Altered Book page

I finished another spread in my current altered book a few days ago. 

This background has lots of decoupaged book pages for the first layer, followed by scraped paints and gesso through stencils. I also used burgundy spray ink and dripped it from the top of the pages.

The focal points are images from a magazine doctored with collage sheet images. Edges and outlines are smudged with black Stabilo pencil.

Since I don't have the energy or inclination to venture outside in this oppressive heat, I'm enjoying playing around in my art room and catching up on all kinds of projects.

Scrapbook Pages

I've been trying to catch up on many scrapbook pages for the grand boys.

I did this page awhile ago, at the end of the school year. It commemorates Drew's first year of outdoor soccer on K-league.

Our entire family traveled to Vermont to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday in June. I made four identical pages, one for each boy, so they would remember their great grandmother and that special day.  I also did several pocket pages for all the photos of different activities they did that week.

John, Dana and Drew and Grant spent several days in Montreal before returning home.

(made two of these double-page spreads)

They also went to White Sands for a day - the boys had never been.

(made two pages)

Drew's birthday was in early July so this double-page spread commemorates his Ninjago birthday party.

His party was at the same park as his third birthday party so we took the opportunity to take another photo of all four boys at the base of the same tree. What a difference three years makes!

(made one for each of the boys)

In early August Carl flew alone for the first time from Austin up to Dallas Love Field to visit us for a few days. Of course, that needed to be documented!

And Drew's first day of school (first grade) was this Monday. Carl doesn't start for two more weeks but I will be making a similar page for him.

I think I am officially up-to-date with all four books!

Third Altered Book

This is the first completed spread in my newest altered book project. 

The background started with pieces of book text and ephemera glued to the base pages. Then I added texture paste through a stencil. Once that was dry I painted over all with black gesso and sanded when it was dry. Then I added orange spray ink, red gelato and Inka Gold.  The focal points are two models from a clothing catalog; the wing is half of a stamped image; and the remaining images and words are from a magazine. I added depth by smudging a black Stabilo pencil around the edges of all the images and the edges of the pages and then placed the white paint pen dots to lighten up the piece. So fun!

Flying solo

Carl, my 6-year old grandson from Austin, has been bugging his mom all summer to fly all by himself.  Since Austin to Dallas is less than an hour nonstop flight, we decided he would come to visit us for a few days. So last Sunday this guy boarded a Southwest flight all alone and came to Dallas!  He was so excited and was a pro, according to the flight attendants.  I think my daughter, Kelly, was more anxious than he was, but she relaxed a little when she discovered she knew the entire flight crew!

Thank you Kyle for taking good care of this kid.

Thanks to the pilots for allowing him to sit up front.

To top it off, while waiting to board, he lost his third tooth! So the tooth fairy had to find him at our house that night! He was thrilled she didn't forget.

And two more are loose!

He stayed until Wednesday and we had a great time. We played chess and checkers, assembled Legos and went to the Ft. Worth Zoo despite the heat. He is such a big boy now and so easy to have around. I miss him terribly! Needless to say, I didn't get any art time in but it was worth it.

I'm back!

We got back Wednesday night from visiting our youngest daughter in Chicago. We lucked out and had beautiful weather - much cooler than the stifling temps of Texas! We had fun seeing a show, going to the lakefront beach, taking an architecture boat cruise, eating out and walking miles and miles. I've been resting and doing lots of laundry since our return!

Heartbreak Hotel

I've also made some Halloween cards. It seems a bit early, but I'm in a group that sends cards quarterly to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and they have to be mailed in this month.  I rummaged through my Halloween paper and embellishment box and made these all from leftovers. I have many more but it feels good to put some of this stuff to good use!