Up-cycle a used book to scrapbook or genealogy book

I just love this idea of recycling an old book

and make it into a scrapbook like this

I have been scanning old pictures with my FlipPal scanner of family members and I think what I am going to do next is make it into a genealogy scrapbook. I have all sorts of ideas running through my head right now.  Can you imagine all those great black and white photos!!

Go visit JANET HOPKINS blog to see the instructions on how to "up-cycle" an old book to a scrapbook.

Altered Book Class

I have a fellow artist and friend, Leslie Venable, that will be teaching a class at KC Willis' Studio Retreat in Longmont, Colorado - February 4 - 6, 2010, with beautiful views of the mountains.  It is an Altered Book class, "Bound Reliquaries",  and these books are gorgeous!!! To learn more about the classes, visit KC Willis site at: http://studioretreats.ning.com/page/visiting-artists-classes . The class is limited to 10 people so sign up before it fills up.  When the first 5 sign up there will be a drawing and one of those lucky artists will receive the class at 50% off the class price...that's right one half the cost of an already splendidly priced workshop!  :)  But hey it doesn't stop there....when the next and final 5 sign up another drawing will be held and one of those lucky artists will receive the same 50% off discount off of the class!!!!!   Be sure to visit her site because KC Willis will be having more workshops through out the year.

Art and Soul Retreat

I just signed up for the "Art and Soul Retreat" for May 2010, that will be held in Hampton, Virgina. You might think this is crazy to sign up now but this retreat is huge. Some classes sell out in the first 24 hr after they post that registration is open. Well, registration is now open! It is so much fun and you learn so much and I think the best thing is that you are surrounded by other artist and crafters.  If you are interested this is what it is all about:

Art & Soul is a paper, fabric, jewelry and fiber arts art retreat taught by internationally recognized instructors. We are thrilled to bring such a wide variety of skills and artistic talent together for a 6th year!

Choose from dozens of mixed media workshops taught by internationally recognized instructors—designed to energize your creative spirit and reveal the secrets of your soul.

Work and play with a multitude of media—from thrift store finds to
tempered glass, vintage photos to polymer clay, beeswax to horsehair, fabrics to water colors and more….

Crackle, quilt, bead, chart, fold, mold, carve, paint, collage, weave, sew and more….
Create a tiara, a shrine, a journal, a vision, a necklace, a masterpiece, a pillow, a shadow box, a memory, a quest and more….

2010 Events

   Las Vegas !!    February 21-24, 2010
Registration is now open

Hampton, VA  -  May 20-24, 2010
Registration begins September 13, 2009

http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/

Check it out now....sign up now!!!

Truth is in the Dawn

I have been watching the TV show "True Blood" on HBO and this is what came out on to my altered book.

It started with putting masking tape down, then a layer of gesso. I am still working with crayon watercolors. I put down yellow as my first layer then I put red on the edges then mixed the color with water. Then I put brown down and was amazed how you could still see all colors. Made a skull transfer, collage the couple and painted them with "Marvy" brush markers. This was my first time using these markers and loved how it turned out, and used painters pens for the crows. The last step was using the distress ink along the edges of the page to create on aged look.

So this was a chance to experiment with two new products....I have really enjoyed it. I think I just need to slow down on the "True Blood" marathons!