imaginarium

Altered Book, Fairyland Folly and 

Spotted Mushroom Layout 

By Sue Smyth 

I recently went to New Zealand on a teaching cruise. We went 

on lots of shore excursions and the one I loved the most was 

to the Weta Workshops. You may know this as 

the place that made all of the props for Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit

among other things.

I found some large plastic Weta's and when I got back was

inspired to make yet another altered book, featuring the 

wonderfully creepy Weta and elements from the lord of the rings.

Enjoy the images of the book and dont forget to go to the

end of the post for a step by step tutorial on how to 

get the same textured cover.

In my stash I had a dragon and a 

few trinket swords, but I tucked an Imaginarium 

chipboard sword underneath them too.

The Castle turrets are just a plastic toy from

Kmart, spray paint it with matt black spray paint and you

are good to go with metallic paints.

See how I make the deeply textured spine below.

I have included lots of buttons, beads and trinkets.

I have painted the sides of the book with Gel medium

with a stiff bristle brush to adhere all the pages

together, this is a neat short cut!!

Here is the back, I have kept it plain, so I can see the 

wonderful texture of the tissue and rope...see below on how to.

My next project is a little folly, I am not really sure what to call it lol

I had a small chunk of wood left over from the wood chopping

one winter, it was so textured and gnarly that I kept it for some day!!

I have been playing with a 2 pack moss paint system from 

plaid, so I started with that on the bark. then I added

some real moss.

In my stash, I had some small mini mushrooms and tiny tiny 

flowers so I perched them on top of the wood.

When I finished I placed it all on an Imaginarium 

chipboard doily and added more moss around

the edges.

See how realistic the moss is!! The really funny thing is

I made this before I left for NZ, and by coincidence 

I saw lots of red and white mushrooms while there

so went on a photo hunt for the perfect shot of a red and white mushroom 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria

So I had to make a layout to feature all of my photos of mushrooms

I decided to be dramatic and use black as the base of my layout.

But I also wanted a woodsy feel to the layout, so I have included 

twigs flowers and leaves.

The Caper White butterfly from Rambling Rose was the perfect\

foil for the red of the mushrooms.

In the background I have printed descriptions and photos of 

old books and the text about mushrooms 

I have added small green prills around the background 

for a more organic look

Add some white paint splots too!

I have roughly stamped text on the black background with 

white gesso and a Rambling Rose script clear stamp.

Some wild looking daisies and small flowers seemed the perfect

match to finish the layout.

Here are some steps, the background, spray painted chipboard 

and the two part moss paint.

Step by step book cover 

Adhere thick rope or string onto the cover of an old book

with a hot glue gun.

Next apply gel medium all over the cover, add in 

a few pearls if you want even more texture.

Now carefully layer over scrunched tissue paper,

using a bristle brush to tap it into place around the 

rope.

Do not worry if it tears a little it will be 

right in the end.

Now paint with black gesso, make sure 

to get into every nook and cranny.

Add some corners and paint with black gesso.

I have added a few micro beads too for added texture.

Remember texture equals detail.

After I have embossed the frame with aged silver 

emboss powder from Stampendous, I have added 

a few gold micro beads while it was hot.

Now to add colour, I have dry brushed it 

with After Midnight Dylusions paint.

Then with a fan brush apply Inka gold graphite 

all over the surface.

Then rub in some turquoise inka gold.

Add other colours as desired.

I have also added some Lindys Magicals, all over the surface.

Keep adding colour until you are happy with it, I started out

wanting a very silver look and then turned more towards

a copper organic look

Happy Crafting