BE SURE TO READ TO THE END OF THIS POST!!!!
My favorite Yahoo Group, the Altered Books Group, turns 13! tomorrow. We are a teenager now! Back on August 6, of 1999, a small group of adventuresome and inspiring book artists started this group on Yahoo. The internet was still relatively young, and Yahoo certainly was young. It is a testament to the art form (yes, book altering is art!) and to the men and women who value cast-off books as potential fodder for new art.
I didn’t join the group until Feb. of 2003, when there were slightly more than 2,000 members (yes- 2, 000!). We now have over 7,000 members, and though most are not visibly active, our resources are still used on a daily basis. I’ve had the good fortune to help moderate the group since summer of 2003, with a brief hiatus somewhere around 2006 or 07.
To celebrate our 13th birthday, I created 13 ATC’s today (artist trading cards) (I also am a member of the Yahoo ATC Group.) The cards are based on book pages from children’s stories. I attached the pages to YUPO ‘paper’, put the paper into my printer, and then printed one of my own digital backgrounds onto the book pages. I then cut out the ATC’s to size…2.5″ x 3.5″ , and created my collages. The faux postage is from Lisa Vollrath of Ten Two Studios. She created them for the 13th birthday for group members to use! Hence, I altered book pages while creating ATC’s – 
LEAVE A COMMENT! ON AUGUST 15, I WILL DRAW 13 NAMES (hopefully there will be at least 13 comments!) AT RANDOM, AND SEND EACH OF THE 13 PEOPLE CHOSEN ONE OF THE ATC’s – no strings attached, and international comments welcomed!
COMMENTS WILL BE CLOSED ON AUGUST 14! COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.(FOR THE DRAWING)- ANY ENTERED ON AUG. 14 WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAWING.
Corinne – As usual, fantastic art. I love how you used Lisa’s gift! Both of you are so very inspiring! I haven’t been in my art room for months – and it has been pulling. Now I have some fodder and inspiration. Energizing ATC’s!!
I have just lost my job which is a bit bittersweet. One of the up sides is that I will now have time to do some artwork. Thanks for the inspiration and the mini tutorial!
13 – I was once 13!! I’ve been here since the inception of this group (or close to it) and is Claudette still here??? I’d love one of the 13 ATCs created by Corinne. Thank you, Corinne and Lisa (postage). My current AB round uses an OLD dictionary with signatures. Some of the Abers on this list worked in it previously and now it’s going around for “another round” of work. Happy Birthday to all of us.
13 years! Whoo-Hoo! Thank you both Corinne and Lisa for giving us this beautiful opportunity to celebrate! Here’s to many more years. Beautiful job girls!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your great art. Lots of inspiration for me. Love the yellow dots on the souvenire atc!
Corinne I always enjoy your posts and seeing your art work. These are great atcs.
I love the ATC’s! Congrats on being 13! I always enjoy your posts and art.
Beautiful Artwork! Happy Birthday! I went to the group to see how long I have been a member but I can’t pull up that information. I do know I have enjoyed all the gorgeous artwork and inspiration of those on the group like you and Lisa. It certainly has expanded my arting horizons!!
Stellar job, as usual, C. I just downloaded Lisa’s gift to the group and think I’ll make ATCs to share with my local AB group.
I have been here a long time also and still enjoy altered books, ATCs, etc–currently in a small RR with a few other “teenagers” from this group.
I love the inspiration-think I’ll make some ATCs
I love the ATCs. I love Lisa’s stamps! I’m one of the original members of the group and I have learned so much from everyone’s generous sharings. Thanks for all of your work.
I love what you did with Lisa’s stamps—and so darn quickly too!
Cool! That was quick
Corrine, these are beautiful. I was lucky enough to have the 10th anniversary altered book special and these will be a perfect compliment.
Thank you for your offer.
Debbie
Hav been a member (silent) since the beginning of time ( It seems so)
other groups come and go for me……..depending on interest,….
this one stays with me…I continually learn here…Congratulations
and Here’s to more years ahead…
I have been with this group for about 3 years and have found it to be such an inspiration to me, the newbie, to mixed media art and hope that this group will be with me for another 13 years. Thank you for sharing.
Corrine, your ATC’s are wonderful! I can’t see how you did those so quickly! Thanks to Lisa as well, for creating the stamps. I’m not sure how long I’ve been a member… seems like a very long time. Yay, Happy Birthday to US!
Carol~
That is a super idea, Corrine. I am not too active visibly on this site, but it was a life-saver for me when I joined. I have learned so much. I do read all the posts and enjoy all the comments.
Blessings,
Tricia
What …. no hosting a 13 year anniversary book?! >wink< LOL …. I believe I joined the AB group somewhere along Sept/Oct/Nov of 2003 following a class taught by Beth Cote. While I haven't been active on the group over the past many years, I do still check in on occasion to see what you and others are doing. Thank you Corinne, for all that you've done on the AB group over the past 9+ years. You've been a fountain of inspiration to me and oh, so many others.
Great ATC’s and Happy Anniversary or Birthday or whatever to our group. I have been there maybe 4 or 5 years, it’s shame there isn’t much swapping going on but there are great resources like you said and I make use of them. Lisa made wonderful stamps for us and they look terrific on your ATC’s!
Great atc’s! i’m looking forward to using Lisa’s stamps also. Happy 13th AB.
Seems like I have been a member for a long time too – if I am lucky my reward will be one of your lovely ATCs!
as always, you are such a generous artist – these are beautiful! i would love to have one.
Wonderful cards! I was hoping that you were going to post them on the ATC group, but since you are making a drawing of the project, I’m in. I love your sense of design and color, and I think that these are inspired.
Lee
I love these! . Great use of Lisa’s contribution to the AB group. Very generous and thanks,Lisa.
Love the ATC’s and the 13th birthday Stamps, Corinne and Lisa. Ive been lurking and playing for quite a while and just love “losing” myself for a while perusing all the wonderful sites and pages. Thanks one and all
Several years ago, my daughter said, “Mom, type in ‘altered books’ and see what comes up.” I’ve been a member ever since. My thanks to all members of this group who have so inspired me in my quest to figure out my “talent” truly had a home. Thanks to Lisa and Corrine for their awesome leadership.