Altered Art

Written and Created by PaperCraftCentral Susan

What is altered art? This type of crafting may mean different things to different crafters. For me, it is all about finding an object that interests me such as a box or a tin or an ordinary notepad, and changing it artistically to make a pleasing (to me) and original work of art.

Recycling found objects and making them works of art is another way to try this technique and it appeals to many.

My own projects often wind up having a 3-d element or two to them. I like to find many items that can be used to create a collage effect. Scroll down for more ideas.

What is Altered Art then?

"It's Art without rules...."


I went through a stage of altering matchboxes, for example.

Decorated matchbox

Why Create Altered Art?

Once you get the idea of looking at things to see if they can be changed (in appearance or use), it almost becomes a way of life.It's a very green way to live, in that you are recycling objects that may have wound up in landfill. It;s a creative way of crafting, in that you are re-purposing objects in your environment in an imaginative and decorative way.

It's also a lot of fun.

If you already make pieces like this and understand why it can become so addictive, please share some of your work with me. Scroll down to find a place to share.

How to Get Started

Often, people start by changing the look of a book, a box, a notepad or journal. You can start smaller. One of the first things I ever altered was a set of metal brads.

These brads were plain brown and white before I added rub-ons and stamped bits and rhinestones.

Customising scrapbook supplies

Another alterable surface is a scrapbook album cover. Here I decorated the cover of a circle journal using metal brads, letter stickers, a paper flower, a metal clip, ribbon and paper. I then doodled words around the main elements with a black fine-tipped felt pen.

DIY your own scrapbook album and have fun altering it to suit your theme. Here's how!

You may also think of altering such things as:

  • Old or scratched CDs/DVDs
  • Matchboxes
  • Picture frames, old window frames (maybe to make them into newly decorated picture frames?)
  • Photos themselves. Use manual techniques or digital ones
  • Old post cards or greeting cards
  • Buckets and tins and flower pots
  • Mirrors
  • Shoes, purses, clothing. Alter them with beads, shells or fabric paint perhaps
  • Old Crockery and cutlery. Broken crockery makes wonderful mosaics and old cutlery can make a mobile when you bend it into the desired shape with pliers
  • Tissue boxes
  • Birdhouses
  • Empty plastic chocolate boxes
How to decorate a plastic chocolate box and alter its appearance to make it into a special gift

It's a list that only ends when your own imagination runs out.

Craft stored usually stock many raw objects made from unfinished wood, chipboard and paper. Second hand shops are also a source of delight when you are looking for objects to recycle and re-use. You can even decorate plain cardboard craft containers to make them more special. Change the look of everyday and familiar objects such as tissue boxes, folders, clothing, etc.

Why not plan a trip to your local craft shop or second hand store to see if an unfinished piece is calling out for you to recreate it with some altered art techniques?

You Are Invited to Show Off Your Work

If you have some of your own work that you would like to share, please do tell us about it. It's fun to see other people's work and it gives all of us new ideas.

Have A Favourite Altered Art Piece?

Do you have a piece of altered art you have created? I'd love to see it.

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Altered Books, Notebooks, Folders 
This is a notebook I altered some time ago for a forum swap. The only stipulation was you HAD to use the initial or name of the person you were creating …

Altered Vinyl LP 
I melted this vinyl lp in the oven, while it was draped over an upside down bundt cake pan. I had the oven on 200 degrees and watched it VERY closely to …

Artist Trading Cards Discussion 
I have had this treasure in my family for as long as I can remember, it is an altered book. It has been pasted open, painted gold. on one side is a picture …

Altered Wire Chair Not rated yet
I purchased a wire chair and altered it into a functional scrapbook organizer and picture holder. You may view my tutorial at YouTube.com/PinkScrapper99 …

Altered Jewelry Box Not rated yet
I purchased an old white with blue polka dots jewelry box. I used some Prima So Cute paper and altered it for my Grand-daughter, using Mod Podge, Ribbon, …

Plain white container turned into lovely trinket box Not rated yet
I had a cardboard round container that had a lid on it and that was plain white. I turned it into a trinket box for a friend for her birthday. I put some …

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Another altered match box.

Matchbox xraft

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