Recycle old books to decorate for altered art projects.
Create altered art projects by altering a mundane item with photos, art, fibers and decorations, to create a piece of art. Use the collage technique to add layers of paper, ribbon, fabric, photos and found objects, such as buttons and bottle caps, to the surface. Add hand painting, lettering and rubber-stamping for additional decorations. You can do the collage technique on any surface, including old books, journals, painting canvases, scrapbook paper, decor or furnishings. Look for items that can be recycled and reused in a new and interesting way.
Instructions
1. Locate a photo or image to use as the focal point of your project. Use your own family photos, or search for photos and images on the Internet to download. Base your project design around your photo by using similar colors and themes of decorations. Artwork, antique photos or old advertising poster designs work well.
2. Find the position for your photo on the item you are altering, brush the decoupage medium onto the back of the photo using a craft brush, and place it onto your item and rub it lightly across the surface until it sticks.
3. Cut your ribbon into four pieces using a craft scissor, cutting the pieces to the length and width size of your center image, to create a frame for the photo. Brush a line of decoupage medium along the edges of the photo, and place the ribbon, one piece at a time, along the edges to the glued area. Overlap the ribbons where they meet at the corners.
4. Brush over the entire photo and frame with decoupage medium. Decoupage medium is a transparent glue that both glues and seals projects. Allow to dry for at least 1 hour.
5. Decorate the rest of the piece with stickers or scrapbooking paper embellishments. Add decoupage medium to the back of anything that does not have a prestick. Use stickers and embellishments to decorate the borders or random areas of the piece. Three-dimensional stickers are available in scrapbooking specialty stores and craft stores.
6. Add a drop of hot glue to the buttons and decorate with them. Place the buttons onto the corners of the photo frame or anywhere on the piece. Buttons in varying shapes and colors add texture and dimension to your piece.
