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Altered books - Mixed text technique

Do you have a book ready to go for altering?  If not, check out the Altered Book introduction that I shared yesterday, and you'll be all ready to go as soon as you assemble the basic materials needed for book altering.

Materials and Tools

Glue stick
Scissors or exacto blade
Acrylic paints
Acrylic gel medium or PVA glue
Gesso
Foam or regular brushes
Black pens (I like the Pitt pen by Faber-Castell)
A book to alter
Additional pages of text, images, decorative papers, fabrics
Any other optional supplies you'd like: stamps, sewing supplies, bone folder, Pearl Ex powders
Fixative spray, Dorland's wax, and/or waxed paper



Mixed text is a really easy way to fill a page quickly.  All it takes (besides some basic glue) is a few pages ripped or photocopied from different language books, magazines, or newspapers, and an image that you wish to feature.  I like to add some paints and handwriting to mine, but this is optional.


1. Use a glue stick to adhere a few pages together on either side of your spread.

2. Use acrylic medium to adhere the ripped out blocks of text all over your two page spread.  Let some of the text extend across the break between the pages (called the "gutter").

3. I like to add some color around the edges and randomly across the spread with acrylic paint at this point.  Seal the edges of your text blocks with acrylic medium if you want a smooth top surface.

4. Add your image and any other decorative touches that you want.  Seal the image with acrylic medium if desired.

5. Add handwriting to your spread.  I like to use a Pitt pen in black, which skims easily over the acrylic paint and doesn't clog.

6. To finish this spread, I rubbed the surface with some Pearl Ex, which helps to remove the stickiness of the acrylic medium.  Other ways to deal with the surface tack are fixative spray, Dorland's wax, or by just inserting some waxed paper between your pages when you store your book.  

Part One: Introduction to altered books
Part Two: Mixed text technique
Part Three: Blending in an image
Part Four: Nesting pages
Part Five: Adding tabs
Part Six: Making a frame
Part Seven: Slicing up an image
Part Eight: Foil lettering
Part Nine: Doors and other flaps

Copyright 2010 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.


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Comments

Diane said…
Thanks Cyndi--great tips!!
Cyndi L said…
Such an easy way to get started, huh? :-)
Thanks for the ideas.

I've recently fallen in love with Pearl Ex and am using it for everything - well maybe not everything. I haven't Pearl Ex-ed the dog yet. lol.
Cyndi L said…
I love how the stuff does double duty...much prettier than cornstarch ;-)