Little surprises around every corner--but nothing dangerous. (Easy-to-add flaps, doors, pockets, and pulls for altered books.)

It's Altered Book Month at the Altered Arts Magazine blog, and today I'm going to share with you some of my favorite things about altered books:  interactive flaps, doors, pockets, and pulls.  Here are several simple ones, all from a book created to feature grandchildren from baby-to-older-child:

double doors, or gateway fold

stitched vellum pocket, opening at top, tag pull

glued edge pocket with opening at top and a tag pull

mini-niche door or flap, hinged on the right side

full page glued pocket with corner foldover and tag reveal

I've shared several more layouts, using even more flaps and suchwhat, in my post today at Altered Arts--you can find it   H E R E.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Valentines & spring are singing to me . . .

Oh-kay, I've been elbow deep in paints and papers and inky stuff, thinking about Valentine's Day and dreaming of spring:

collage image from Altered Pages

For the Altered Arts Magazine blog, a mixed media collage--I am SO enjoying my new stamps from Something Tattered:  the one here is a partial of the Boudoir Antique Brocade Wallpaper.  C'mon, even the NAME is awesome--Boudoir Antique Brocade.  Does it get any better than that??

And a card--yes, I really did make a card--for the Altered Pages Artsociates blog, here is just a corner, showing another one of my favorite new stamps, that bird's nest:

oooh, you can see the metallic crayon, too!  :)

(More details and photos are, of course, on the aforementioned blogs.)

Thank you for stopping by today;  I always appreciate your visits.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Some challenges for some weekend inspiration?  I'm joining my first piece in with:
Frilly And Funkie:  Valentine with NO hearts
Word Art Wednesday:  Anything goes, with inspirational sentiment or scripture
V's Sweet Ideas:  Red, White, and Pink
Sweet Stampin': Love/Valentines
Open Minded Crafting Challeges--Show some Love

Altered canning jar band ornaments

Here are pics of a couple different styles I've tried so far:

collage image from Altered Pages

velvet milliner's leaves and jingle bell "holly"

There are several things about these ornaments I really like, first being the size--
not too big, not too small.  They are also very easy to customize for the person
you're planning to give them to, by selecting colors and things you know the
recipient would like. Third, and this may be the best:  these are super easy to
make!  If you'd like to know more, you can find complete directions in the annual  
FREE Christmas issue of AlteredArts Magazine.

Ooooh, look, there they are!  It makes me grin to see them in "print."
AND, through Deccember 15th, you can take $7 off a one year subscription 
by using the code bonus7 when checking out from the website!

this, that . . . and the paper doll book, yay!

One last trip to the beach for this little Rogue Redhead Designs Beach Babe . . .

A little peek at a stitchy piece I've been finishing off . . . this one for Altered Arts Magazine:

And here is the paper doll book, back from Wendy, with lots of gorgeous pages--yay!

This is the cover, made by Wendy of Bliss Angels

From Michelle of Nook And Cranny

From Kim of A Vintage Fairy

This is the back of Kim's page, the opposite is one of my own--you can see it HERE

This is Wendy's page!  She put a lot of work into this swap.

Left is the back of another of my pages, and right is Cathee's dolly page

Thank you again to everyone for a super swap!

mail art!

I REALLY like mail art.  Years ago, before e-mail and blogs and facebook, all the
envelopes I mailed were enhanced with a little (okay, yes, it was a LOT) highlighter.
While that may not have been mail art in the strictest sense, it was fun.

Nowadays my favorite mail art is postcards, and this month at Unruly Paper Arts,
the blogozine theme is Postcard Parade.  Here is just one of the postcards I created
for my latest Unruly column,  Mail Art en Masse:

 text from Word Art Wednesday

Would you like to create some mail art?  Would you like to receive some mail art?
Check out my article, I'd be delighted to hear what you think.There are two Reader's
Art Quests happening, as well;  Postcards From the Edge and Vacation Postcard 
Art.  Everyone is welcome to join in the challenge, and what better way to try
something new?

Coincidentally--at least I think it's a coincidence, but there could be some
conspiracy happening, unbeknownst to me--one of the themes for the upcoming
issue of AlteredArts Magazine is, in fact, mail art.  (The issue should be out any
time now.  Seriously, it may be out at this very moment.  UPDATE--It's out!) 
Anyway, here is just a sneak peek at an oversized postcard I created for
the magazine:

tell me that seahorse looks like he's flying outta that ocean wave!

You can almost see the sparkle on this one--I used my hand carved ocean wave 
stamp on Gelli Plate monotype prints.  The seahorses were stamped on monoprints, as well.

Have a great week, everyone--I hope to see you in the Postcard Parade this month.

atc sized handbound book

Been working on a new tiny book for the current travel theme at
Blockheads Paper Arts, and it seems like the perfect thing to show
for my latest Altered Arts Magazine share.  This atc sized book is
made from monoprinted papers, with an origami wallet fold.  The
cover is stitched on--okay, not gonna lie, I'm having a LOT of fun
with this one, so get ready for an onslaught of photos . . .

