Altered Book Swirl Page

This page I have been working on a few months. Yesterday, I decided to finally finish it up. There are three separate techniques here - the swirl main image, watercolor resist background and dry brush technique for the circles the letters are printed on.


Ingredients

• Two page spread - for this technique to work you need two page spread
• White candle - taper works best
• Watercolors - I used Dr Martin liquid watercolors
• Watercolor paint brush
• Water
• Two sided cardstock - both sides must be decorated.
• Circle Cutter
• Scissors
• Pop dots double stick
• Additional cardstock
• Stamps and ink - I used Bird by stampers anonymous, Flowers from Judikins, Letter unknown. Ink is my favorite Archival Ink by Ranger.
• Glue Stick
• Children's writing tablet
• Acrylic paint - I used orange
• Gesso
• Paintbrushes
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Circle Punch - 1 inch

Watercolor resist - I was just experiment candle was as a resist. I think the same effect could be achieved with a crayon.

1. Using white taper candle draw a design on the page. I did just swirls and wrote the word "spring" several times.
2. Using a paint brush wash clear water over the candle drawing.
3. With watercolor paint brush, wash watercolor paint over the page.
4. Let dry.

Swirl pop up - Just like the pop up books of my childhood.

1. Using a ruler decide what size you want your swirl to be. I decided a 4 inch circle would be best.
2. Cut out circle with circle cutter.
3. Using scissors, cut circle in a swirl
4. Place a pop dot at the center point. Attach it to one page.
5. Place a pop dot at outside end of the swirl. Close book and then open it. This make sure the end lines up nicely. Use more pop dots to line up the swirl as you wish.
6. Stamp bird and flower images. Cut out. Using glue stick, attach the to swirl. I put some backwards so that no matter what side you are looking at you can see birds and flowers.

Dry brush technique - This is a quick technique that uses up the left over paint from other projects.

1. Brush acrylic paint over children's writing paper. Use a light hand. Let dry.
2. Brush gesso over the paper. Again use light hand and they let dry.
3. Using a circle punch, punch out circles from the paper.
4. Stamp letters on each circle.
5. Cut pieces of scrapbook paper into 1.25 inch squares
6. Attach squares to page with glue stick.
7. Attach letter circles to the squares.