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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

All Things French ~ Altered Book


I have been wanting to make an 
Altered Book
for a long time now ---------
So, today was the day to get started.


I had this book that I had ripped pages from at Christmas
to use in making a wreath.
So, I started ripping out more pages.
I'll use these pages for something else in the future.  
Waste not, want not, right!



I have only made one other altered book and I did not 
remove enough pages and by the time it was finished,
it would not close completely.
There is a lot of layering that goes on, and that makes up for 
all the removed space left from the ripped out pages.  



Next, I covered the outside of my book.
I used paper from this paper pack. 



This sheet was perfect for the spine.



I picked another for the front and back
and used a lace edged trimmer (Martha Stewart) 
to trim the edges of the spine.



Next, I used Mod Podge to adhere my cover papers. 



I let this dry and then . . .



added a few more paper elements to the front cover.

I think that when it is finished I will either add
some fancy string and charms to the outside
or 
make a book mark with string and charms to have hanging out from the pages.


I think it always adds more character to a piece, 
when there is a three dimensional element added to the mix :)

 

I plan on taking my time and slowly finishing the inside pages.  
It may take a month ~
It may take a year ~
but, the process, I know is going to be fun :)

I'm looking forward to my artful journey through France.
If you are like me and have always wanted to travel there,
but feel you will probably never make the trip . . .
I challenge you to start your adventure
with a project like mine.




Bon Voyage!
 Please leave a comment . . .I read them all :)
Your blogging sister,
Connie 







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55 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Good morning Beth, and thank you so much . . . it is good to see you this morning and I'm happy that you like my project :)
      Connie :)

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  2. It's pretty! But,I'm not quite sure I understand what you do with the inside. I've never heard of an altered book. Please post pictures when you're done. I'll be excited to see what you create. :-)

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    1. I plan on posting photos of the inside throughout the process. It will contain artful pages that all connect me to the country of France. Thanks for your interest, come back and enjoy this adventure with me:)
      Connie :)

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  3. Okay, I am waiting to see more of this creation! I have heard of altered books but have never attempted one. I am not sure that I can tear pages out of a book, but I might be willing to try. A book on Paris? Definitely!!

    Bises,
    Genie

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    1. Hi Genie . . . Well, you are the expert on Paris . . . I am only a dreamer. So, I am sure that some of my pages will be more of a dream nature than a reality. It will be interesting to see what you think as my artful journey continues :)
      Have a lovely day and thanks so much for visiting.
      Connie :)

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  4. I wince at the thought of tearing pages out of a book, but I love this idea. I am going to the book stall today to find a book to use as a basis for an altered book on gardening. Thank you for te idea xxx

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    1. Hi Fran, I am so excited . . . this journey is one that we can share. Have you ever made an alter book before?
      I am anticipating a wonderful and information adventure, as I look into all that makes this country so appealing to me. Good luck on finding a book that you what to tear up and rebuild. I'm looking forward to seeing what you find :)
      Have a glorious day.
      Connie :)

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  5. What a creative idea and so beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Becky . . . I think it will be a lot of fun!

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  6. I love your altered book. They are one of my favorite projects. Just last week of my students asked me if we would be making books this year. Her brother was in my class 4 years ago when I did my first book making project with my students. She said her brother still has the book and she really wants to make one. I promised her that next quarter we will do them. I will share your photos with them. They write lots of poetry for the book.

    thanks for sharing.

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    1. Good Morning Carol, I'll have to check out your past posts to see if you have any photos posted of your altered books. This is my second attempt, the first one was many years ago. It was one that I made for a gift to my best friend back in Indiana. We have been friends for 50 years so it was filled with memories. I miss working with students and wish that I lived close enough to volunteer and help with your alter book project :)
      Again, I want to say how impressed I am with your blog, your home, your creativity and your husbands paintings.
      Have a great day.
      Connie :)

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  7. A lovely idea and what a brilliant start you have made - I love the cover. Linda xXx

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  8. It seems there is nothing crafty you cannot do. And it is all so unique and intricate and beautiful. I look forward to the beauty of each project.

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    1. Good morning Ginny . . . and thank you so much . . . you have made my day :)
      Connie :)

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  9. The outside is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing the insides bit by bit.

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    1. Good morning Deborah . . . thank you . . . I will be posting as I work on it :)
      Connie :)

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  10. It's lovely Connie but like Acorn to Oak, I've never heard of an altered book before. What do you put inside it? Sorry to be a bit dumb but asking the question is the only way to learn.
    Patricia x

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    1. Good morning Patricia, Well, the inside will be a surprise to me, too . . . as I discover things about this lovely country to write about, to collage about and to doodle about . . . it will be an adventure into discovering reality and exporting my dreams. Basically it is using an old book to create an artful journal. With all of your marvelous travels, maybe you will decide to do an altered book, too :) Something to keep all of your wonderful memories of your adventures in :)
      I so much enjoy our communication . . . you are a very interesting and lovely friend.
      Connie :)

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  11. Beautiful book! I want to see what you do to the inside too. I'd love to make one. You are very creative. I love my visits here! I always learn something new. Happy Wednesday!

