Project Pronounced Complete #6

This tiny book (encyclopedia) would be a great altered book, or so I thought. The red covers were in great shape and it was the perfect color for an Alice in Wonderland book. However, the pages were so brittle that after removing most of them, what was left could not be glued together. The paper kept tearing in the smallest of small sizes! My only solution was to add paper to the group of pages and anchor the group of pages by sewing and/or eyelets. What started out as a great project grew to be a big headache. So this little project was placed, no thrown into a box to deal with later. And later turned into a great length of time. As the story goes, I pulled out the book with renewed energy and completed the pages in record time. The last trick was to use all dry adhesive. I have a few more of these books and I am going to completely remove all the pages and insert my own signatures since the covers are in great shape. My favorite thing I did on this book was to add the tiny tea cups as shown.

Alice in Wonderland

My art group this past year was involved with an Alice in Wonderland themed book round robin. Each artist made her own book, made a page or two and sent it on to the next player.

Below are the pages that I personally made for each artist's book as it arrived in my possession. We had thirty days in which to create the art and mail it on to the next player. My challenge was using what I had on hand which was a limited supply compared to what I was use to! You can tell that I definitely fulfilled on my challenge as I used the same images, papers, and embellishments over and over again.

The photos were taken using my digital camera. I didn't have my scanner available and I really missed it when it came to recording my artwork!



This page I made for Allie. I found what I think is the perfect text from the book for this particular scene of "Advice from a Caterpillar". Tim Holtz grunge embellishment was painted black and was added as a dimensional element.






This is the second page for Allie. I love the telescoping Alice and again found appropriate text. The different size numbers in various colors were added as embellishments along with a "Drink Me" playing card.

I thought Allie had a clever artist's sign-in as she used coin envelopes and tags. Previous artists used references to the pages they created on their tags so I found the text in the Alice in Wonderland book where Alice wrote a note to her feet along with matching papers that I used on Allie's pages.






I loved Susan's book page size. I was able to do a lot of layering on her page with the Cheshire cat image, the reproduction image of the title page along with a red label to highlight a teapot I added on top of a tiny label. I added a clock embellishment to one of the rosettes and the others have a black rhinestone in the middle.

I don't think the photo shows it well, but I added a white ruffled ribbon to his collar.

The last two embellishments that were added were the grungeboard letter "A" painted in red and a key with striped string.

Her layout was an accordion book style. Each artist only made one page.




I am not 100% sure, but I think these pages were made for Judi.

I used a grungeboard "A" painted in black and then glitter glue was added on top. Alice's crown is made of rhinestones and her boots have red rhinestones as accents.





This is Judi's second page with the ruffle ribbon added to the White Rabbit's collar. I tied a bow using a narrow red silk ribbon. It took me about thirty minutes alone to do this one ribbon which is why I never added it to any of the other pages where I used the White Rabbit image.

I like the Graphic 45 paper where I cut out the playing cards and rolled only one edge.

When Sharon's book arrived, I realized that her book was made from large size playing cards. It was the same set that I owned so I was excited to be able to add a page to her book which allowed me to make a silhouette of the White Rabbit.

The black ribbon embellishment that I used on her first page made it easy to add a Tim Holtz clock embellishment.

I cut the phrase "At Last....from Graphic 45 paper. I especially love the Graphic 45 collection!






The White Rabbit with his jacket and watch. His paper doll jacket is stored in a pocket on the next page.

The red flowers were cut from a lightweight drapery sample. Rhinestones were added as centers.






This is the final page. I added text to the back of the White Rabbit that gives a possible explanation as to why he is late (Internet source).

I used Graphic 45 papers for the last page adding the same ribbon embellishment as on the first page and glittered letters spelling Alice.




Marsha's book was one of the first that I worked in. The little girl with a bow in her hair was in my collection of antique photos. I decided to make her the original Alice. Copic markers were used to color her dress and I added blue rhinestones as buttons both on her dress and shoes.

A key and keyhole stickers along with the fabric red flowers were added as embellishments.

Alice holds a teacup in her hand.


I "think" these pages belong to Minori. She loves the different holidays so I thought I would make her pages using the Graphic 45 papers of Halloween.

She had prepunched her pages and I added copper eyelets to my page.








I added a grungeboard letter "A" painted black and you can see the three playing cards tucked into the envelope made using the Graphic 45 paper.









Jan made a Coptic book using playing cards which gave a sturdy surface to work on plus it opened flat. I was able to use an image that I had of the tea party and position it as a double page spread. I was careful about where the fold would occur. I wanted to do layering on her pages which would give more interest and that's when the red checkered clock idea came to me. I decided to use rose stickers for the numbers and according to the Madhatter's quote about being always "6:00" is why I only used the numeral for 6 and not any of the other numbers.




