Altered Books 101

~with Diane Bouchard~

"I had a great time at the altered books class. I really liked the different ideas for pages. There is of course never enough time but that is because we all like to really "get into it". Tell Diane she did a fabulous job." - Regina Oryall (click for more comments on this class)

Have you heard about this enticing new craft? It delights thousands of artists and paper crafters around the world. What is an "Altered Book" you may wonder? Well, it starts with any type of hardcover book - old novels, text books, children's story books, dictionaries, technical manuals, etc., anything but a blank journal can become an Altered Book. Once you've chosen your book, you "alter" it. You can transform your book by adding paint, paper, yarn and other embellishments that convert the book into a crafter's treasure! You can alter the cover, glue pages together, highlight words & phrases, fold the pages into pockets for hidden messages, and even cut niches into the book for buried treasures. There is really no limit to what you can do!

Why Create an Altered Book?

• To pay tribute to someone special in your life or to commemorate a special occasion.
• To make a very personalized wedding or anniversary gift for a close friend or relative.
• To showcase your poetry in a collection or make a book of meaningful art statements.
• Maybe you just want a decorative place to catalog & store pressed flowers from your garden.
• How about for a hiding place for love letters from that special someone?
• Perhaps your Altered Book will be a personal journey - a pictorial history of your life, or the life you wish you had? "I was born in a castle in Luxembourg and vacationed in St. Tropez…."

Begin your journey, get your creative juices flowing...
Make your very first Altered Book!

The materials fee (paid to the teacher in cash on the day of class) covers a vintage hardcover book and all the necessary components to create three two-page layouts (like collage papers, clip art, embellishments, etc.) You will leave with dozens of paper craft techniques and ideas to get you started in the Altered Books world. We will also discuss layout & design ideas, tips & tricks and provide a helpful resource list with web links. Please bring a brown bag lunch!

ABOUT THE TEACHER:
Diane Bouchard is a member of the International Society of Altered Book Artists (ISABA), and the hostess of multiple Round Robin's and Swaps. Diane has been stockpiling vintage ephemera and craft supplies for years and discovered the ultimate method for archiving them - in an Altered Book. Diane teaches Altered Books 101, Advanced Altered Books 201, Artist Trading Cards, Altered Book Hidden Keepsake Box, Cigar Box Assemblage, Beeswax Collage 101 and Advanced Beeswax Collage 201 classes at The Nova Studio.

SIGN-UP DETAILS:
Refer to the table above for price, date, time and registration options. Contact us at 510-234-5700 with any questions. Please read the Class Policies & Info Page before signing up.