Altered Books for Halloween Decor

What other modern housewife out there can sing an aria or rap to 80's rap music?  I hope I'm not the only one out there.  I guess I'm a bit eccentric that way.

I once challenged my four teenage nephews to an impromptu rap.  Can you imagine their expression when I started rapping New York, New York by Grandmaster Flash!  They had never heard the song and really thought I was making it up.  Specially when I changed it to: L.A, L.A big city of dreams, everything in L.A ain't always what it seems.  You might get fooled if you come from out of town but I'm down by law and I know my way around.....etc....I sang the whole song and the look on their faces was priceless.

I love to sing arias.  A while back I was singing Madam Butterfly, "Un Bel Di Vedremo" Italian aria. I was supposed to have been alone in the house that afternoon.  Unbeknownst to me, my husband and two boys came home early, they were supposed to be at the park.  I was in the middle of my aria, singing as loud as my voice could sing.  With such great emotion and despair.  Feeling the passion and heart broken sadness that Madam Butterly felt herself, when suddenly, they busted the door open thinking I was "screaming in pain".  I didn't know whether to be happy that they worried about me or upset that they thought I was "screaming in pain" when I was singing my beautiful aria......in the privacy of my own home.....alone.  Now that my boys know that mommy is not in pain when she's singing opera and she has not gone crazy when she's cleaning about the house rapping to Run DMC, I can finally sing any song that my little eccentric heart desires.

What are some things you like to do that you think might be a little eccentric? I know you all must have at least one thing on your list of  "I will never do that in public".  It's what makes us all "different" but in a good way.  Who knows, maybe deep down you're looking for the opportunity to have an audience to share your eccentricities with!!!


Now on to my crafts:
I have another fun Halloween project today.  These altered books are so easy to make and they can be used as home decor or as party giveaways for prizes....scariest costume, most original costume, funniest costume, etc..

Here's what you'll need: an old book you don't want

My favorite glue, Mod Podge

Acrylic paints, I love crafts that require this stuff

some extra heavy gel

First, apply Mod Podge on the pages and form them like so:

Next, once the Mod Podge dries, paint the pages with acrylic paint using  a brush:

Then decorate with Halloween decorations.
In the picture below, I used a craft knife to carve out a square.  I then applied the Extra Heavy Gel and let dry.  I used a glue gun to adhere my skeleton parts to the inside of the square:

The one below was done using rubber stamps:

here's a close up:

Hope you liked my altered books and I hope you have a spooktacular day!






Joining these linky parties:

Canvas Decoupage

Here's a project I have been wanting to make for a while.  I love my acrylic paints and this is a fun project that will allow you to use those fun acrylic paints.

Here's what you'll need:

decorative party napkins (tip: find them on clearance), small canvas, gift wrap tissue paper

Scissors, rubber or acrylic stamp, dye based ink, sponge, permanent marker, Mod Podge

 A variety of acrylic paint, I like using the Americana brand because the colors are brighter.  Use colors that go well with the colors on your napkin

  A picture....don't use an original, make a copy because you'll be cutting it and painting it.  This is me when I was eight years old, somewhere in Mexico visiting with my favorite aunt, Esther.  Sorry, my uncle accidentally, I'm sure, cut her head off .

Don't you love the old concrete steps? I think their awesome in my picture.

 Stamp your design on the tissue paper but make sure you have a permanent dye based ink so it won't smear

Peel the napkin taking away the layers and leaving only the decorative layers.  They normally only have one extra layer.

Cover the canvas with a think coat of Mod Podge, go to next step without letting the glue dry

Carefully place the decorative napkin on to the glued canvas

Cut off the extra napkin all around your canvas

I wrote "Diva" with a permanent marker inside the stamped image.  Place your sentiment or stamp design on to the napkin carefully with Mod Podge.  Don't worry if your stamped image is not cut exactly to the line, the tissue will actually disapear.

Next, cut our your picture and use Mod Podge (only on the back) to glue it to the napkin.  Take your acrylic paint and brushes and be creative with your picture

Here's what I did with mine, I gave myself a pink dress

And here's how it looks displayed in my dining room, very pretty.

Linky Party

Altered Imagery

It's here!!!! The book I ordered, I love this book. I already started reading it and can't put it down. I had been looking for a good book on altering photos for collage (it's collage as in garage NOT college as in university, see my comment below, pretty funny) and when I heard about this book, through a group of artists with rave reviews, I placed my order at Amazon. I can't wait to start doing some of the techniques on the book which, of course, I will share with you, you lucky people!!! I plan on posting all the techniques on this book step by step, of course. I can not wait to share this with you.



The author of the book, Karen Michel, is a very inspiring artist. She has a blog, please visit her blog when you have a chance or when you need inspiration for your own projects. Just click on her name. I've also linked the image above that will take you straight to Amazon. Let me know if you have the book and have worked on the techniques, I'd love to see what you've done.



The reason why I said collage as in garage and not college as in university is because I invited a dear friend of mine (I hope she doesn't read this, she'll kill me) I texted her "wanna go to a collage party?" and she mentioned it to her co-workers saying "I've been invited to a college party, how fun" so this is very funny because we're both in our fourties!!! ha ha ha! so they have been calling her cougar at work ever since.........no my dear friend Sally, if you happen to read this.....I am not making fun of you, I'm laughing WITH you, cougar, ahm, I mean, Sally.



If I don't post anymore and disappear from the face of blogger, you know who to question, my dear friend Sally.