Jan's favorite color is green which is why I painted the grungeboard letter "A" in green. It's not viewed on this photo but in the one above.

I like using black card stock as a background for quotes. It's easy if you use the Xyron to apply the adhesive first, then cut and place.




I enjoyed making the art in this round robin immensely. I have received my book and will be scanning the pages soon. First, I need to connect my scanner but even before I do that, I need to locate my scanner in the many boxes I have yet to unpack!

Alice Altered

I had altered a book a few years ago that was an Alice in Wonderland storybook. And then I gave it away.

When I found an Alice in Wonderland book in a resale shop, I knew that I wanted to make another book.....but not the same as I had made before. I am only posting a few pages of my book.






The tag shown is a plastic tag that I colored using alcohol inks then collaged my images.










I made pockets to insert tags.












My husband drilled holes into the scrabble tiles for me.









This is at the beginning of the book. I colored a grungeboard "a" and inserted an image of Alice. Diamond Glaze was then poured on top of the image even with the depth of the letter A.

I also did a color transfer of the rabbit onto a tag.








This view is the side of the book with all the beads and dangles from the pages inside.












I couldn't resist adding lots of fibers to the spine.










The cover was made using black and white polymer clay. I thought Somerset Studio would be publishing my Alice in Wonderland book, however, after holding my artwork for eleven months, it was returned to me in perfect condition.

The Altered Alice

This is NOT my art work. It belongs to a talented artist, Donna Meme. The Altered Alice is a brand new blog! Take time to check it out....but first fix yourself a cup of tea before you begin your adventure.

Alice Stuck in Wax

I recently had the opportunity to watch a demo with Suze Weinberg using beeswax. I have made a few collage pieces using beeswax but following some tips that Suze mentioned made all the difference in the ATC's I made.

She builds up layers of beeswax before she applies her collage images. And scrapping the final application I think is the big secret.

The photos don't show all the details...i.e. perfect pearls powder that was added and the texturing.

My base is stampboard material.

Down the Rabbit Hole

I recently took a class making Alice in Wonderland cards using the latest collage design images and rubber stamps by TweetyJill at Croppinsville. Allie generously gave us lots of tips and new ideas for making our cards. Allie offered the students to stay later than the designated class time and several of us took her offer. We were not disappointed as I learned so much taking the extra time! Here are some of the photos from the class. Some of the cards are finished and others are a work in progress.

Alice In Wonderland

Who could resist making a postcard book with the theme of Alice in Wonderland?.....not me! So I took a class being taught by Dianne Hicks at Stamp Asylum in Plano, Texas recently. It was wonderful having Dianne teach so I could learn some new techniques. After I saw her article and art in the latest Mar/Apr '10 Somerset Studio issue, pgs 22-25...I knew this would be a fun class!



The backgrounds are photos taken by Dianne of her backyard. They have been altered using paints and glazes. Don't you just love the idea of what looks like a rabbit hole?!









The class used carved rubber stamps made by Dianne for the large images in our books. I chose to make a tag for "Drink Me" instead of a rubber stamp.



I love the Cheshire cat perched on the tree limb. Isn't that an awesome carved tree stamp!





This particular page was a disaster for me.....I misunderstood what the directions were for this page...however, Dianne rescued me. At home I had a chance to redo some of the images and take time to color the caterpillar, add smoke, and repaint Alice. Now this is one of my favorite pages!




I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the double page spread! I completed these two pages at home and I am glad that I did. I used a background foliage stamp by B-Line Designs that I thought fit perfectly. I was able to paint gesso to extend the table....and use those great Copic markers, too!




These two pages were completed in class. I switched the page layout as I wanted the rabbit to be looking into the book.








I had a great time making these pages. The King was made in class and I finished the other page at home. I used a rubber stamp from my collection for the arch background.






The Red Queen was almost completed in class and the following page I made in my studio. I decided to use rubber stamps for the quote and a grunge board crown from Tim Holtz.

I used text from an old Alice in Wonderland book and made a top/bottom border using a rubber stamp from my collection.

Alice in Wonderland is now complete with the fibers given to me in class! I really like how this book looks and enjoyed completing the processes at home. What I learned from Dianne was using the glazes that gives a lot of depth. And of course, the shopping opportunity at Monica's store! She has an awesome staff, too! Thanks Dianne and Monica!

Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things to see in my yard during the summer.

The glass garden bulb was purchased from a shop in St. Charles, Missouri a few years ago. I love how is fits into the azaleas.

The White Rabbit from an Alice in Wonderland collection was purchased with my late brother-in-law Bob in mind. He was always running late....and we have a reminder of "Uncle Bob" as we all called him each time we pass going and coming from our home.
He is snuggled in among the greenery checking the time.