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    1. Good morning Sherry, I enjoy your visits, too. This will be a fun project and an adventure into a country that I have always wanted to visit. Connie :)

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  12. It's beautiful, Connie! I've got some books on the side debating whether to donate them or do something with them. I may have to decorate a couple.

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    1. Hi Kathy . . . Oh, I hope that you do!
      And, please blog about them :)
      Connie :)

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  13. I think an altered book should be overstuffed but then I am far from being neat in my artwork. Good luck with this idea. Well begun is half done, they say.

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    1. Well, I can agree with this, too. We'll see where this one goes. My first one was just too full . . . but it was my first attempt. I'm looking forward to the journey:)
      Thanks so much for visiting . . . you're a sweetie.

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  14. Oh, what a beautiful beginning! I've been working on my third altered book...off and on...for over a year now! I love every bit of it!

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    1. I'm excited . . . coming over to visit and find photos :)

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  15. You are right! I'm a Jill of all trades, a master of none! But I'm having fun, and as my Mama always says...."well that's the main thing...you're having fun!" I Love the book. YOu did a great job and thank you for sharing how to make it. You do good crafty work! Gorgeous!

    Cindy Bee

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    Replies
    1. I certainly agree with your Mom . . . the important thing is to have fun :)

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  16. I have never heard of this before. I am like Patricia ... what do you do with the inside? Just cover the existing/remaining pages with new things? It sounds like a lot of fun, and I like how you are picking a country to explore.

    Connie, I gave you an award on yesterday's post for your thoughtful and encouraging comments, if you would like to take a look.

    Kathy M.

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    1. Hi Kathy . . . I'm on my way over to visit:)

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  17. What an awesome project, Connie! Thank you for your nice comments on my blog :)

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  18. Hi Connie, I´m your newest follower and I felt really inspired with this project! I wanted to make an altered book about France for awhile, have been looking for the right book and supplies for, and even chose a title ("France... j´adore"), but I´d never find the courage till now because I never made an altered book before and I was pretty afraid of the results... But this little coincidence seems a kind of signal to go for it, doesn´t it? At least I promise to try!
    Hugs, and thanks for sharing so beautiful things.
    Hugs,
    K.

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    1. Hi Kassandra, I am delighted that I could inspire you and I'm excited that we will both be making our books at the same time. I'll be watching for your posts:)
      Have a glorious week.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    2. Well I´m planning to start this weekend, but just don´t know when I´ll post about it because I´m a SLOW person for nature LOL and also don´t have much time for crafting right now... As you said, "it may take a month- it may take a year..."
      Anyway, I´ll be following your progress too!!!
      Hugs.
      K.

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    3. It is not going to be a rush project . . . we'll take our time and enjoy to process :)
      Have a lovely day :)

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  19. Your altered book is off to a great start. I like the Paris/French theme and it lends itself to lots of different ways to play. I hope you share its progress along the way.

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    1. Hi Janet and thank you . . . I will be posting some of my pages as the year and the project progresses.
      Thanks so much for stopping by . . . I so enjoy good company :)
      You are a sweetie pie.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  20. Oh I love what you picked for your covers. Great start and will be looking forward to seeing your progress.

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    1. Hi Sharon, I have been working on it today . . . and having a wonderful time. This is going to be an adventure in learning for me.
      Have a glorious day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  21. Your altered book looks amazing Connie! I can't wait to see how you fill it.

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    1. Hello Dee, I plan on journeying (by way of the internet and reading) through this lovely country and writing about all things that interest me. It should be an exciting learning experience.
      I hope you will visit and journey with me.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  22. Very Nice, Connie! I have never heard of an altered book(maybe I need to get on etsy more)but I LOVE the FRENCH look you have chosen! I would enjoy doing crafts but right now isn't the RIGHT time?! For now, I will ENJOY yours! You always inspire me and it is a pleasure to see how you and Steve enjoy LIFE to the fullest! Blessings to you.......from one sweetie to another~~~~Roxie

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    1. Hi Roxie, I always get excited when I see that you have visited. I am looking forward to this new project, because it will inspire me to dig into the country and it's people, cultures and history. I love learning about far away places and I think that this will be a wonderful tool.
      Have a marvelous day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  23. Hi there,Connie! Your altered book is amazing! I have never made one but always wanted to. You did a great job it turned out nice. And Happy Birthday to your baby boy, too! :-)
    Dorothy

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    1. Hi Dorothy, thank you for the birthday wish . . . I will pass it on to Butchy :)
      I hope that you will continue to follow and journey with me through France as I create pages in my book.
      Have a wonderful day.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  25. Your altered book came out great. I can't wait to see what you do on the inside! Laura

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    1. Hi Laura . . . I just posts my first inside pages, come take a look.
      I'm having so much fun :)
      Connie

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  26. This is one of THE MOST clever ideas I've seen in a long time. I just love it! I never thought about altering an actual book! :) I love what you did with the cover. I'm so excited about this project and following along on your trip to France.

    Tresa

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    1. Hi Tresa, I am so delighted to have you traveling with me. I'm sure we'll pick up a lot of fun French facts along the way. Have a glorious weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  27. I'm another one who has never heard of an altered book, so I googled it and I'm absolutely amazed by some of them. I can't wait to see what you do with the inside1

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