Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I have been altering books for 17 years and today I am going to talk about what I wish I knew then that I know now re altered books. Some of it may seem crazy obvious but it sure wasn't to me, and I am often asked versions of questions about these things so – let's look at them anyway.
Please check out my online classes on Thinkific at this link:
kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/collections
To see printable scans of vintage paper ephemera from my private collection, they are here on Etsy:
etsy.com/uk/shop/BookandPaperArts
Original altered books are available on my website here:
bookandpaperarts.com/altered-books
And if you are interested in buying original paper and vintage ephemera bundles full of cards, paper, handwritten pieces, lace, and more I sell them here:
bookandpaperarts.com/french-ephemera-book-arts-boxes
Here are some links to longer videos. This one covers more altered book basics:
youtube.com/watch?v=LzhOtySHZnU&t=1s
Here is a video on how to prepare you book for altering:
youtube.com/watch?v=wEFXg7RnxgM
And here are ways to build up a visual image library:
youtube.com/watch?v=ZXV6bMYkJDw
Some of the things I wish I knew then that I know now about making altered books include:
* practice in a cheap book before you move on to a valuable one
* starting with a nice, easy, thin book.
* building a library of books to alter as you go
* building your visual stash
* getting some dedicated paper scissors – I like the brands Cutter Bee and Fiskars
* check your work before you fussy cut and before you glue
* use the good stuff in your work
Let's compare notes! Just add some words of wisdom about what you know now that you wish you had known then and add it to the comments below. We will all learn something.
#alteredbook #alteredbookbasics #mixedmedia
I have been altering books for 17 years and today I am going to talk about what I wish I knew then that I know now re altered books. Some of it may seem crazy obvious but it sure wasn't to me, and I am often asked versions of questions about these things so – let's look at them anyway.
Please check out my online classes on Thinkific at this link:
kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/collections
To see printable scans of vintage paper ephemera from my private collection, they are here on Etsy:
etsy.com/uk/shop/BookandPaperArts
Original altered books are available on my website here:
bookandpaperarts.com/altered-books
And if you are interested in buying original paper and vintage ephemera bundles full of cards, paper, handwritten pieces, lace, and more I sell them here:
bookandpaperarts.com/french-ephemera-book-arts-boxes
Here are some links to longer videos. This one covers more altered book basics:
youtube.com/watch?v=LzhOtySHZnU&t=1s
Here is a video on how to prepare you book for altering:
youtube.com/watch?v=wEFXg7RnxgM
And here are ways to build up a visual image library:
youtube.com/watch?v=ZXV6bMYkJDw
Some of the things I wish I knew then that I know now about making altered books include:
* practice in a cheap book before you move on to a valuable one
* starting with a nice, easy, thin book.
* building a library of books to alter as you go
* building your visual stash
* getting some dedicated paper scissors – I like the brands Cutter Bee and Fiskars
* check your work before you fussy cut and before you glue
* use the good stuff in your work
Let's compare notes! Just add some words of wisdom about what you know now that you wish you had known then and add it to the comments below. We will all learn something.
#alteredbook #alteredbookbasics #mixedmedia
