Scraps, a new altered book

I've been inspired by my friend Valerie, who has started using her scraps.  She writes she has until the end of June to use her scraps, or they go in the trash.  Her scraps are so much more beautiful than mine, so I'm struggling to get something cohesive.

I chose this new book to alter.

I guess I can't exactly call it a "new" book, since it was published in 1952.

I thought I took photos of how I reinforced the front and back of the book after I took out some of the pages, but apparently, I only "dreamt" I took photos.  This is the front cover and first page of the book.

If you want to start an altered book, you can do so along with me as I've just removed at least 1/3 of the pages.  I've also bent the book back and forth to make sure it will stand up to the extreme use it will receive.  I bent it in the center and at each quarter.  I know it is a sewn book, the only requirement of these altered books.

This is the title page, which also should be reinforced.

This is the back page.  You can reinforce the back cover and the opposing side to this page first, but I was in a hurry and went back later to do so.

This is the page to the inside of the last page, which also needs to be reinforced.  Sorry my fingers look so rough.  I probably wash them 40 or more times a day and never think to use lotion afterward.

This is the first page I created in this altered book I'll call Scraps.

The inspiration for this page was the word "Home."

The clocks are for Halle's theme of A Stitch in Time at Art Journal Journey. 

This is my first page, which is all scraps, including the paint I got free from my local household hazardous waste swap and shop.  I used this pale green paint to cover the words on the page.  When dry, the page is much softer than if I'd covered it with gesso.

In case you can't read the sentiment, it is "It's time to head HOME, where

my two cats greet me."

I didn't realize the ink from my Zig ink pen I used to write the sentiment on the shiny envelope wouldn't dry.  As you can see, I made a mess and tried to write the sentiment over the first, which was probably worse than had I left everything alone.

My inspiration for this page was the word "HOME."  To that, I added things that reminded me of home, or felt right on the page.  To the house, I added the clock I fussy cut and colored using water soluble crayons.  I also added the larger clock to the top and a flower I found in a magazine showing flowers to which bees and butterflies are attracted.  Next, I added the words to a beautiful envelope I got in California one year.  The long Native American strip was a sticker, as were the two cats.  The green circle was left over from an index card I was working on.

Bleubeard and I are absolutely delighted you joined us as I started a new altered book, and we also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey.