Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

20 July

I have always had lots of interests when it comes to arts and crafts. I love so many different forms of art... decorative painting, sewing, felting, sculpting, writing, etc.


I especially love taking something old or discarded and giving it a new life. I think it's a form of personification... I kind of feel sorry for things that are no longer wanted and thrown away.


Have you seen that commercial with the discarded plastic bottle rolling along the roads, being pushed by the wind, kicked around, and finally being recycled into a park bench? You can see it HERE. I feel so sorry for that bottle, and it's the same when I see something on the ground or in a thrift store. That's probably why I love thrift shop flips and trash-to-treasure projects so much!


Altered art with found objects is a way to save those old, discarded things!


I haven't done any altered art for a while but I've been itching to create some so I'm creating an altered book and calling it my Book of Curiosities.


I'll be using things that I have found on the ground or saved instead of throwing them away.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

I'm calling it the Book of Curiosities. 


It'll be a series and this is Part 1. I'm not sure how many parts there will be in the series... I'll stop whenever I feel the book is full I guess!


Today I'm sharing pages 1 through 3 in the Book of Curiosities. For these pages, I'm using the following found or saved things:


  • a discarded bottle cap and rusty paperclip I found on the ground
  • an old greeting card envelope that had yellowed and was missing the card
  • some pressed flowers I saved from a bouquet I received
  • a piece of broken windshield glass from a car wreck my daughter was in (don't worry, she didn't even get a scratch from that wreck!)


Here is the video I created for these pages, I hope you enjoy it!



Page One - The Question is Not What You Look at, But What You See


I used the yellowed paper from an old scrapbook for this page and gave it a messy green background.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Here's the bottlecap I found. It says, "Boyland Sugar Cane Cola".


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I also used a rusty paperclip that I found.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


And some faux typewriter keys that say, "loves me," and "loves me not."


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

I used these to create a flower.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Then I added a quote that I printed on my computer, "The question is not what you look at, but what you see," by Henry Thoreau.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I wanted the bottlecap to have the same look as the faux typewriter keys so I used some Glossy Accents. It's resin and will dry clear, giving a glossy, glass-like appearance.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I think this page is a great introduction to a book like this, the quote sums the whole thing up nicely I think!


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Page Two - Collect Beautiful Things


I was inspired by Abby Monroe for this page, I used an old, yellowed envelope that had lost its greeting card and some flowers from a bouquet I received that I saved and pressed.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I used an old book page to create a liner for the envelope.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Then I added in my pressed flowers and leaves.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I also used some cardboard from a recycled box to add some interest and texture.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


If you peel the layers of a box apart there is this fun wavy design between them.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Then I used my rubber stamps to add the words, "Collect Beautiful Things."


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I used a piece of masking tape over the cardboard and then added the words over that. I also used masking tape as an added detail on the top of the page.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I think this page turned out so pretty. It's a little warped right now because I've already started the next three pages on the backs of these. The pages will flatten out once the book is completed.

Page Three - Don't Tell Me The Moon is Shining


This page was built around a piece of the broken windshield from a car wreck my daughter was in. Don't worry, she didn't get a scratch from that wreck but her car was totaled. I thought the way the safety glass on the windshield shattered was interesting so I picked up a piece.


I started with a piece of black and yellow cardstock paper. I cut the black piece to the page size I needed and then drew a crescent moon with chalk using an ice cream lid for the shape.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Then I cut out the moon.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


And I cut a small square of yellow paper and glued it to the back...


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


... to create the moon. I lightly sketched a face on the yellow.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


Then I painted the moon's face.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I used the same technique that I used on these Repurposed Rattan Baskets.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I used white paint to stamp the Anton Chekhov quote, "don't tell me the moon is shining, show me the glint of the light on broken glass." I liked that the letters are sloppy looking 😊


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I added some white and yellow lines under the moon to look like the moonlight shining on the water and then used an old toothbrush to add stars.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


To do this, dip the toothbrush in water, rub it in the paint, and then use your fingernail to flick the paint onto the page.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


And here's my finished broken glass page!


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


The Book


I am using an old 3-ring binder that used to be my grandfather's. He was a stamp collector but this book only had a couple pages of stamps and you can see he didn't even finish the cover!!


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I painted it with black paint and sanded it.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1


I will probably wait until the inside of the book is done before I embellish the outside.


Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1



I hope you enjoyed part 1 of this altered book series, stay tuned for part 2!!


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Book of Curiosities Altered Book - Part 1

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  1. AnonymousJuly 21, 2022

    I Your book is fantastic and thought provoking. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh wow, Tania, your book of curiosities is magical and thought provoking. I can't wait to see the next set of pages! What a fabulous handmade creation to pass on to your daughter one day. I especially love how you are creatively recycling found objects. Very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  3. My goodness, what a beautiful assemblage of everything possible! This book of curiosities is a treasure!! Can't wait to see it continue.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh that moon! I am in love.
    What a beautiful book you created!
    xo Lisa S

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love what you've done with the book so far! Looking forward to the next installment!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely gorgeous! You are so creative!!! Have a happy week :) Anne from DesignDreams

    ReplyDelete

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