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A different kind of book card!

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mouschi

Featured Contributor, Bridging the Gap, Senior Mem
May 18, 2012
3,105
170
FCB APP USERS: Can't see pics? Check here! http://tanmanbaseballfan.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-custom-auto-patch-different-kind-of.html

If you are a fan of television like me, you may watch the singing or talent shows, like America's Got Talent. I don't care how many years it has been on, and how annoying the host / judges are. There is just something about robotic dancers and people that juggle poodles that sing to me.

But then, they have more "cultured" entertainers.

Like opera singers. Or men dressed up as women. Or men opera singers dressed up as women.

I confess, I don't really get that. I watch in awe and the camera pans from the entertainer during the performance to the judge who looks like their soul is 100% invested into the act. At the end, they do a little of this ...

article-2347640-1A7D2C62000005DC-935_634x426.jpg



And I don't get it!

I immediately think of a couple scenarios:
A) Am I not cultured enough? Perhaps I'm too dumb to enjoy something so exotic and elegant.
B) No, it isn't me. It's not me at all! It is the judges. There is no flippin' way they can be enjoying this junk. They must be putting on a show so viewers like me feel stupid for not enjoying it as well, and then the sheeple will start enjoying watching men dressed up as women to sing opera.

But then again, the flip is true. They may have a singer that I *really* connect with. And they don't click with it. I think what???? This dude was brilliant, and you kicked him off? Not to mention the fact that I feel like a fool publicly displaying my affection for one of these folks before the judges to speak. I mean, what happens if the judge says someone was awful when I just said they were brilliant?

All that to say, the same might be true with my latest custom. I can see how people may not "track" with me with this card, which is okay. Not everyone has the same taste, and not every card can receive a standing ovation from all four judges :) I must admit, I thought it was fantastic, but my wife said otherwise.

Earlier this week, I did a custom booklet of Jose Canseco called the 2014 Rookie Recollection. I was thrilled with it! Even though it cost the lives of a few innocent Canseco rookie cards, I couldn't be happier with it.

Then, I thought to myself ... why stop there? Why not destroy a few books as well? If you aren't aware, Jose Canseco has written two books: Juiced and Vindicated. Surely, you have at least heard of them before.
Juiced-JoseCanseco.jpg
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Vindicated.jpg


For those of you who have a favorite player who ended up writing a book, you know - this stuff is gold. It is great to hear the thoughts of your favorite player in 200-400 pages. Very fun stuff!

The problem for me is, when it comes to collecting, for some reason - the collectability (is that even a word?) goes through the roof for me if it measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. I don't know why, but I just love collecting cards more than I do memorabilia and oversized cards. Perhaps it is because the standard size for cards fit nicely in boxes. Maybe it is because I don't like clutter. Or maybe it is just because I have too many bad memories and frightening flashbacks of what bowman did to their 1989 set.

Either way, I felt compelled to make something that commemorates Jose's books he wrote for my collection - and sign it later. I have been thinking about something like this for a few weeks now. What if I took a piece of the pages of each book and make a custom book card? Not a book card that opens up, but a card that has the book pieces in it.

I had been meaning to pick up his books anyway, so believe it or not, I found his two and one of his ex wife's books about their relationship for something like $6 total. Score!

Unfortunately, the cover of Juiced had seen better days (there were even human teeth / bite marks on it!) and the Vindicated book didn't have a cover. That was fine, because I only wanted a sliver

Soooo, here is the carnage ....

I wanted some clips that said something about McGwire & Steroids. Then I wanted another cut that was from page 33 with Jose's name on it.

20140726_114629.jpg



Then, I decided why not use the cover and spine? LETS DO THIS!

20140726_114523.jpg



The end result ....
My concern was the small area for Jose to sign. I also wanted an inscription, but I'm not sure that would happen with this.

20140726_140940.jpg


I wanted to give the cut pieces a deep dish effect, so I made the card extra thick ...

20140726_114730.jpg



So, I went to bed after creating this ... probably at about 2am. I was very happy with it. But that wife of mine happened. When I showed her, every moment of silence was disheartening. She came into the office later and said she thought it was too busy. I told her that this is one time that even if everyone else didn't like it, it would be one that I love. I still look at it now, and really like it. The problem? She posed a question:

"Uhmmm ... babe ... it is *ATHLETES* to Authors, right? Why not have a jersey piece or something in it as well?"

