Monday, October 30, 2017

Halloween and Día de Muertos


Today I have two spreads to share in two different altered books (ABs).  But first, I want to tell each of you that my keyboard and I had a meltdown yesterday.  Seems it needs batteries to make all these letters appear on the screen, and I had given all my AAA batteries (rechargeable, of course) away, except the ones in my keyboard.  So, I had to wait for these to recharge, so I could finish this post and return your kind visit.

First up is Halloween at Moo-Mania and More whose theme just happens to be Halloween.

Talk about a wimpy way to decorate an altered book. 

The beauty, however, was on the inside because this (and the next book I share), was a tip-in book.

For those of you who are wondering what a tip-in is, here is the skinny:

A tip-in is a page you make out of any medium
(pages from a book, cardstock, fabric, cork,
etc.) that is then added to a book of your
choice. It is usually 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" so you
can get two out of one piece of cardstock.
You can add embellishments, fibers, ephemera,
charms, or anything your heART desires to a
tip-in page.

A couple of things to remember when making a
tip-in are that the gutter side of the tip-in
will be to the LEFT of the front of your
tip-in and will be to the RIGHT of the back
of your tip-in. You should leave about 1/2"
or so blank along the LENGTH of the page
(gutter side), which will be the area you
(and others) will use to attach the page to
the book.
If you want to learn more, I suggest you search for "tip-in" because I have information on how to tip pages into a book, and various other tips and information.

This page, however, was created directly in the altered book.   I admit, I stole this idea when I saw Deb's lovely postcard on Eileen's blog post a week ago.  Eileen's link takes you directly to the postcard Deb sent her, but you have to scroll down a bit.  Deb's is much better than mine, but I was able to use another skull napkin that Darla sent me.

While Deb probably painted the bird, I used a rubber stamp.  However, with all the other embellishments and doo dads sticking up and out in the AB, it was difficult to find a completely flat surface to stamp on.  I was just happy with the bird I got.

It's no secret I can't draw.  I tried, but I fear I fell far short of what a "spooky" spider should look like.

Materials include white and orange paint.  I've added water to the dregs of the bottle because I'm determined to get the very last of the orange acrylic.  I also used a skull I cut from the napkin, a rubber stamp, and a Micron ink pen that appears to also be on its last leg.


For the second altered book, I've chosen a spread for Elke's theme, Landscapes of the Soul at Art Journal Journey. What better way to honor the soul than with a Día de Muertos spread in my altered tip-in book with pages honoring Día de Muertos. 

I was shocked when I loaded my photos and saw I had photo bombed myself.  Yes, those are my hands, my oversized nightgown, and my camera showing in the reflection from the book.  And yes, I'm standing on a stool in order to take this photo.  Because I liked the book title and the dust jacket, I didn't try to decorate the outside of this one.

This is another tip-in book, so I can't show the various pages that were sent me.

However, I can give you an idea of the fabulous art I received for Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

As I was scrolling, I noticed all the circles on the clothing and the skulls, which also fit Try it on Tuesday, whose theme is Circles.

I was determined to use as much of Darla's napkin as possible, so this is my Día de Muertos spread.  Obviously, it is not a tip-in.  You can see the napkins Darla sent me here.

There is a great deal of respect for the dead in the Hispanic community.


There is music, singing, dancing, celebrations,


and Mariachi bands that sing and play to get people in a happy mood to welcome their deceased ancestors.

For this spread, I created a wash of green and beige watercolors made from acrylic paints that I spread on the page because I didn't want to cover the words.  I fussy cut a picture from a newspaper of a Mariachi band.   I added the two skulls to the sides of the page.   The text was computer generated and accented with purple pigment ink.

Thanks for joining me today at Moo-Mania and More, as well as Try it on Tuesday and Art Journal Journey.  I hope to see you at these three challenges.  Thanks, too for visiting me as we wind this month down.

17 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

What a fun post today. including the ghost in the white nightie! Sorry about your keyboard batteries, that's annoying, but sh*t happens....Love all your Halloween art and books, looks like you had fun. ‘From ghoulies and ghosties / And long-leggedy beasties / And things that go bump in the night, / Good Lord, deliver us!’ I always think of this when I see spiders. Hugs, Valerie

Anonymous said...

