How I Make Altered Books

I was really struggling last night to come up with something for the blog. Most know that I post them on the blogsite Thursday night and then do the link on Facebook Friday morning. I was up until 12:30 trying to find something to write about. None of the prompts helped. Whoever my muse for writing is, he/she/it was NOT present. This morning I was prepared to just blow off this week’s post when my trusty craft muse, Myrtle, stepped in. (That’s her on the left) She suggested I tell how I make my altered books. Since I had just finished one, I thought that was a viable idea.

I take a book I got from the dollar store or thrift store. I usually have some idea for a theme in mind beforehand. It might be for a birthday, encouragement, friendship etc. I decide how many pages I will be dealing with. This can change as the ideas start flowing. I will take scrap papers and draw and/or write what words/phrases/lyrics I’ll use. Then I will divide the book up into sections to match. A section will consist of two pages facing each other. I will either do 2 separate ideas for each page or 1 that will span both pages. I think the most I’ve ever done was 12-14 pages total. Plus front and back covers.

Then the work begins. I hunt down the stamps I will use. I’ll go through my files for pictures, words, ideas. I will hunt down anything I don’t already have on file by massive Googling. I’ll consult my scrap pages to refine exactly what is going on a certain page. I’ve also started doing fold-ups and fold-outs if what I want to do takes more than the 2 pages in a section. All this takes an incredible amount of prep time. Once I know what I’m using, I’ll start printing the pics and words. And I know some of the pics are pirated. But I NEVER sell my books. They are always GIFTS, made for my pleasure alone to give. As for words, I always give credit if I’m able.

Once I have all the components at hand, then the FUN begins. The actual assembling of the book. I’ll color the pages for backgrounds with ink or paint. I’ll glue down the pics and words. If there are any raised elements, they go on at the very end so I can have a relatively flat surface to work with throughout the entire book.

Once that’s all done, then I start ripping out pages to make the book flatter, as by this time you can’t close the book because of all the added elements. When that’s done, I connect the pages so that you can open each section by itself. I have a Japanese book punch that is marvelous for that. I will tie the pages together with wire and beads, or thread and beads or simply ribbon.

Then I finish it off with the front and back covers. The front will be a bit fancy with pics and/or ephemera. The back is usually plainer and I always sign it. I had an awesome benediction stamp that I would use on the back for people that I knew were Christians. Sadly, I haven’t been able to find it for a long time.

And that’s it. A book that is filled with chunks of my love, my heart and my soul. And I give it away. There are 3 of my books in England. 1 in Germany. 1 in Australia. Numerous ones here in the US. Thanks, Myrtle!

It’s Slang, Dang it!

Most know of the controversy between “soda” and “pop.” Apparently there is also the term “tonic” in some places, and in Alabama it’s “Coke” no matter if it’s actually Coke, Sprite or root beer. You say you want a coke, and then tell them what kind.

“Cattywampus” is a term I grew up with. It simply means askew. The article I read credited Arkansas, but my people all came from the Missouri/Kansas area. In Marv’s family, it was the German “kanuppled” or “katiltered.”

In Maine, they say “ayuh” instead of “yes.” I love that term and say it myself at times.

At our church we have Germans and “Scandahoovians” (which is an affectionate term). And the term “uff dah!” is thrown around. I like that one, too, but don’t say it. I prefer the term “scheibenkleister.”

“Bless your heart.” I think most people know by now that this Southern expression can mean many different things… ;-)

“Sweeper” is another term for “vacuum” and I’ve also heard “hoover” used as not a brand name, but a general name for the device. My dad would always say “vacuum sweeper.”

Then there are the many names for that piece of furniture in the living room. You know the one, it sometimes can be unfolded into a bed for guests. Sofa. Couch. Davenport. Lounge. Cat-scratching post.

The article didn’t say anything about “discombobulated” which apparently came from American usage in the first part of the 1800s. I heard this term in my childhood, but not much after that.

Are there some fun words that come from YOUR background? Let me know. And bless your heart for reading this…and I mean it…

Out Of Time

There are several reality shows that I enjoy on HGTV, History Channel and Discovery Channel. One of my biggest complaints with some of these shows are the time constraints that are placed on the participants. I understand competition and the need to fill a specific time segment, but when this comes down to the participant not being able to do his/her best work because of time constraints, I protest.

On design shows, some have quirky rules, such as only using things you can get in a pet store and designing a room around those materials. That’s fine. But no real designer of worth is going to run madly around and put something together in a slap dash way and expect real results. I quickly got tired of those kinds of shows and quit watching them. Not to mention the back-stabbing, whining and crying. The real design shows have a design presented and the rest of the show is watching it all come together.

“Forged in Fire” is a show that Marv and I really enjoy, except for the stupid time limits. You cannot make a quality edged product without taking your time to do a good job. Again, I understand the competition aspect, but you’re asking reasonably experienced smiths and metalworkers to do their sloppy best in the time allowed. When the final two contestants are allowed to go home to their own forge to make something that is when you will really see some fine work. Again, there is a time constraint, but it’s much more manageable to get something done when you have more than 3 or 4 hours to put something together.

One show that I had high hopes for and was bitterly disappointed in was “Steampunk’d” on GSN. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Steampunk and was so jazzed about this show. Expect for the Steampunk theme, it was just another design show with all the back-stabbing, whining, crying and time constraints. If they’d given the contestants more time to create and not worry about filming all the interpersonal drama, if would have been a much better show.

I’m all for keeping it real, but tying the contestant’s hands with time limits is not worth my time watching it.