Altered Bits

Here is another blog to visit for inspiration - Altered Bits...click on the tab at the right for free templates, images, background sheets, textured backgrounds.... well you get the idea. These are for personal use in altered art and mixed media projects. Have fun!

Today Show, Trashion and Singed Flowers

Bobbie Thomas was on the Today show sharing some 'trashion' tips... I can skip the jean pocket catch-alls, using a tank top for a tote and cutting up old sweaters for necklaces... but the singed flowers were really cute... and from a viewer.

From the Today Show

Viewer idea: Fancy flowers
I was excited about this TODAY viewer submission sent in by Jennifer Ragan from Boston, Mass. There are certain articles of clothing that we assign emotional value (e.g., your senior prom dress or the bridesmaid gown you wore in your sister’s wedding). And while you may never have a reason to wear them again, you don’t want to give them up. Which is why I had to highlight Jennifer’s clever way of turning these old dresses into keepsake jewelry and hair accessories ( JLRY Designs; $9.50-$40).

What you'll need: Satin, tulle, organza or any polyester fabric, scissors, a candle or matches, beads, glue gun/sticks, and hair accessories you plan to use as the base.

Directions:

Cut fabric into circles of various sizes.

Using a candlestick, carefully singe the edges of fabric, barely touching to the flame.

Once slightly cooled, use your fingers to mold and shape the edges.

Layer pieces on top of one another.

When you like the look of your flowers, use a needle and thread to secure the layers together with beads.

Hot-glue or sew flowers onto hair accessories, such as bobby pins, headbands or brooch pin backs.

Here is a video I found that uses a heat gun:

Text Rain

I love words - choosing just the right one to connect with a memory, create a melody or for its visual appeal. I joined some friends for dinner last night at Proof, part of 21C, and after dinner walked through the gallery. I really enjoyed playing with Text Rain - now how do you put that into your altered art?

Text Rain Camille Utterback & Romy Achituv, 1999

Text Rain is an interactive installation in which participants use the familiar instrument of their bodies, to do what seems magical—to lift and play with falling letters that do not really exist. In the Text Rain installation participants stand or move in front of a large projection screen. On the screen they see a mirrored video projection of themselves in black and white, combined with a color animation of falling letters. Like rain or snow, the letters appears to land on participants' heads and arms. The letters respond to the participants' motions and can be caught, lifted, and then let fall again. The falling text will 'land' on anything darker than a certain threshold, and 'fall' whenever that obstacle is removed. If a participant accumulates enough letters along their outstretched arms, or along the silhouette of any dark object, they can sometimes catch an entire word, or even a phrase. The falling letters are not random, but form lines of a poem about bodies and language. 'Reading' the phrases in the Text Rain installation becomes a physical as well as a cerebral endeavor.

The Vintage Moth

Looking for that special something for your garden page? Here's another plethora of free digital graphics for altered art -

Ahhhhh... I needed this -

I spent a little bit of time on Amazon (hah!)... I spent a bit of time on Amazon (better) and found and ordered this little book. It is a thin book but full of ideas and techniques. The only drawback... it focuses only on Golden products, but it is a great primer. I can't wait to try some of the products I have but didn't know what to do with...

Altered Surfaces: Using Acrylic Paints With Gels, Mediums, Grounds & Pastes

Now That's a Fat Book

I was searching last night for more ideas for fat books and I am not sure how I ended up on Altered Route but what a treat! In 2008, blog owner Connie participated in a fat book swap with 120 artist. Each artist created a 120 original pages (!) of a technique with instructions on the back. Can you imagine hosting? Can you imagine binding? Each artist received the 120 pages and bound their own books. Connie has several ideas posted, and CreativeRebelGal has pictures of her binding technique on her blog.

Truly inspiring!

New Swap Announced!!

A Flower Garden - a skinny fat book. Interested in playing? Join our group. Sign-ups close on July 30.