Altered Books: The Basics

Hi there!

To be honest, I've never altered a book before, but I've seen them and have done extensive research, so let's learn together!

Suggested Supplies:

• Wax paper
• Saran Wrap
• Sponge brushes
• Used credit cards
• Acrylic paint
• Pages from dictionary, phone books, old journals (you can find these bits online, make them on Microsoft Word or Picmonkey and then print them off)
• Pop-Out stickers and Die Cutouts
• Random junk items
• Pointed object to scratch with, like a toothpick, cuticle cleaner, and so on
• Something solid to cut on, like a cutting board, self healing cutting mat, or cardboard
• Something heavy to press down certain items and make them flatter
• Paint brushes
• Used hotel cards
• Spray paint (optional)

Suggested Paper Scraps:

• Newspaper and magazine cutouts 
• Junk mail
• bills (some formal sentences in the bill are nice, like "sincerely")

Suggested Scraps:

• Beads
• Buttons
• Crayons, markers, colored pencils, gel pens
• Calligraphy pens
• Rubber stamps and ink pads
• Ribbon and string
• Tape, probably like Washi tape
• Die-Cut paper punches
• Needle and thread
• Fabric
• Stickers or die-cuts
• Tissue paper or (decretive) napkins
• Paper clips or other page clips, stapler and staples
• Brads
• Clear laminate sheets
• Stencils
• Glitter and/or glitter glue
• Mod podge
• Hot glue gun
• Elmer's bottled glue
• Rubber cement
• Glue sticks

Tips and Tricks:

• Glue two pages together for a thicker page
• Don't buy anything new for it. It's fun to use preexisting items and neat household finds!!!

I have just sprayed two pages in my book (I'm using the Twilight Saga Eclipse, haha) gold using gold metallic from Krylon. I'm also spray painting the outer cover soft green (Rust-Oleum's "Green Apple"). Let's see where I'll go from there!!

Favorite altered books: