Saturday 4 January 2014

New beginnings.....

Well, its been a very long time since I've been on this blog but life has been so busy.  Now its 2014 and I'm ready to start heading in a new direction.  I've recently signed up to an Altered Books round robin which will see two groups of 12 crafters from the UK, USA and Australia circulating our books and adding art to each as they pass through our hands!

I'm so excited to be part of this venture and have sent my book off today to its first new home in Australia.  Each of us has a theme - mine is An English Garden and here's a few pics of my work.  Unfortunately, they are just scanned images as my camera decided not to play - just when I needed it!

This is the front cover done with Fresco chalk paints, some embossing paste, a bit of serviette, a TH rub-on and a lovely old image for the centre.  The hardware findings on the front were die-cut (TH again) then embossed and rubbed with chrome metallic gilding wax and fastened with tiny brads - I really like how they turned out.

On the back cover, I went for a softer look.
Again the embossing paste through a couple of stencils gave it texture which I brought out with some gilding wax.  My favourite Jane Austen stamp for the lady and then a little bird flying from its cage, helping this book to wing its way around the world!  I was a bit nervous that my book would get rather grubby over the months, so I gave it a good coating of Liquitex matte medium which went on really well.  I covered the spine with some washi tape to give added protection too.

Now inside, we were to add 2 two-page spreads to our own and everyone else's book to match in with the theme so here are mine.

I've really enjoyed working on this and am so grateful to Shelly Recicar for setting up the whole thing.  Bon voyage, little book - I'll see you again in a year's time!

Thanks so much for calling in to see me.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you all a wonderful and creative 2014.  I'd love to hear what you think of this idea and any comments would be much appreciated, as always.  Margie x



7 comments:

  1. Hello!
    Such a dreamy colour palette and gorgeous collection of stamped images (yes, some I recognise!) and lovely composition for each page - what a wonderful way to kick start your creative new year.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  2. Hi Marjie, happy New Year to you! This is such a fantastic idea, the thought of your book travelling around the world and being filled up by other crafters is so exciting! I love what you did to your book and I hope you will show the books you get back from others too. As Lynne has already said, this is a great way to get the new year underway. Big hugs, Anne x

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  3. Hi, Marjie! I'm so glad we are in the round robin together! It is pretty exciting to think that our books will make it around the world. I will look forward to getting your book. I love the theme you chose and I really like the 3-D dimensions you added. It will be so interesting to see everyone's artwork in our books. Have a wonderful, art-filled New Year! God bless!
    Tricia

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  4. What a super idea - bon voyage to your gorgeous book - it will be wonderful to see it in a year. Happy New Year Margie. Nicola x

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  5. I was wondering how you were. Such a fun idea You have so much talent. This will be something really special when it is finished. Take care.

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  6. Happy New Year Margie. What a lovely project and how exciting getting your book back in a year knowing it has been lovingly added to all over the world. Look forward to seeing more pages. See you soon hugs Brenda x

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  7. I missed this first instalment, but having seen you pop up on my Dashboard just now, I thought I ought to go in order so I know what's going on! Beautiful pages and cover for such an exciting venture... how wonderful to know your artwork will be travelling around the world and then other artwork will make its way back to you!
    Alison x

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