophane behind the punched "window"

Project Tips
• Pick a color scheme before you start and select matching background and mat papers.
• If your scraps are too large, they’ll restrict your freedom in creating a design. Tear or trim your scraps before using them.
• Paper trimmers are better at reducing scrap waste when compared to paper punches.

That's it! Serendipity Squares are just that easy. What are you waiting for? Clean up that crafting area and start gluing.

Related Links
• Serendipity Squares (Scrapbook Outlet & More)
• ScrapAngels Layout Gallery > Serendipity Squares