Get Messy: Altered Book Cover Tutorial

Over at Get Messy Art Journal we are always trying new things. Consistency + Challenge seems to be the sweet spot in the crafting world. Creating consistently, but challenging yourself to create differently is the only way to stay fresh and inspired. For this season, Get Messy is focusing on WORDS and what better way to do this than through an altered book?!I have personally not been this excited for a new season in a long time and this challenge came at just the right time. And it's never too late to join the Get Messy community, so please! Come on in...  I rummaged around and found an old book to use for this season. I didn't actually plan to alter the cover, but I kept seeing such gorgeous images of everyone else's and couldn't not do it. And of course my simple idea turned into my, as of late, signature style of colorful, abstract mark making. And I love it!  I simply painted the entire cover with white acrylic paint to act as my base and let it dry. I always mix a bit of water in with my acrylics, but be careful not to add too much or it will be too thin and not cover well. You have to play around to find the sweet spot. Then I simply began painting. I chose three main colors and made quick brush strokes randomly and with space in between. Then I added a bit of white to each color and did another round. Then I chose three additional colors to act as small pops of surprise color and sparingly put a few marks in. I then mixed them 50/50 with white to do tiny little marks to fill in the blank spots still left on my book. Then came the gold! I used a tiny brush to make marks in groupings until they were close enough together, then turned the paintbrush over and dipped the end in and made tiny dots all around to connect everything together. I still may add a big bold word in script font as a kind of title, but I feel like I need to get a little more into the season before I decide. Once I'm completely done I will seal it with gesso to ensure a lasting book. But so far the paint is not sticky, peeling or chipping. So sealing it isn't a must, it just depends on preference and maybe how much the book will be handled.  I've already been working on pages inside and cant wait to show you next week! And again, if you are totally inspired to start ripping up a book, come join us! There are tons of tutorials on how to alter books and prompts on what to put in them over in the Get Messy private community! Hope to see you there. Until then I'll be painting these adorable patterns in gold on everything I own...