Altered Book Collage

I've read 3 or 4 books already on altered books, but just couldn't seem to get started. This one gave me the details and confidence to actually get going. It discusses the process, history, altered book groups, and collage. It gives ideas for displaying the results or giving them as gifts. It talks about building a page by choosing a theme or concept, considering the mechanics, design, backgrounds, layers and mistakes. The next section helps you choose a book, and covers adhesives and attachers, coloring for pages, decorating supplies, papers and embellishing tools. It clarified for me how to prepare the book, gluing, cutting windows/doors/niches and listed 101 ways to alter a book. Other techniques explained are: Rubber Stamping Decoupage Coloring Polymer & Air Dry Clay Embellishments Transferring Embossed Metallic Embellishments Microscope Slide Embellishing Stamped Spackle Embellishments Crackled Stones (Dominos) Burnt Edged Papers Sealing & Protecting Watercolor Batik Beaded Edging Torn Window Collage Leather-Bound Memorabilia Book Cheesecloth Masking Tags & Envelopes Bleached Stamped Pages Fabric Pages Needlework Pages Woven & Folded Pages The needed tools and supplies are listed in a box next to the inspiring photos of altered books where that technique was used. I practiced some of the techniques on old greeting cards that had piled up. The results impressed me and I even sent some off to family and friends.

At first I was dubious about purchasing this book over the net as you couldn't view the pages within. However when I received the book, I was definitely not disappointed. I would say my skill level on altered books is intermediate and this book proved to be a wealth of information. The instructions are really clear. Easy to understand and there was no shortage of techniques described. I also especially enjoyed the images. The photos were cleare and large making it very easy to see tiny detail. A book well worth the money.

I am new to altered art, although I've been crafting and making jewelry for years. I've bought a few books about altered art and this is by far my favorite. Barbara goes through all the basics, what to use to glue with, to color with, whether to seal the pages or not. Some of the other books I've gotten just tell you to color the page and then go into cutting windows and doors. With the other books, I've questioned what supplies I should be using and how they got certain effects. With this book, my questions were answered and the projects are inspiring.

This is a wonderful book to add to your creative arts reference library. It's jammed with wonderful images and ideas. The projects are very appealing to the eye, not dark and bizarre like some altered art that I have seen. It covers the basics for someone who may be just trying this art form. I like the way the instructions are given. The amount of photos that show techniques are helpful. The "101 Ways to Alter a Book" list is great. This book will be refered to many times. It would also make a great gift for any creative friend.