Ready?  Here we go:

front cover, but you can see it's on it's side--using the Stargazer set.

here is the back of the cover, still more Stargazer stamps

inside front cover, with a layer of vellum stitched in

I like how you can see the reverse image when the page is turned

center layout--you can see the stitching and pockets

You can probably tell these are monoprinted papers--some were made

using a Gelli Plate, and some were made using the simple monoprinting

technique from my article in the fall issue of Altered Arts.  There is also
a nice sheen to the papers, resulting from a misting of Fireworks.

Now here is a extra fun thing about this particular book form--it has a
couple of "secret" pockets on the sides, which can either be utilized, or,
if they don't suit your purpose, sealed up.

super secret side pockets

 Well that was fun--for me, anyway--I hope you enjoyed it, too!
I'll be working on those atcs to fill the pockets, and share them
with you next week, okay?

Inchie collage easel card, Passion for Paper, and a free magazine!

Wow, I haven't posted in a while--I've missed my blog snooping visiting time
this week!  It's basketball season, and between the husband coaching Junior
Varsity and the son playing Varsity, I've been spending lots of time at games.

Here is an easel card made using lots of vintage ephemera and Blockheads
stamps, in honor of the new Easel Card Reader's Art Quest at Unruly Paper
Arts.

(If you've never made an easel card, there are lots of tutorials on-line that
show how--I made up a quick and easy one (HERE) that uses generalized
dimensions.)

Used several sets on this one:
Nature Medallion, Greco-Roman, Full Sheet, Feeling Regal, Honeybees,
Vintage Birds, Seashells and Round Frame, and Verses, Full Sheet

Every year, Altered Arts Magazine puts out a free Christmas issue, and it's
that time of year!

Here is the link for you:  Altered Arts Christmas 2012.
I have a couple of pieces in this one, and will share those Monday.

So I hope you have time to check out the free magazine, and will join in
the latest rounds of Reader's Art Quests at Unruly Paper Arts--you do have
a Passion for Paper, don't you?

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I hope to have more time this week to visit with you!
:)

finally time for show and tell!

Okay, it's not rocket science, but I really like this simple gift I made
a while back.  Today I'm so happy to be able to share it with you, here
for Altered Arts Magazine, and also as my latest
article/tutorial at Unruly Paper Arts!

 This is a folder with a ribbon tie, which opens to reveal the 

 set of handmade notecards and detailed envelopes inside.
(Gotta love that bicycle on the envie, it's from the
Blockheads Victorian Invention set.

Here are the notecards--the idea was to keep the whole process 

fairly simple, in order to make multiple sets for holiday gift giving.

My friend Rhonda gave me a notecard set in a similar style folder

years ago, and I thought it was a delightful gift. 

Used stamps from these sets: Victorian Invention, Architecture, Stargazer,
and Grunge Collages, and Distress Inks in Victorian Velvet, Vintage Photo,
Tattered Rose, and Tea Dye.  Plus crayons around the edges, of course!!  :)

I'd love to hear what you think--and don't forget, if you'd like a tutorial on how
to make some of these gift sets, there are directions at Unruly Paper Arts.  

the quilted fabric inchie charm bracelet finale!

For my first November (can you believe it's November already???)
Altered Arts Magazine project,
here they are, the final quilted inchie charms . . .

Let's start with with "hope":

(I'm particularly fond of the bits of unraveled twine that make up

the nest.)

And here is "faith":

 These were done using Omni Gel to make transfers, and are
1 inch square fabric inchies.  The beads add a little width, they
aren't included in the inch.

Vintage glass buttons, keys, fabric, and glass beads on jewelry wire finish
this off into a charm bracelet.  I think it would be fun to make some fabric
inchies to swap, too, but that's a whole other project, yes?

All of the collage images are from Altered Pages--did you hear that Altered 
Pages is the proud new owner of The Mailbox Muse?  Cyndi (of Altered Arts)
will now have more time to focus on the magazine, and Jean (of Altered Pages)
is already so adept at putting just the right pieces together to make a fabulous
kit, that the Mailbox Muse is a perfect fit.  Were you lucky enough to get a
reservation for The Orient Express kit before it sold out?  It's sure to be full of
all kinds of altering inspiration!

Challenge me up with my friends at:

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes

Crafty Catz--add texture (you know I like that nest!)

Inspire Me Fridays

Dear Creatives

Raise the Bar

Faith, Hope, and Love, plus the cover of a magazine

Been playing with my all the yummy ephemera from Vintage Page Designs again!  This is a six by six canvas, the sheet music and bird image are vintage ephemera from Vintage Page Designs, plus some  paint, crayon, the text printed on vellum, a little tulle and lots of silky seam binding around the edges.   Speaking of seam binding, if you enjoy using it as much as I do, you may want to check out the VPD Bird Challenge . . .

Can finally share this all the way for real, yay!

A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love. 

Here he is, the Rose Boy, he always makes me smile.  (You may recall I went through a crazy Valentine making spurt using this fellow. You can see, ahem, several cards featuring him HERE), and he's available at Blockheads

Anyway, the spring issue of Altered Arts is out, and you can see this layout on the cover, so I don't think I'm giving away any secrets by showing you here.  The hardware you see peeking out from the next layout, that is a fantastic set, with keys and doorknobs and keyholes--you can find it HERE.

Happy Weekend, everyone!
PS--I'd like to join my friends at Word Art Wednesday, and for the first time at Little
Birdie Blessings with the faith, hope, and love piece.

:)