How to make an Altered Art Paper House Book

Do you like the look of Altered Art small books but don't know how to get started? Have you ever wanted to make one that is shaped like a small house for that perfect gift for one of your friends? I have just the steps to show you how to do it! Follow me step by step to make a perfect gift for someone or for yourself with not many materials but tons of personality!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Jewelry wire
• Plastic wrap
• Glue
• House template
• Basic scrap booking supplies
• Themed elements

1. 
   Used cardboard

   Cut out a house shape from cardboard. Please refer to my article: How to reuse chipboard for craft projects, it is a great way to save money and help out the environment.

2. 
   Always gesso your cardboard

   Lay out plastic wrap on your counter to prevent paints from spilling onto your work surface. Place your cutout cardboard piece onto the plastic wrap and then cover the piece with gesso paint to give the cardboard some tooth for the other elements to stick to. Cover both sides with the gesso and let dry completely.

3. 
   Layered tissue paper backround

   Once the piece is dry I like cover my house with strips of newspaper just to give the work a style of being tattered. You might want to make it a different style of pattern. My favorite subject that I like make art speak about is Nature. I love the color green and all of it's shades because it just makes me feel happy inside of my heart! You might have another subject that you like to depict? Anyway, try using tissue papers to layer onto your house with watered down glue or mod podge for that dreamy layered look.

4. 
   No rules!

   Once you have your house designed and covered in tissue, now it time to think about what you are going to do with the house? Personally, I love to make inchies (small cut out squares that are traded like ATC's all over the world.) and then glue them on to my house so that I am able to make my inchies to mail to my pen pals or other friends. It is like home for my Mail Art in the shape of a house. You might want to make it for another design like clip art that you might find out on the web that has hearts or birds on it? Always remember, there are no rules on how to make the houses or what you put in them only that you have fun and you don't restrict yourself from your imagination!

5. 
   This is mine...

   Once you have all of your house pages done it is time to bind them together with wire and beads! Mark where you want the holes to be on your house with a sharp pencil, then punch them out with a small hole punch. Then use that same template to make the holes for the other house pieces on the same side. Once they are all punched out it is time to thread them all together with wire then decorate with beads. The possibilities are endless!

Tips & Warnings

• Please refer to this link: http://www.ehow.com/how_2290908_reuse-chipboard-craft-projects.html
• Try cutting your aluminum cans into shapes and then glue them onto your house!
• Recycle beads from old necklaces that you can buy at the thrift store to use on you wire binding for the book.
• Use your rubber stamps in this project to create some whimsy in your work!
• Keep all sharp tools away from small kids to avoid injury

[IcyCucky]

on 11/22/2008 This is such a nice project! I'm going to gather my stuffs and make one for my nephew! 5*