NOTECARDS

New notecards I made with my hand carved stamps of Woodstock City Park.

ALTERED BOOK ARTIST JOURNAL PAGES

Today I started a new Artist Journal to keep track of my art projects and journal about them. I wanted to print out the stamps using the different stamp pad colors so I have a reference point. If you look closely at the background of the pages, you can see the original print page bleeding through. I bought some discarded books at the library and glued (using a glue stick) three pages together. Then I painted over the top with white gesso. A great way to recycle and reuse these old books. Some of my friends asked me how I choose which books to buy. I usually go for size.........these were almost square and the pages were sturdy.

Saturday Art

On Valentine's Day a patron at our library brought all of us a rose. It was so touching especially because I know she doesn't have a lot of extra money raising two children by herself and also having health issues this year. I think it is a PEACE rose and I put it on my desk in my studio. I just had to start painting it and turned the painting into a "Thank You" card for her. I hope she likes it.

I decided I wanted to make some stamps of local landmarks around our little town of Woodstock. I decided to start with Woodstock City Park. I first sketched a pencil drawing of the gazebo and then placed it face down on the stamping material. I rubbed it several times with a bone folder. You can see how well it transfers.

Here is the finished "Woodstock Gabzebo" stamp.

This is the clock that stands near the gazebo in downtown Woodstock city park.

If you decided to try making your own stamps, be very careful. It is really easy to cut yourself!

HAND CARVED STAMPS

After a very left brained morning in a QuickBooks seminar with my husband at the Perimeter Apple Store, I had to come home and get creative. I've wanted to try carving my own stamps after being inspired by GENINNE and her beautiful hand carved stamps. I used a Staedtler Carving Block and a Speedball carver. I drew a pattern on a piece of paper, flipped it onto the carving block and burnished it. I started carving trying to stay on the lines. It was really a lot easier than I thought it would be. I can't wait to try some more tomorrow.

VALENTINE'S DAY HEART PINS

I decided to make a couple of pins for Valentine's Day. I took the idea of the recycled book page rosettes and incorporated them into a pin using felt and glitter. I added a safety pin on the back. Here is another idea using RECYCLED BOOK PAGES.

RECYCLED USED BOOK PAGES

I thought I'd pull together several ideas from some amazing bloggers and crafts-people using recycled book pages. I've used photos from other blogs so be sure to check out their sites and see their other amazing art. Since I work in a library I am always surrounded by books. We also always have discarded books for sale and sometimes very old books that people have donated that just aren't in good enough condition to put out for sale. I've been collecting some of these old books to give them a new life. For pennies, you can make some of these wonderful projects too!

Alisa Burke has some wonderful ideas here using old book pages as wrapping paper and adornments.

Alisa Burke
Alisa Burke
Alisa Burke

Alisa Burke
this chain by Alisa Burke is stitched together
another cute wrap and card by Alisa Burke
watercolor leaves
turn into a beautiful wreath, by Alisa Burke
Anthropologie window
Sconce and hanging light from Boeklampen
Wall sconce and hanging light by Boeklampen
Spineless books on display by Cote De Texas
a cute paper flower by Craftside
a book shelf by Inhabitat.com
recycled book table by Inhabitat.com
This looks like a wonderful book by Jason Thompson
More books sans covers by Jennifer Rizza.
These wonderful little creations are book purses made by Caitlin Phillips at Rebound Designs. This amazing crafter makes purses out of old recycled books, lines them and makes beautiful beaded handles. Definitely check out her website and etsy shop.



Restoration Hardware display
These glass magnets are from a blog named S.C.R.A.P.
And this cute little mini garland is from Saratops on etsy.
and last but not least is a window display from Anthropologie.

NEW USE FOR OLD BOOKS

RECYCLED BOOK WREATH PROJECT

Here is a great project for those rainy or snowy days when you are stuck inside and have a little extra time on your hands. I've been looking for projects using recycled books and found this project on a blog called Under the Table and Dreaming. All you need is an old book, foam wreath, ribbon to hang it and lots of hot glue!

Start out with an old book from your shelf or buy one at the library for 50 cents. You will be using three pages at a time so go ahead and tear out three pages.

Trim the page so it is a square and then draw a spiral on it like the one below. You will trim off the corners of the pages first.

Then start cutting out the spiral design. It looks harder than it is..........

Now start rolling up the OUTSIDE end of the spiral (the end you cut first) keeping it tight in the beginning which will end up being the INSIDE of the flower.

Continue rolling keeping the bottom edges fairly level.

Here I am almost finished rolling and you can see the rounded end. You will be dropping a blob of hot glue into the center and folding DOWN this rounded end.

OK, this shows where you will squirt the hot glue, fold down the rounded end and just hold it tight for a few seconds until the glue has hardened being careful NOT to burn yourself. Easier said than done.........

Once you're finished you can start gluing the cute little rosettes onto the foam wreath.

This is what a completed flower looks like........

And from the side..........they are also pretty with a little antique finish added to the edges or maybe a little glitter.

Now just imagine a completed wreath. It does take a lot of time but I think it will be worth the time spent in the end. You will have a beautiful wreath made out of recycled books.