Tuesday, September 22, 2015

September post Sue Smyth


Altered books and mini Canvas 
By Sue Smyth 


My last blog post was an altered Gothic book, for Halloween and I loved
it so much I had to make another one. This time featuring a
plastic doll turned into a steam punk fairy.


I was inspired by a play my middle son was in this term called tour of 
the damned, so my book is called Voyage of the Damned! Which
is a movie I think!



My fairy has added resin wings along with a chip butterfly
set of wings, I love doubling or tripling the wings for a 
great look.


I have covered the book in texture paste and chipboard pieces
first then painted with black gesso. 


Once the gesso is dry I have rubbed in graphite inka gold.
Then built up layers of other inka gold colours, including copper
turquoise and purple. 


For a sparkling look add a little Viva Stempel Farbe it 
is great as a rub too.



Add lots and lots of trinkets, don't be scared to
over do the trinkets. I love converting
Trinkets into crowns, clothing and wings.  



Add some pearl strips and paint over with
gold paint and assorted rhinestones and 
pearls for spooky eyes.


When you are done paint the sides of the book 
with gel medium and when dry add a coat of gold paint
this will seal the book shut along with all of the pages.
No need to adhere each page at a time!

Chipboard Used 



My next project is also a book,
but with a difference.


Decorating a book is a great idea, but not always practical.
So this time I made my book a box, way more useful, to hold 
teaspoons in.

So of course I decorated it with teaspoons. I also 
made faux sugar cubes, which I think look so real and almost edible. 
 See my tutorial and step by step below.


Each spoon is filled with a spray of dylusions,
 dimensional magic, white glitter, diamond dust
and seed beads. It will set to into a frosty sugary spoonful of 
coloured texture.



Add a pretty bow and rose to the central spoon 
for a shabby chic look.


Faux Sugar cubes.

1. Cut square balsa wood (available from hobby stores) into cube shapes.
2. Insert a tooth pick or bamboo skewer into the bottoms of each.
3. Paint with 2 coats of white gesso.
4. When dry, paint with Dimensional magic.
5. Carefully dip into white glitter, and dry.
6. Remove skewers and adhere in place 



Take a hard cover book and gut the centre
with a sharp blade.


Cut strips of chipboard to fit and hot glue 
to the base to form a box.


Add more hot glue around all of the edges to 
make it sturdy.


Then cover the entire box with torn strips of old pages.
adhering in place with gel medium.


Keep building with layers making sure to cover
the joins to make it sturdy.


This is the end result when painted with gesso 
sprayed with Teal dylusions and rubbed over with gold paint. 

Chipboard used 


My next project is a small 6 x 6 mini canvas to 
celebrate Paris.


I have painted most of the chipboard with Matt black 
spray paint and rubbed over with gold paint.
You can then layer over other colours of inka gold
including Stempel farbe which has a glittery look.


The back ground is simply a serviette that has 
been adhered to the canvas with gel medium. Thanks Jane lol!


Chipboard used 

Happy Crafting 




5 comments:

  1. Your projects are amazing and inspirational! I love making altered books and my daughter is asking for some "Paris" decorations for her room.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE both of these books and the canvas is scrumptious! I am definitely inspired to alter a book or two!! Now I need to get into my basement and locate the boxes of books that I have down there so I can get started!! TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome projects! The
    steam punk fairy is fantastic.
    Carla from Utah

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hoh gosh... Sue your projects today are AWESOME.. I'm crazy about your two boxes and the canvas. You are so talented.
    Thank you for sharing the step-by-step for making a book box and sugar cubes. Really inspiring to read your tutorials. I'm going to try the old book trick ASAP...
    Thanks again for sharing. You really understand how to embellish your art with lovely chippies, beads, pearls and some times with flowers.
    Hugs from Monica... Spain

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW wow WOW
    Your work is AMAZING Sue - SO MUCH EXCITING detail, dimension and texture - LOVE IT ALL!!!
    THANK YOU for sharing your tutorial too ... I confess that I have never altered a book before.

    ReplyDelete