Why ... the ... heck didn't I think of this before? It made sense! Then I started thinking even more about it. What else could be done? I already had a number of hours into the design and production as it was. If I was going to redo it, I might as well REALLY give it a go.

So, I cracked open Photoshop and started playing with the design. Then, I started thinking ... what if I put in a piece of the baseball I got at the Astros game in it?

baseball.jpg



Yes yes yes! This could work! I could put in part of the Rawlings logo in it.

Then, my wife came in asked what I was doing. She said "why not use the stitchings instead? I think that would look cool."

"But...it can't be done. It is too thick. Too difficult to work with. That would really be hard."

Then, I thought about it more ... that would actually be cool. I'm gonna try it, dangit!

So, after messing with it for a while, we had some good ole family time ...

Mouse Trap, anyone? I lost. It was my first time playing, so back off! :)

20140726_190439.jpg


When family game time was over, I retreated to the office to listen to my A's whoop up on the Rangers this and I finished up the real Athletes to Authors card:

20140726_214555.jpg





I love that there are game used pieces. I love that it isn't as busy, and I love that the bottom has more room to be signed on. There is still something about the first one that I did that I like. I might redo that one also to be a card that doesn't need to be signed, perhaps.

Last but not least, is possibly my favorite...or at least top 3. I had been looking online and stumbled upon a design of a card I really enjoyed. It is a basketball card called Silhouettes. I thought it would look mega sweet with a few modifications to have a baseball card version ... a baseball card version of Jose Canseco, of course!

It was quite difficult to reconstruct, but I did it and I made several changes & enhancements to fit my design tastes. Here it is!

20140723_171822.jpg



So, that's a wrap for this edition, folks. Thanks for reading!
 

gmarutiak

Active member
Jul 23, 2010
1,386
2
Baltimore, MD
Awesome work, as usual!

Quick reminder to all: Titles of major works (such as autobiographies) should be italicized when typed, underlined when hand-written. Titles of minor works (such as short stories and most poems) should be surrounded by quotation marks.

I know...I suck.
 

MansGame

Active member
Sep 25, 2009
15,324
20
Dallas, TX
Amazing, really awesome.

It's things like the page # added which gives it that much more just interest and value to some degree. This is where Topps wouldn't have the time or energy to do this. It's like if you knew the jersey relic in your card was from a certain year jersey or part of the jersey, etc. Instead it's just any year, time, place and spot of the jersey. Doesn't have as much bang IMO.
 

Fandruw25

Active member
Aug 25, 2008
3,238
0
I wish I had your talent for customs...

Another Great read and end result. I really like athletes to authors idea also; You could make quite a few customs along that theme.
 

mouschi

Featured Contributor, Bridging the Gap, Senior Mem
May 18, 2012
3,105
170
thanks guys - much appreciated :)
 

DaClyde

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2010
1,614
58
Huntsville, AL
Have you considered chopping up any ticket stubs from Canseco games?

Or maybe bits of box score or transaction from newspaper, Sporting News, USA Baseball Weekly?

What about bits from the Canseco issue of the Baseball Superstars comic from the early 90s?

The signature from the palm of a Jose Canseco Rawlings baseball glove would be cool.
 

mouschi

Featured Contributor, Bridging the Gap, Senior Mem
May 18, 2012
3,105
170
I have, yes - I have way too many ideas, and not enough hours in the day :) One of the things you mentioned today is something verrrry close to what I came up with today. I shall show it probably in a week or so. Stay tuned!

Have you considered chopping up any ticket stubs from Canseco games?

Or maybe bits of box score or transaction from newspaper, Sporting News, USA Baseball Weekly?

What about bits from the Canseco issue of the Baseball Superstars comic from the early 90s?

The signature from the palm of a Jose Canseco Rawlings baseball glove would be cool.
 

eltoro2012

Member
Nov 3, 2013
97
0
What if you created a "mosaic" piece where you use existing pieces of jose cards to create a brand new card? For example - headshot from 86 topps, shoulder from 93 donruss, etc.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G730A using Freedom Card Board mobile app
 

DaClyde

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2010
1,614
58
Huntsville, AL
I have, yes - I have way too many ideas, and not enough hours in the day :) One of the things you mentioned today is something verrrry close to what I came up with today. I shall show it probably in a week or so. Stay tuned!

Cuts of price guide listings!
 

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