Imaginarium Altered Magic

The Giant Mummy Book 

and Pigs might fly 

By Sue Smyth

I love searching second hand stores for nicely shaped books 

and a few months ago I found this massive 

Atlas, with a super hard cover. It cost me the huge 

price of $1.00 ...what a bargin

It measures about 60 x 30 cms so yes it is large 

and heavy.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, I love 

Egyptian art works, and with Halloween 

coming up, I knew I would be able to find

lots of Mummy inspired items, along 

with my favourite go to plastic bugs !!!

YEAH 

Here are some super close ups, here

you can see how I have created a giant

rip in the front of the book.

And I have burnt the edges of the paper.

I use a fire lighter to make it easier.

Here is my giant Scarab, I found 

it as the Australian Geographic shop, 

you can get a whole pack of assorted bugs for about$15.00

Here I have included plastic snakes and 

a plastic skeleton, you will find these

at any store selling Halloween decorations.

I found lots of plastic skulls at Spotlight 

and they work a treat when painted 

with black gesso and then layered 

over with metallic paint.

I also found some super Dragon eyes that just 

had to be included.

I needed an ANKH, which I found online

to tuck into the mix.

Along with a Scorpion.

I tried to use bugs that 

were relevant, like centipedes, scarabs, beetles

and scorpions, things you would find in the 

desert. 

To soften the look and hide 

any voids, I have dyed 

some muslin brown

and teased it out, I have tucked that in

all over the front.

The best thing I found was 

these skeleton hands again 

at Spotlight in the Halloween

section, they were the inspiration for the whole

book, I wanted 2 skeletal hands

to appear to be ripping the

book apart, and the melee of 

bugs to be cascading out. 

I also made some resin molds 

of King Tut to include.

This plastic scarab is huge, I did have 

to alter him a bit to make him more 

authentic, a bit of surgery

with the scissors turned an elephant beetle

into a scarab.

I have called my book Secret of the Tomb.

I am working on the inside too, but it 

was not ready in time, so 

I will post it next blog post.

I have adhered lots of gauze to the cover to 

appear like a Mummy shroud.

Here is a little Hint on how to do it 

The cover has been cut in half with a CHAINSAW, 

yes that is right,the cover was so hard I had 

to enlist hubby and his trusty 

chainsaw, I made sure he did

it roughly for a rustic look.

I have added macrame cord around 

the edges and layered over 

it scrunched tissue, and on

top of that, chipboard and embellishments.

Burn the edges with a bbq lighter or a portable 

burner from a kitchen shop.

Then paint the whole book with 

black gesso. It is starting 

to look so cool already!!

The frame is painted with black gesso.

Then randomly draw with 

liquid pearls(any colour) 

Then leave it to dry.

When dry paint with black gesso again, and dry off.

When you rub over gold ink gold it will 

pick up the fine lines and looks so 

vintage.

The main body of the book 

is covered in crumpled tissue

painted black and then 

rub over inka gold of your choice, I have 

used Graphite and cobalt.

I have also used an Art Alchemy wax 

Here is the start of my embellishments, and as you can see above 

I kept filling the frame with 

whatever I wanted to enhance the theme.

Why not have a go and make you very

own altered book.

Pigs Might Fly 

My next project is a cutie.

I have been looking for so long for a fat cute 

pig to alter. And at last I found one.

She has several layers of wings and such a cute 

smile on her face.

I had to make her a crown, and I found

plastic ones in the party section.

To decorate the sides I have adhered chipboard

cogs, to the base of the pig, and layered over

real metal ones later.

Even her bottom is cute lol.

Cheese !!

Paint the crown with black gesso first

and then rub over with gold inka

you will be surprised at the detail

that is revealed.

The monarch butterfly chipboard makes a great set

of wings for a pig.

Here is a little how too 

First paint the pig black, I use

flat black spray paint, but you could 

also use black gesso.

Then add texture paste to 

the surface so you can adhere the chipboard.

It helps to mist the chipboard with water

first so it can bend with the

shape of the object.

When dry, paint black again

this time with black gesso,

as this will help the colours adhere

to the surface.

Then paint the pig turquoise and add

a little purple paint.

I have done this randomly

as I love the randomness of ART.

Chipboard is sprayed black too, and 

sponge over paint randomly.

I have rubbed over Alchemy  waxes, this 

one is Antique Turquoise.

It gives a cool aged look. 

The add Vintage gold for a super sheen.

Happy Crafting