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ALTERED BOOK: ATC HOLDER

 

 

  

 

 

Click on the thumbnail to read the article (Crafts Beautiful, Sep 2009)

I altered this sweet little hardback book to be an ATC holder.

Measure the niche to be about ½ inch larger all round than the ATCs (which are 2½ inches x 3½ inches) so you have sufficient clearance to get them in and out easily without damage.

I cut my niche approximately 3 inches x 4 inches, but you may want to allow even more space if your ATCs are triptychs, concertina folds etc.

 
How to cut the niche

Cutting a niche in an Altered Book isn't actually that difficult - but it can be messy!

New books are easier as the paper is less brittle - the one in the photographs below was very old (1905) and the paper was horrible to work with - it kind of disintegrated into dry Papier Mache towards the end!

 As you can see, I actually broke the rules and cut away from the back of the book block to neaten the niche.

Click on the thumbnails for full size pix

Gluing pages

Glue two sets (each of 3 pages) together for strength. These will act as the frontispiece of the niche. Use PVA (white glue) and spread thinly. I'm using a credit card. Place scrap paper under the page to protect the book and discard & replace as soon as there is any glue on the paper.

Blotting paper

Place blotting paper to either side of the glued pages, making a sandwich. This helps to wick away moisture and speed up drying time. If your pages are very sticky, put freezer paper(shiny side down) either side of the pages first, then the blotting paper. Glue both sets in this way, then close the book, and leave to dry.

Gluing niche block

Contrary to poplular myth, you don't need to glue the pages one by one. Take the whole section you selected to be the niche, and slather gel medium (or more PVA) over the page edges: top, bottom and fore edge. Really work that glue in. Sandwich with freezer paper, shiny side in (as shown) and more blotting paper.

Niche block

Close the book and allow to dry. When dry, the freezer paper just peels away, resulting in a flat and firm surface to cut into. Now is the time to decide on the size of your niche. Mark the lines and place a cutting mat under the page block (or you won't know when to stop, and could end up cutting your table).

Cutting the niche

Use a new blade in your craft knife or scalpel. Use a metal edged ruler and always cut towards yourself, making shallow cuts and going in deeper and deeper. NEVER cut sideways: always turn the book around.

Another view

As you can see, I am cutting deeper and deeper.

Excess paper

Once you have cut in so far, you'll find you no longer need the ruler to guide you. Remove excess paper as you go - keep this for later collage projects, or even bind into a book.

Cutting deeper

As you can see, I turn the book round, so I am still cutting towards myself. All your strength comes down from the shoulder to the arm, so the cut is straighter and puts less strain on your wrist. Also, it's safer as the knife won't skid.

Tidying the block

I have cut all the way through and am now working from the back, tidying up the cut in the page block. The niche is as deep as I want it. I am cutting straight down to the corner, and will turn the book to attend to each corner in turn.

View from front

You can now see the niche better - and the mess! The paper was very old and crumbly. This is when you wish you had worn a dust mask.

Lining the sides

With a very deep niche, you can either slather on more gel medium around the raw edges, or use discarded paper to line the sides of the niche (giving it more strength). Apply glue to the paper (PVA or gel medium) and wrap right round each edge in turn. You will be covering this later.

The finished niche

I have wrapped the niche round all four sides, and glued a pair of pages at the front (I will cut into as a door) and glued the last 3 pages to the back cover. I won't be opening the niche at the other side. If you want to, then glue at least 4 pages together to act as the back of the niche and don't glue to the back cover.
Finishing the book

I used a single layer of napkin tissue, applied onto a layer of PVA (white glue) or gel medium. Tear the napkin tissue at one corner, then peel away the top layer. Discard the rest, or use for "ghost" layering (paler prints).

Click on the thumbnails for full size pix

Cover

Painted with acrylics, German Scrap trim

Inside cover

On left, I constructed a pocket to hold templates. On right, chipboard decal. Patterned paper is napkin tissue. German scrap trim.

Inside book

First set of 3 pages acting as the first page, second set acting as the door to the niche. Tissue paper throughout, plus ribbon tie on door. More German Scrap trim.

Another view

Showing the depth of the niche. The page block edges are painted with Lumiere acrylic (which is compatible with gel medium and PVA as they are also acrylic-based).

Door open

Door to the niche is open, showing the bundle of tied ATCs inside.

Another view

Shown from top, a clearer view of the door.

Another view

A different angle, to give a better idea how things fit together.

ATCs out of niche

Showing the depth of the niche, also lined with tissue.

Another view

Closeup view of the niche.

The niche was constructed in these sections:

  • Glue the first 3 pages together and the last 3 pages together (separately from the niche, with non-stick paper layered between the layers).

  • Glue the niche block.

  • Allow to dry, then cut out the niche as above.

In the first layered pages (at the front of the book):

  1. Glue tissue to the BACK of this section, approximately where the door will be (the same position as the niche, but only cutting on 3 sides).

  2. Glue tissue across both pages of the spread (the page on the left, and the FRONT of the section where the door will be).

  3. Glue tissue over the inner edges of the niche, gluing any excess to the front and back of the niche block.

On the last layered pages (at the back of the book):

  1. Glue tissue to the top page (this will show through the niche).

  2. Once everything is dry, glue the niche block to the last pages (and also to the back cover board if you wish).

Finishing off:

  1. Make sure the door cut into the first section of pages is moving freely, and add holes for eyelets now if you want to add a ribbon or tassel embellishment.

  2. Glue the first section of pages to the niche block.

  3. Add German Scrap to page edges.

  4. Use acrylic paints (tube paints or Lumiere) to paint the outer edges of the niche block.

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© Susie Jefferson 2002-2009 inclusive. All rights reserved.                                           Updated 07/09/2009