Altered Junk Mail Art Journal

Like you, we amass a multitude of junk mail. I know a lot of mixed media artists utilize these substrates, but I have so much purchased supplies I need to work my way through before I start using all these junk mail cards.  A few months back I received a really thick piece of junk mail from American Express, and since we weren't interested in the credit card, I just tossed it into the recycle bin, unopened.

About 3 weeks later I received another identical envelope.  For some reason, this time I wondered what made it so thick.  So I opened it and lamented that I thrown the first mailing out.  It was this amazing 8-1/2" x 4-1/4" book (featuring the fun you can have with this credit card). It had 7 pages (14 sides) besides the cover. It was center stapled, and came in a sturdy card stock envelope (this was all mailed in a while paper envelope).  Having made many books, altered and not, over the years, I decided to make use of this great piece of free substrate. I did all the backgrounds first, by the end of that part of the project it was out growing it's staple strength.  Using more staples and washi tape I managed to make the book a little more stable.  I also altered the cardboard envelope it came in.

Enjoy these photos.  And make sure if you get some junk mail that seems unusual, open it!!

Altered Coasters Alphabet

I participated in a Yahoo to IO groups crossover swap for the year 2018.  We made two a month utilizing, the letters as the theme, on a 4" x 4" coaster. They could be square or round.  I received many great returns from other participants.  I always make a copy of any swaps I create for myself.  Here are the cards that I created.  I usually create little books out of the 4" x 4" Art Cards I make.  And will most likely create one for this one, eventually.

More Mini Shutter Books...

I am one of those people that when I learn something new, I get addicted to making them for a period of time. Such is the case of the Mini Shutter Books I featured in my last post.  These were actually samples I made for the class I taught with my stamp club.

 

 

SHUTTER CARD MASQUERADING AS A MINI BOOK

I can't recall how I came across this YouTube artist, Helen Griffin from the UK, but was excited to see this project. A modified version of a Shutter Card, that she created as a tri fold mini book.

I have made shutter cards before, here is the first one I've made.

Here is one I made from a modified version in Splitcoaststampers' newsletter.

And here is the book version I made from Helen's video. I love how it turned out. 

Now check out Helen's video tutorial here:

Tutorial Trifold Shutter Mini Book

https://youtu.be/u4k8egHrcSE

Printed papers used from the following 6x6 paper pads. 

My Minds Eye: Lost & Found-Madison Avenue

Photoplay Paper Co.: Julie Nutting French Flea Market

Photoplay Paper Co.: Michelle Coleman Moments in Time

Dyan Reaveley BYOB Class April 1,2017

I had an opportunity to take a class from one of my favorite mixed media artists, Dyan Reaveley.  My daughter-in-law and I made a weekend trip of it down to Beaverton, OR for the class as well as some fun shopping in the area. 

We took a class called Build Your Own Book (BYOB), and I really liked the assembly of this book.  I'm not so sure I was all that crazy about the different types of paper mixed together in the book, but once I got home and decorated the pages I fell in love with it.

Here are pictures of the finished book... well, I may go back and add a thing or two to a few of the pages, but for now... I'm sticking a fork in it.