imaginarium

Spooky Business

By Sue Smyth

altered books 

Hi bloggers 

Earlier this year I created this altered encyclopedia and finally

as it is nearly Halloween I can share it with you all.

I use these books to decorate my house during Halloween, so

I make them a little Gothic and creepy but not too much, so I can 

display them at other times too.

The bugs are plastic and are painted black

before I have rubbed inka gold into them and added

layers of different colours

The cover of the book has been altered.

I have cut an oval shape into the cover 

and torn the pages underneath check out

my mini tutorial on the cover below.

The door latch is metal but I have embossed it 

with gold emboss powder to make it match

The swirly frame is simply spray painted black  and 

copper inka gold is rubbed over, I have 

added 3mm pearls around the edge.

The texture is created by texture paste and several stencils

Then I have layered over black gesso, red paint, gold paint and 

various inka golds, the more layers the better.

This is the centre of the book, which  has been randomly stamped

with black ink and assorted stamps.

Step by step cover alteration

Draw an oval on to the front cover, drill holes

through the cover and then cut with a blade

to remove an oval shape.

After I have cut an oval into the cover, I

used a blade to cut a + into the 

pages, then you can peel and tear the pages.

Tear each section as you go 

                             

Continue to tear out the pages below until you are 

happy with the depth.

Then randomly cover the cover with texture paste, 

using relevant stencils.

When dry paint with red dylusions paint and

dry.

Now paint with black gesso.

Make sure you leave a little red paint showing through.

Use bulldog clips to hold the pages together, then paint

with gel medium to adhere them all together.

Now start with the metallic paints, layering up the 

colours as you go.

Paint the bugs with gold paint, after

they have been spray painted black.

Flick brown and gold spray inks over the inside

cover, tuck in black muslin.

I have added some die cut tassels to the side and 

a metal lock.

The corner bracket is double embossed with

aged gold emboss powder. Then continue on to add bugs and trinkets

as desired.

Mini spooky business 

To add to my display, I have made a few mini 

altered books.

This time I have used dictionaries and pocket guides, 

you can find them in any op shop really cheap.

The first one I have used the swirly rectangle frame

which is double embossed, then sprayed with 

black dylusions to give an aged look.

The bracket is just sprayed black and rubbed

over with gold paint, then dab

a little dylusions ink over the top

for a opalized look.

The next book is similar, I have cut a hole

into the cover to nestle the bug into.

The bug is sprayed black and rubbed over

with gold paint and inka gold, I have also cut

the chip dragonfly wings and placed them

to each side to make a hybrid beetle.

The bracket again is double embossed with 

aged emboss powder.

Here is a snap of the cover before it is 

decorated, and when I have painted it black with

gesso.

Here you can see the application of inka 

golds, to create a layered colour.

I love altering these books and do a few each

year to add to my collection, I think this 

is honoring the book not destroying it, which

is what usually happens to old encyclopedia and pocket hand books.

And you end up with a work of art for you house.

I hope you give it a go too

Happy Crafting 

Chipboard used