*wow*there is something going on with the ghosts and your Halloween book, great journal of the musicians with the fabulously designed background!
I had so much fun watching!
Thanks for linking back to AJJ
Have good new week
Elke

Blogoratti said...

I see a whole load of effort and creativity with this theme and challenge. Well done and warm greetings.

kathyinozarks said...

Good morning I really enjoyed this post--the one altered book I had made I really enjoyed the process allot--I will search out more information about tip in books-I have not come across that term before. I have been a little intimidated to create those gorgeous sewn bindings I have seen
great job on your pages-love them Happy Halloween! hugs Kathy

froebelsternchen said...

First of all - THANK YOU DEAR ELIZABETH!- for joining three challenges that I like and work for at one time.
Great to see this amazing post linked to Art Journal Journey , Moo Mania & More and Try It On Tuesday!!! ♥♥♥
Your tip-in ABs look fabulous! I think I have to check out all the tip-in posts - it is for sure something I should try out as well! I bet you just put on this white nightie to make us thinking a ghost took the picture! LOL!!!!
I adore the Dia de Muertos page - so beautiful done! And the skull/bird/spider page is beautiful as well-now I am sure that you CAN draw --even good! This spider looks really artsy!!!! well done!!!!!
Good that you got your batteries working again - always annoying this technique things with the PC!
Today we have even a bit of snow here and it got extremly cold! I am sure you have sent the coldness my way!
oxo
Susi

Marfi-topia said...

I love this!!
I adore Dia de los muertos!
We have an alter every year too.
I'm going to post about in on the 2nd.
really love this post!

Marjut said...

What a great book. Thank you for joining us at TioT.

Sami said...

Great pages Elizabeth, the skull and the Mariachi band are fabulous. In Portugal we celebrate the Day of the dead, on the 1st of November, when people go to the cemetery to lay flowers on their graves of their loved ones. In Australia there isn't such a celebration.

Barbara said...

Your reflection with the white nightgown and long arms (only because of the way the photo is taken) add to the spookiness of the cover. It may have been an accident, but it was a happy one! I can see just how much work went into both of these; they are great. Happy Halloween.

Divers and Sundry said...

Eeeek!!! I wouldn't want a spider any spookier than that one! The tip-in idea is interesting. I bet they're fun to make, but I'd think it would take a long time to complete one.

CJ Kennedy said...

Glad you got your batteries recharged. Your altered books are so fun. Love all the things that are sticking out of the pages. I want to reach through the computer screen to hold the books and pet the pages.

All spiders are scary, and they make me hit the high notes.

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I didn't know about tip-in pages, Elizabeth. Thanks for the info. They look really cool with all the neat things hanging and sticking out all over.

Love your Dia de Muertos page!

Eileen

Meggymay said...

Great photos and a super post to read Elizabeth . The reflections in the book cover added to the subject of the book if you hadn't told us it was you.
I also loved your pages you shared for the challenge themes.
I use recharge batteries batteries as well. I know then they are getting low as it seems I can never spell the words properly. Yes, the keyboard plays up and misses the odd letter. Or maybe its me having an off day.
Yvonne xx

da tabbies o trout towne said...

bleu & squiggles
We gotta hand frum copee N paste heer two day …coz we canna sneek round on line… like we want… sew we R stopping bye ta say…. happee howl o ween…. N heerz ta treetz outta pumpkinz wazoo ♥♥♥

UplayOnline said...

I had so much fun watching!


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pearshapedcrafting said...

Yes, I am on catchup - and what a fabulous post - two beautiful books, and a great page - your spider looks spooky enough to me!! I am also pleased that you are joining us at Try It On Tuesday! Hugs, Chrisx

Jeanie said...

I love all the images you have in your tip-in book. Incredible color! And I get the computer thing. I never have AAA's, just AA if I happen to have any. I should get a new keyboard. I type by touch but if anyone else used this keyboard, they'd go nuts because it only has half its letters!

Thanks for your comments and good and kind words. Yes, I know about your reply -- it's all good, just so long as you know how much the things you say mean, especially when I'm having a downer day! Thank you!