Weathered Journal Technique : Altered Book {Gypsy Eyre}

[@JoLowden-oz9no]

You have just turned a beautiful classic book into an absolute mess. I get junk journals but this is awful.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Hello my dear, then altered books just aren’t for you. (If you do a search you’ll find hundreds). We’re all different 😊 I would add though, for some understanding - creativity & beauty is subjective. Materialism is subjective too. Some people value an object so highly they are horrified at any change, others see it as that we can’t take it with us in the end. There’s also the appreciation of beauty in what is imperfect, or even what is worn and torn. Such as the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. This particular book came from a free book shop amongst thousands of books. In this digital age it might eventually have ended up in a landfill. I’d also rather see a book given a new lease of life than be lost forever. It’s not a first edition, the illustrations weren’t especially beautiful or prized. There are countless Jane Eyre editions. I own another very pretty one. I have to be honest and admit that when I first saw a book altered I was shocked. I also owned 1700 books at the time and wouldn’t even dog-ear one! I was happy if I could manage not to crack the spines. I’ve learned to let go. Now I own less than 100, I scribble & highlight in some, I dog-ear pages, I stop telling people ‘be careful with it’ when I lend them out. I view books as living experiences and tools now, rather than every one a precious artifact. Finally, creative ‘mess’ is important in a world stifled by perfectionism, repression, control, and seriousness. We could ask ourselves - why am I horrified at messiness and play? I know for me it was a mother who expected me to be generally perfect (and creatively, to colour within the lines). I now let that stifled little girl play. When I’m on my death bed, I won’t regret ‘messing up’ books, I’ll regret I didn’t do it sooner.

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

It’s a creative beautiful mess. What’s. Your problem go back to your basement!

[@eeyorecuddles]

Great reply. Xx

[@missymzloca]

@@AutumnMoonArt Well put!!

[@marisamessias5932]

What an unpleasant thing to say. "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all" (Thumper, from Disney's Bambi). 😢

[@studio-989]

Thank you for sharing your technique with us! Can hardly wait to see this BEAUTY progress into her Gypsy self!!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

You’re welcome, and thank you. I’ll happily share more when I can. 😊

[@jennifermott5651]

I love seeing well-used art tools and brushes in a video! Nice!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Messy table & supplies - loud and proud! 😂 💜

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

The pinky browns are so lovely and match the covers perfectly!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks a bunch for your kind comment. 😊 I do love pink and brown together.

[@annettegoldberg5126]

I just stumbled upon your channel and I’m in love!! This is gorgeous and makes me want to try it!!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

@@annettegoldberg5126 Thank you! 🌸 Please do try it, let me know how it turned out. 😊

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

Lawdy! I love it all! It’s simply gorgeous and so creative!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks so much. 😊 I'm loving working in it so much.

[@eeyorecuddles]

I think the term you were looking for is ‘foxing’. Love what you have done!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Oh I love learning something new! I had been thinking visually rather than verbally, but as a word-lover I love that there’s a word for it! Thank you! 😊🌸

[@rsmith85255]

Nice job!

[@paulag-IG-1bigbadwolfe]

Wow! Thanks so much for taking the time to demonstrate your process. I’m eager to experiment.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

You're very welcome. Have fun fun fun! ☺💛

[@fannyfroeschl]

oh my goodness, I love these pink tones. So loved to watch your process. New subbie here🥰

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you! 😊🌸 and welcome! 💜

[@lynnboyd33]

OMGosh, I am loving how you did the vivid backgrounds on the blank pages thus far, And I LOVE your soft soothing voice. Im almost ready for a nap, but I need to finish this video now. Thanks for the great share!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you! 😊🌸 Also, as an insomniac I’d be pleased as punch if my videos lulled someone into a nap 😂

[@LynneWilliams101]

Oh my, your pages are gorgeous!! Thank you so much for the tutorial as it's great appreciated. x

[@AutumnMoonArt]

@@LynneWilliams101 Thanks so much! 😊 and glad you liked it 💜

[@marisamessias5932]

Love the technique, the colours you used and the results. Will definitely do the same to my childhood fav, "Little Women" 🤩🤩🤩 Thank you for the characteristic chatty tuorial. 💜

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Oh that’s a lovely one too 😊💜💜

[@DragonsAndDragonflies]

beautiful. I LOVE it.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊💗

[@debbiebreen6276]

Love this look.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you! 😊🌸

[@katluvsdogs]

I’m loving the contrast between the vintage and pink! I think you should do an altered book class!💙💙💙

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you! I adore pink ☺🌸 I have so many class ideas in my head but an altered book one would be so much fun so I might just do that! (You can join my newsletter if you’d like to hear about it: www.autumnmoonart.com/newsletter)

[@michellelutz2721]

I LOVE the pages of this book! The haters can watch videos of things they like. Opinions are the lowest form of communication....just my thoughts. Anyway.. i love your technique and all you shared. I appreciate an artists work and thought process... beautiful colors!!! I never thought of mixing the liquid watercolors. Wow moment for me! I will definitely be trying my hand at making a book look like this. ❤

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment & support! 😊 A note on the paint, they’re acrylic inks. You can certainly use liquid watercolours but they aren’t so intense, you can also experiment with watering down whatever acrylics you have 🌸

[@michellelutz2721]

@AutumnMoonArt ah.. good to know. I have a ton of supplies but it seems I continually learn about other mediums. Thank you again!!!

