Altered Book Pages

I posted a fabric covered book several weeks ago and promised to share the inside pages. It’s almost finished – I might add more layers at some point, but for now it’s finished. Below each photo, I posted some of the items on the page.

To begin with I lay a base of vintage papers over each page.  I add color with found papers, such as wall paper, photos from magazines and decorative papers.   Then I add color with dry media, such as gelatos or a colored pencils.

For the next layer, I machine sew fabric – I like to use fabrics in a variety of textures, such as velvet, silk, cotton and sheer materials. I then like to layer on some transparent elements, such as drywall tape or some tissue paper.

I will sew pockets onto several pages from found papers, such half a vintage postcard or a shipping tag. Then make a couple of miniature mixed books or tags to insert in the pockets.

To add imagery to my pages, I often utilize packing tape transfers or images printed on transparencies.

Finally, I go searching for quotes and words from my journals. I use a vintage typewriter to type them on a piece of old ledger paper and add them with glue. I also use several rubber stamp alphabets to create words throughout the book (I didn’t do this much in this book).

Finishing touches are added with hand stitching and found objects, such as the dried gingko leaf, vintage keys and buttons.

If you’ve make an altered book recently, please feel free to share a link or photo in the comments. I’d love to see what you’re making.

I’ll be holding another altered book class in my studio in Lowell, MA later in the year. Sign up below if you want to be notified of local events.