Palette Blue Book

Hello friends,

Today is all about Palette Blue and the little project I created using the Tim Holtz Palette Blue fabric for Freespirit. I say little because this sweet little book is only 3 x 4.5". Such a fun size! This little book was made using Collage Medium - so it's a no sew project!  Now could you add stitching to it? Absolutely. But I will show you it can be done with just Collage Medium. 

There are of course 10 Palette Blue fabrics and I think I used all but two for the book.

Collage
Vintage
Tiny Print

Stamps

Tickets

Tapestry

Numbers
Eggs

Script

Map

How do you start? Well I started with the the idea-ology Booklet Folio. It comes in a package with a cover and two stitched booklets. I used ONE of the booklets to create my small book by cutting one of the stitched booklets in half making two signatures. We will only be using these two signatures so you can put the second booklet and cover back in the package.

Next, I gathered the Blue Palette fabric. A fat quarter bundle would work perfectly for this project because a fat quarter is 18 x 22" and this project needs multiple pieces 4 x 10". 

I covered the inside of each booklet (3 different fabrics per booklet) with a strips of Palette fabric. 

NOTE: we are covering the inside pages, the cover will be at the end.

Each set of pages was done following these steps:

1. Cut a strip of fabric approximately 4 x 10".

2. Use Collage Medium to add the fabric to the first set of pages. NOTE: I placed deli paper between the pages of the booklet so the glue would be contained to the pages I was working on. Once the fabric was adhered, I removed the deli sheets.

3. Use a bone folder to secure the fabric to the paper.

4. Dry fabric with a heat tool. It is best to hold the page away from the other pages so the heat can pass through.

5. Use a rotary cutter to cut away the excess fabric (of course you could hand cut the fabric but the rotary cutter is so easy!)

And there you have it - your first set of pages. I swear there is a fold in the booklet but you sure can't see it in this photo!

Continue on till you have the inside of both signatures covered with fabric.

CENTER INSIDE

Lay the booklets end to end. 

Cut a piece of fabric 2 x 3". This will be the hinge for the two signatures.

Adhere the fabric strip with Collage Medium. DO NOT leave a gap between the signatures.

Dry with heat tool before bending.

Cut another 4 x 10" strip and adhered it right over the top, completely covering the center hinge.

OUTSIDE

Once the fabric in the center is completely dry, close the book. Cut another hinge for the outside.

This time, the hinge is wrapped around the end of the book when it is closed. Make sure the hinge is FLAT on the end of the book. Dry with a heat tool before opening the book.

Cut your choice of fabric to fit your cover. I saved the Collage Fabric for the cover so I could have the words, "makes me happy" on the cover. I added the cover fabric just like the outside hinge, by wrapping the fabric around the cover when the book was closed. Cut off any excess fabric.

Here you can see the fabric wrapped around the end of the book covering the fabric hinge. I used a heat tool to dry the fabric when the book was closed.

Here is the end of the book - you can see the two signatures with the fabric wrapped around the outside.

And now for the magic tool for fraying the edges! The Tiny Blending Tool with a clean foam is my favorite tool to create the perfect frayed edge.

Turn the book over and add a piece of ephemera to the back. Make sure only the edges of the ephemera have Scor-tape or glue on the edge so the twill tape can pull back and forth freely. Add a few pieces of Cello Tape.

Gather supplies for the inside -

Clippings Stickers

Classic Stickers

Flashcards

Memoir Ephemera

Photomatic images

Transparent Things

Cello Tape

I started by coloring three images from Photomatic. I used one more photo in the book but it was already tinted.

Here are photos of each set of pages. There are really no rules - other than balance. Balance left to right, small scale to large.  All of those things matter. For me, a linear visual line must prevail through the book for continuity. I just don't do crooked, it doesn't sit right in my brain. But you do you.

Page 1-2

So you might notice that I shortened the page on the right? I cut 1" off each page where I added a small Flashcard. So in my book that was three shortened pages.

I added fabric on the back of each flashcard before adding the card to the page with 1/2" Scor-tape.

Page 3 - 4

Easy page - just layered ephemera - the Numbers fabric was just too good to cover up.

Page 5 - 6

All stamps were made with the Stamps fabric. I used the same technique I have been using since the beginning of the Palette Series - Painting Collage Medium onto the back of a fabric piece, then drying with a heat tool. Once dry, the fabric becomes stiff but still flexible. This makes it very easy to cut the stamps out with sharp scissors. Then just glue into place. 

All the ephemera is from the Memoir Ephemera pack. I coated the top of the ephemera/Cello Tape with a bit of Collage Medium (dries totally clear). Once dry, you are able to add Distress Crayon over the Cello Tape and get that great grungy edge.

I added an eyelet to the edge of the page so I could add a Loop Pin with two charms: a clover and an Antiqued Gem.

Page 7 - 8

I love this fabric called Vintage. I think I could have whole book made with it!

As for the ephemera flowers, I coated them with Collage Medium, then painted them with Distress Crayons and Detailer Water Brush.

Again, another shortened page.

Page 9 -10

I wanted add add something travel related on the page with the Stamps Fabric. I found the two ephemera pieces in the Memoir pack. 

The large blue label is from the Classic Label pack (red, blue, pink and black labels). All the words are from the Clippings Sticker Book.

You can also see the back of the Flashcard on the left.

Page 11

The Tiny Print background is super busy so I wanted to cover some of it with ephemera and this large Transparent Butterfly. That did not stop me from layering on a pointed finger and a Thought Token.

Page 12 

Page 13 

This shot shows the back of the Flashcard covered in fabric. I love this view with three fabrics showing at the same time.

Page 14

My favorite little cluster. I cut the flower from a card in the Memoir pack and also cut away some the leaves and rosebuds to make it fit the page. Everything looks so pretty over the top of the Script fabric.

I hope you like this cute little book. I have one more booklet left so I think I might save that for a Seasonal Book using either Halloween or Christmas fabric! 

Now carry on,

paula