[@cathlinejohnson1856]

This is BEAUTIFUL!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊💗

[@3lights3]

Wow stunning

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊🩵

[@MsJart2009]

Gorgeous!!! 😍

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊💗

[@daniellesmith8568]

Ack! Sooo gorgeous!🩷😊

[@AutumnMoonArt]

An ‘ack!’ is everything 😂💜💜

[@daniellesmith8568]

@@AutumnMoonArt Right! 🩷😂

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

The pages look AMAZING! So simple and such great effect 😍🩷💜🩵 (I watched your journal fatigue video, which I found really interesting and left my comment) 🩵💜🩷🩵💜🩷🩵💜🩷🌸🌸🌸

[@AutumnMoonArt]

They are even prettier in real life. I LOVE finding the easiest way to a pretty effect 😀 Thank you for visiting, I always appreciate your comments🥰 💜💜

[@tezag7561]

Love it and will try my hand at your technique. Mine will not be Jane Eyre but Poets World with Tennison & Shakespeare covered in ink their original owners thought enough of them to throw them away but they will survive but just not in their original form. Many thanks for sharing your talent and time.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Oh that sounds like a perfect book to alter. I hope you have a great time with the process. 🙂

[@stalkingcrane]

That brown might have needed stirring. The second page was slightly darker than the first. Thanks for sharing an interesting process.

[@AutumnMoonArt]

You’re welcome! I worked it out after my brain stopped being in filming mode - I dipped the purple brush into it 😂 The second one is darker because I intentionally loaded the brush more as I like how it looks with the darker purple. More or less water really helps guide the ink to lighter or darker versions. 😊

[@craftedbymaia-cg4jj]

This is awesome!!!!! So fantastic! What a cool project! I have to try this ! Thank you so much for sharing! Quick question, since its bound in a book did u wait for each page to dry before moving on to the next?

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you! 😊🌸 Great question. Yes absolutely. I used my heat gun if I was in the middle of a session or let them dry naturally if it was the last two. Also, using a heat gun is not just to dry them as it helps move water around to create ‘damage’ spots. Have fun trying it!

[@marilynmartinez9808]

Está hermoso ❤, pero si no tengo todas esas pinturas q usted a mencionado, solo café , té y pinturas acrílicas. Lo podría hacer? Saludos desde Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 😊😊

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Sí absolutamente. Agregue mucha agua a los acrílicos y debería verse igual de bien. ¡Buena suerte, diviértete! Cuéntame si te funcionó. 😊🌸

[@marilynmartinez9808]

@@AutumnMoonArtgracias, así lo haré ❤❤❤

[@waboosje]

Hallo new suubie here. I came here by chance and love how you alter this book and those warm colours. I planned to do something like this, planned to create an altered book, for a long time now and this video and your technique are a great example for what I want. Hopefully I can find the time to start playing with it soon. Can't wait to see what else you will do with the book. Question, are you actually using hairspray or did you refill that bottle with water? Tfs❤❤❤😊

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Hi new subbie😊 It’s water in the spray bottle 😁 I hope you get to enjoy it soon!

[@scrapbookbunny2897]

What kind of ink are you mixing? There are so many oretty colors!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Hi, I'm using Liquitex Acrylic Inks. Amazon USA don't have them and can be pricey (if you're in UK: amzn.to/3YnaSLq). I usually add supplies in the description so you can pop in there to check too. But feel free to ask if I forget (which I usually do too 😅)

[@scrapbookbunny2897]

You are so nice! Thank you!​@@AutumnMoonArt

[@maryforrester3991]

My first impression was absolute shock. Why would you destroy such a beautiful classi !!!!!!!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

@@maryforrester3991 Hi, welcome to the world of mixed media, art journalling and altered books, and putting creativity ahead of possessions we can’t take with us. 😊

[@marilynmccormick3731]

​@AutumnMoonArt Also, many bzooks used in mixed media are purchased from library sales & thrift shops so instead of the books eventually ending up in their trash, we give them new life and purpose in our art journals and junk journals. It's sort of what old clothes are to crazy quilts if you sew.

[@maryforrester3991]

Learning all the time and enjoying the experience 😁

[@RenaMiller-u1v]

So much chatter let’s get on with it!

[@AutumnMoonArt]

Thank you for your feedback on my free-to-view video, however, I'm going to choose to continue to be myself, on my channel.