Altered Anything

A quick search on the internet found the following two definitions for the word, “altered”:

• adjective: changed in form or character without becoming something else
• adjective: changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

Both of these meanings can be used to clearly define the growing altered-art movement.

I first became aware of altered art because of the popularity of altered books. Now there’s a growing trend in the altering of other items such as clipboards, paint cans, puzzles pieces and even CDs. When it comes right down to it, anything can be altered.

There are several how-to articles here at Scrapjazz that will give you all sorts of ideas and tips for altering various objects. In this article, I’ll take you through the creating process of altering several different items.

Choose your project. I chose to alter school supplies to use in my classroom next month when school starts. As a teacher, I felt this was a perfect choice for me. This is my favorite time of the year with all the back-to-school sales. I bought a plain wood pencil holder, pencils, pens, a composition notebook and an index card notebook and transformed them with my craft supplies to make them uniquely my own.

Make it useful. A beautiful project can be best enjoyed when it is used. These items will be useful for me with the coming school year. I intend to use the composition book to keep track of those students who come to class unprepared. They can borrow something of mine if they add their name to my book. Also if a student were to forget having borrowed my pen or pencil, the bright flower at the end of it would quickly remind them where it needed to be. The index card notebook will be used when students want to check tools or books out of the art room to use at home.

Get creative with decorating. This is where you can get creative and make each project a personal work of art. Nearly any scrapbooking embellishment can be used to decorate your altered-art projects.

Putting these items together was very simple. I used a variety of scrapbook papers that would work with the flowers I chose to use.

Supply List
4 sheets 12” x 12” scrapbook paper
Adhesive of choice (I used Memory Mount) and paintbrush to apply it, if applicable
Assorted lettering techniques (I used a mixture of rubber stamps and lettering stencils)
Ink pad
Several silk flowers
Florist’s tape
Exacto knife
Self-healing cutting mat

Pens & Pencils:
To make the pens and pencils I began by covering the end of the writing utensil with a small strip of florist’s tape. It is very easy to work with and sticks to itself so there’s no need for adhesive. After the end is covered, I take my flower stem and trim it so that around 3 inches of stem remains. Next, holding the flower in position, I cover the pen down to the tip. If it’s a pencil, I leave several inches without the tape to make sharpening easier. My pencils were green so the tape blends in with the pencil itself.

Pencil Container:
For the pencil container I cut pieces of patterned paper to fit each of the four sides and glued it on with Memory Mount. I really like this adhesive because it’s thick. You can choose any product that will apply the paper smoothly. I used a paintbrush to apply an even coat of the adhesive to the container and then attached the paper. I did one side at a time so I’d always have a clean dry surface to hold on to.

Composition Book:
The composition book is made in a very similar fashion. I apply a coat of the adhesive to the cardboard part of the cover, leaving the black border clean. Next I attach paper to the front then turn it over face down on a cutting mat and trim the excess paper off with an exacto knife. The back cover is done in the same way. My stencils are also glued on, as is the contrasting paper behind them. The lettering is stamped using black Staz-On ink.

Index Card Notebook:
The index card notebook has a clear pocket on the front that my title slides right inside. I plan to make a 3-ring binder that’s made similarly to hold my Art Curriculum and Lesson Plans, in the next few weeks. It’s so hard to believe the summer has flown by and school is right around the corner but I’ll be ready this year.

Whether you’re altering school supplies for your own student or storage containers and decorative tools for your own home, enjoy the creative process of altered arts. Of course, speaking from experience, gifts for the teacher are always appreciated too.

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