Black & White ABES

ABES stands for Altered Books Envelope Swap We are going to make this challenge to alter a book page(s) with only what we receive from our partners.

For this page(s) we are going to decorate completely in black and white. It is the perfect season (Halloween) to purchase items but it is NOT to be Halloween themed. You will send your partner one envelope full of black and white related items so that they can alter their page with this theme. You can send as many items as you like but you need to send at least twelve. (This will let your partner make choices so that their page is original to them.)

Here are some ideas: Vintage photographs or a photo printed in black and white (make sure it is printed professional), vintage advertising, emphemera, lace, ribbon, twine, pearls, bling, flowers, you can even crochet flowers, feathers (store bought only) miniature bags, miniature file folders, buttons, postcards, fabric tape, washi tape, paperclips, tags, journal cards, playing cards, a page out of book, newspaper articles, die cuts, doily, iron ons, patches, miniature envelopes, jewelry charms (decent sized), memorabilia. A piece of scrap material at least 5"x5".

Not everything needs to be purchased! Feel free to make something BUT if you do make sure it is something you will be proud of. Remember what you get is what you can use, you can alter what you receive to fit your page.

This is a description from a fellow member of what the challenge is all about (samjowers): An Altered Book is a book that you get from the resale shop or dollar store that you journal in. I always get a larger size hardback with a book cover so that it holds up to the process. My process is different than other peoples. I prepare my book by keeping the cover pages, glueing three pages together, tearing out three pages, glueing three, tearing out three, glueing three... until the whole book is done this way I will leave the back cover pages. This makes more durable pages to paint on, glue on, cut into etc. it also opens up space for all of the items that might get glued in. on a side note, I chose titles that will go with my altered book, like: "affairs of the heart" or "from a courageous mind". I usually gesso over some of the pages, I will paint on some and leave some un touched depending on what the challenge is. I never send my book out in the mail, that is why we only send envelopes full of the page challenge.

As usual, you must have a 4.9 or higher rating, no 1’s or 3’s in the last six months and newbies are welcome with a well filled out profile. I reserve the right to drop anyone from the swap for looking sketchy.

This will be a fast turn around so I'm giving you enough time to get your items ready to send. Have fun with it, think outside the box. Don't limit yourself to the scrapbooking section of the store. We use everything but the kitchen sink here. :)

This swap can also be used for those of you that decorate your datebooks, journals, art journals, etc.