WOW I'm wooking.

Since the work on the black and white with gold stitch patterns is still in the boring stage I thought I'd show the Altered Book project I am doing.  Elizabeth, on her blog, is doing a new one with excellent steps for a successful project.  I started her earlier tutorial and I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't completed it.  I think it was the theme which was 'Just Me' that intimidated me.  ;^)

The whiter book on the right is my first AB.

So I'm doing a smaller simpler version. I picked the theme and gathered all sorts of materials to alter the pages. It is on trees and leaves which will help me explore and move my own design style further along.

The book is stitched which is just about the only requirement for success but it sure is a narrow tight binding.
I found my handy dandy sander to prep the cover.  I work on a cafeteria food tray but with a plastic table cloth on my work table.

I have already removed some pages

Lesson 3 was this week.

Then I went back and double checked my post on which glue to use for the end covers.
I decided to use the gel medium and I'm glad as the lid wasn't real tight and it is beginning to dry out so I added some water and I'm slapping away.  Waste of my crafting money is a great motivator!

I added some left over mulberry paper to strengthen the cover and first page.  I got creative with that first page to save the images which are about the first of March winds. The brayer is a favorite tool for smoothing and pressing.

The back got the leftover piece and wax paper keeps everything from sticking to whatever it shouldn't.

The gesso lid is doing a better job of keeping things moist and that is what I used on the cover.  I didn't have a foam brush but I do like the streaky effect from bristles.  This brush sheds bristles though and that is actually more texture than I want.  I also forgot I was going to go lightly over the palm tree.  :(

The niche has been made in my original book so I won't be adding one to the smaller book. But I am thinking that I am ready for the next step in the niche so without a lot of fore thought, I grabbed two scrap book papers and cut, and glued away. The green paper was glued on the inside back cover.  Then I worked with the pink paper to fit, fold and tuck to the back.

Then the top section is glued to the back cover. 'Just me' is being pressed down to secure the adhesive as I type!  I'm thinking I'll use vellum or cellophane for the window page.

Surprisingly I don't have a huge mess to clean up so there is no need to postpone making more stitching patterns for my experiment with Threads- the Basics and Beyond.

I have linked to quite a few previous posts this week.  It kinda makes me feel very techy. (I hope they all work)  But I have been remiss about linking my wow, what's on worktable to The Needle and Thread Network.  These are Canadian bloggers who are sharing their work and processes each week.  We have hit a milestone and now have over 100 followers and a good selection is showing up for your viewing pleasure. Please hop over and check us out for WIP Wednesday #29

Nix the Niches?

I am back working on my Altered Book 101 class. This niche was making me drag my heels a bit but I had it on my list of five things to do and it's number was up! Well, I'm going to be glad that I made a niche, but I'm definitely not making another niche this deep. They are not in the instant gratification category. A tad labour intensive. ;^)

First I sectioned off the front pages so I could work on the block of pages at the back of the book that I had reserved for the niche. I used the gel medium to seal up the edges opposite the spine. I clamped it tightly. Then I did the two ends and clamped them. I propped the whole niche section upright and allowed it to dry over night.

The clamps stuck a bit to the paper but I will be prepping the pages later with gesso and colour. I did use my nail file on some of the roughness.

Then I drew a square on the loose page in front of my block of pages which will be the niche. This is the shape for the niche. I used an exacto knife because that is what I had. I cut along the penciled line, working against my acrylic ruler and from each corner.

Then I tucked that first page in with all the foremost pages. It will be used as a window to partially reveal the contents of the niche.

And I began to remove the cut squares. I cut and removed and I cut some more. And there were lots to remove.

Growing weary in well doing I tried my handy dandy rotary cutter. Still, I needed the exacto knife for the corners. Actually I broke the very tip of the blade and I probably should have put another one in but we did 'getter done'! Perhaps hubby's retractable knife would have been better.

I had placed a mat between the block of pages which make the niche and the book's cover. I finally broke thru, cleaned up all the debris, used my nail file on a rather ragged edge and began to apply the gel medium all along the inside edges.

This is a bit tricky to get the clamps positioned but once again they hold things tightly in place as the edges dry and seal. The niche will then dry. It is done in advance because that is easier. We'll revisit the niche later. Next up is colouring the pages. Much more exciting than clear glue!!! Whoo hoo! I have jumped over that wall of procrastination.