“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”
The plane, the train, the road, the time machine...books take you places. I've traveled all over the world, mountain heights and beneath the sea; I've floated the Congo and solved more mysteries than Sherlock Holmes; I've witnessed the past, present and future. I am a reader.
I love to read. When I finish a book, I start another immediately. Art and reading (and bacon) are my anti-crazy therapy, and this altered book, Mind Wings, is my merging of those passions (I ate the bacon).
Every October in my town there is an annual book sale at the public library. People donate books and the proceeds go to the American Association of University Woman for scholarships. Great cause, great sale and I've attended since a was a little girl. Unfortunately, the books that do not sell go to the landfill. I always go on day one, but also on the last day to see which books need rescuing. Mind Wings was born in 1915 under the name The Camp Fire Girls In After Years by Margaret Vandercook. This is the first book I have altered, and the 'literary side' of me argued with the 'art half' whether I should proceed. My 'art half won'; I am still retaining the written word; only changing the cover.
I began with masking tape and plastic wrap to preserve the inside cover and the pages of the book. After applying black gesso, I added crumpled tissue paper. I changed gears at this point and added white gesso and crackle medium. I always leave the crackle medium to dry overnight. In the meantime I will read...
The next day, I applied modeling paste through a stencil of handwriting. When that was dry, it was time to add some neutral colors and a touch of blue and turquoise by painting, spraying and dripping.
Embellishments were next. The spoon was a victim of the food disposal at work (luckily the boss man knows not to throw out potential art supplies). I applied Mod Podge to the spoon and adhered some torn pages from another book. I created flowers from other pages as well. I die cut a background for the inside of the frame and colored it with Distress Oxides before stamping a phrase on it. The wings and door handle were rubbed with Bronze Art Alchemy wax.
Assemblage: Frame, spoon, flowers, wings and handle. The final touches included vintage lace, bronze micro beads and the 'Favourite Tales' phrase.
Combining my passions for reading and art, this project was a joy to create.
I would love to enter this into the fantastic 'Book Pages' May Challenge at Scrapki-Wyzwaniowo
Product List
Prima: Art Extravagance White Crackle Paste; Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel, Art Basics Modeling Paste; Art Ingredients Art Stones 'Bronze'
Lindy's Stamp Gang: Moonshadow Mist in 'Tawny Turquoise'; Starburst Sprays in 'Creme Brûlée Cream'; Flat Fabio Spray in 'Sandra Dee Sepia'
DecoArt Americana: Chalky Finish acrylic paint in 'Primitive'
TCW: 6 x 6 mini stencil 'Art Is'
BoBunny: 'It Is Written' stamp
Sizzix: Tim Holtz Thinlit Die #660220
Tim Holtz Ideaology: 'Regal' and 'Clippings Stickers'
Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides Inks in 'Walnut Stain', 'Vintage Photo' and 'Faded Jeans'; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in 'Antique Linen', 'Vintage Photo' and 'Walnut Stain'
Paper Studio: Spare Parts 'Small Metal Handle'
White gesso,old book, book pages, spoon, tissue paper, wood frame and vintage lace