Small but Bright

Hello friends,

Looking back to last month when I created this small File Folder book. I had seen how Susie Heinz and many others were using our Linen Tape to bind books and I decided to try it with the Linen Christmas tape (love the plaid).  I also used Christmas Collage Paper to make a regular inline product, like File Folders, look a bit more Christmasy. So lets get started...

Here is the fished book with the belly band - I made that by sewing two pieces of green striped Wallpaper together to create a band long enough to wrap around the little book.  I added red stitching, eyelets, and some red ribbon to finish it off.

Once you slide the belly band off the book, you can see that there are file folders stacked up. 

In the next few photos, I'll show you how I created the structure, followed by photos of the finished book.

Cut pieces of Linen Tape and use to connect two 6" File Folders.

Repeat... so you end up with two sets with two File Folders each.

I worked with the File Folders like this till the very end, then connected them with a piece of Layers ephemera (I'll show you that part later).

The File Folders were too clean for the vintage look I was going for, so I began pressing each page into Gathered Twigs Distress Ink/water mix and drying with a heat tool.  You might not think the ink would stick to a coated surface but it will (you just need to be patient in the drying process).

Next, rip pieces of Christmas Collage Paper and add randomly over the pages of the book with Collage Medium.  Remember, Collage Medium needs to be under the paper and a coat over the top to smooth it out. Once dry, it's very easy to remove the excess paper, with a sanding block.

I set the pages aside to dry while I worked on choosing Paper Dolls and Snapshots (they come in the same bag #TH94290) to use on my pages.  I colored all but one of the images with Distress Watercolor Pencils.  If you would like to learn more about working with Watercolor Pencils on Paper Dolls, you can read my blog post HERE.

Before I show the pages, I'll let you in on a little secret.  I used Clippings stickers (found in the Christmas Sticker book) to create a poem that you can read as you turn the pages.  It is one of my favorite things, to add poetry to something I make. Since I'm not very articulate, I know I can depend on the stickers to give me the words.  Here is the poem I put together for this book.

Glowing red and Christmas green

Visions of delight

Our Hearts are now algow

Grace and light

Stand fixed in steadfast gaze,

Hear the carols sweet

With glad hearts, to you we say

of peace, good will towards men.

Pages 1 and 2

Watercolor Pencils on Page 1

Aged Mahogany Distress Crayon on Page 2. This was used because there is not (currently) an Aged Mahogany Watercolor Pencil. 

Page 1

Here is where the poem starts.

This Snapshot from the Paper Doll Pack was colored with Watercolor Pencils giving it a nostalgic feel.

Page 2

Here is the Aged Mahogany Distress Crayon in use.  The Crayon gives such a rich color of red and I needed their suits to be this color!

Other pieces from the Ephemera Pack and Layers Botanical pack + Label Stickers on the tabs.

Pages 3 and 4

Page 3

The card was sewn, then attached to the page with 1/4" Scor-tape.

Items in pocket are from Christmas Ephemera pack.

Round seal from the Christmas Sticker Book.

Page 4

Polka dots on the girls dress made with a POSCA paint pen.

The round label circle behind her head is from the Classic Labels Sticker sheets.

LOVE how the Collage Paper typography looks on the background of this page!

Pages 5 and 6

Stars from the Christmas Layers pack.

Page 6

Pages 7 and 8

This is the center - 2 file folders on the left, 2 file folders on the right.

The card with the wreath on it is holding the two side together.  

Because this is a small book, it is surprisingly stable with just the Layers Ephemera piece in the center. If the book was any taller it would need two pieces.

Page 7

Added holly from the Layers Christmas Botanical pack with added green Droplets.

Page 8

Poinsettias from Layers Botanical pack.

Pages 9 and 10

Page 9

Page 10

The Linen Tape at the top is holding a card that flips up once you turn the page.

Pages 11 and 12

Now you can see the card from the Layers Christmas pack.

Page 11 

Open to reveal a surprise.

Page 12

Dresses colored with Watercolor Distress Crayons

Page 13 and 14

Page 13

Again, another Snapshot from the Paper Dolls Christmas pack.

Page 14

Back

And there you have it, one Christmas book complete.  I love the ease of using the File Folders since they are printed.  Only the added Collage Paper was needed to move them from everyday to Christmas.  I like that kind of flexibility!

Now carry on,

paula

Square Vignette Trio

Hello friends,
Just a quick post today to share a trio of Square Vignettes I created using some of the new idea-ology product just released.

I rubbed Pumice Stone Distress Paint on the edges of all the Vignettes before I started. Once dry, they were ready to go!

The largest box has both Collage Tiles and the new Trim Tape on the background. The new tape is very skinny as it was made to go on the lip edge of Vignette Boxes.  I am using the Vignettes flipped over to the backside so I didn't need the tape for that purpose...I used it in between the Collage Tiles.

I added butterfly wings from the new Transparency set behind the Paper Doll Portrait.  Don't you just love these new large scale dolls?  

To color her blouse, I scribbled and rubbed Distress Crayon over the surface, then laid a stencil over the top (mini stencil set 25) and rubbed away the floral design with a wet wipe.  I used a water brush to go back and color in the white spaces where I had removed the crayon. 

For the smallest Square Vignette box, I cover the entire back with Number Strips.  This new SKU is a must have.  So many numbers and words make this SKU one that you could quite literally use on every single thing you make.  I love it.

Once I covered the background, I added a layer of Collage Medium.  Once dry, I added Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to age.

The Mini Paper Dolls are perfect for the size Square Vignette.  I colored their clothes with Distress Crayons.

For the final Square Vignette (the medium size)...I cut a piece of Heavystock paper the same size as the square.  I took the new Linen Tape and cut it into pieces and stuck them to the paper (they have a sticky backing).  Once I had covered the entire card, I took it to my sewing machine and stitched all along the edges of the tape until it looked like a patchwork. I purposefully left the strings long on the edges.

The house was cut from Snapshots and the kids are from the Mini Paper Dolls.  The Mini Paper Dolls work beautifully to create forced perspective...like a house in the distance.

The words are from the Clippings Sticker Book.

I have already ordered 6 sets of these Square Vignettes because I just love the size!  I know I will have more samples to share with you in the future!
now carry on,
paula