Every Adventure is Worthwhile

Hello friends,

I am sharing a fun fall make today that I created using a few pieces of paper and ink.  Very simple elements combined can create a something so much more!  Follow along and I'll show you how I did it (you might be surprised!)

The cover was actually done LAST - something I do often because I like the book to inform me of it's look and purpose before I figure out what the cover should look like. 

Here I used a Stencil Card sprayed with Villainous Potion Oxide Ink for a bold background.  I then used the Tonic Deckle Trimmer to cut a piece of gold metallic cardstock. The cardstock edges were sanded and inked to create a dark border.

Next, I added the sprayed Stencil Card to the metallic paper, then stitched around the card on three sides with light blue thread.  You will see that the book itself is sprayed with ink so this metallic cover is really a nod to the gold embossing on the inside of the book and completely covers the sprayed surface of the paper.

In this angle you can see that the metallic paper is glued to the front of the zig zag book. 

The leaf stamp was embossed with Villainous Potion Embossing Glaze.

The velvet band simply slips on and off the book to keep it secure.

Creating the Book

You will need two sheets of 8 1/2 x 11" Distress Mixed Media paper.

Cut each sheet in half so you get FOUR PIECES 4 1/4 x 11"

Fold and score each sheet at 4 1/4"

Three pieces stay as they are, but one piece needs the 2 1/2" cut off the end.  That is the last piece to be put in place when you assemble the book.

Any background stamp can be used for this portion.  I used the Stampers Anonymous Ornate stamp (CMS348) to do the stamping on mine.  

Distress Oxide ink in Villainous Potion + Bundled Sage

No block used

1. Pounce ink over stamp image
2. Spritz ink with water
3. Press onto paper using both first generation and second generation stamping.
4. Dry with heat tool, then repeat.

Once dry, use the Tonic Deckle Edge Trimmer to cut the 2 1/2 end of the paper.  Using the Deckle Trimmer or any other decorative edge will shave an 1/8" off the paper (and that is okay!).   The deckle cut edge is the edge of the pocket you will create in the next steps.

Note: Do not cut the piece that is only two squares of the paper, it is not necessary.

To combine the paper strips and create a pocket between the papers, you must overlap the 2 1/2" end of the first strip with the left end (4 1/4") of another strip.

You will repeat this 3 times to create 3 pockets.

The last piece added is the one that is just two 4 1/4" squares since no other pocket is needed.

You can keep the book as is or go one step further, which I did.

I decided I wanted a deeper color for the background so I spritzed it with Peeled Paint Spray Stain.  Once I did that I went back and stamped a few times with the Ornate stamp in just Villainous Potion for a bolder look.  I think I needed to do this to hold up to the visual weight of the dark cards I created next.

Set book aside to create the cards.

This is a process of steps.  Read through all the steps before starting.  

I created 5 cards so I could pick the best 4 of the group to use in the book.

I cut as many 3 1/2 x 3 3/4" cards as you wish to create from Distress Mixed Media cardstock.

I created each card, start to finish, before moving on to the next card.

Spray card with Fossilized Amber Distress Spray Stain.  Dry with heat tool.

Lay an idea-ology Stencil Card over the top of the sprayed card and spray with Villainous Potion Oxide Spray.  Dry with a heat tool.

Use a damp wet wipe (with a VERY light touch) to wipe over the card to re-activate the Oxide ink.  I went across the card and then down the card to purposefully create directional lines.  Again, I dried it with a heat tool.

Next, I spritzed Distress Ink in Salvaged Patina and a bit of Fossilized Amber.  I tested the spray on another piece of paper to see how the ink came out of the bottle before spritzing the card.  I wanted it to dribble out!

I dried it, spritzed it with a bit of water and patted it dry again.  This is not an exact science so having more cards than I needed gave a little peace of mind.

I reused the same stencil card over and over to create my cards.  I liked all but the the top right as it got too dark, so that one went into the trash, keeping the 4 cards I was happy with.

The card I have shown in the step-outs is on the bottom left.

Don't forget to round the corners of the cards.  This can be done before or after embossing.

The next step is to emboss the cards.

Nature's Wonder stamp (CMS343) + gold embossing powder = magic over the dark cards!

I do like to use the little Embossing Powder Magic Bag over the paper before embossing to control the powder bits getting away from me.

Once embossed, I stamped the sentiments and sewed them to the cards with light blue thread leaving the threads long.

I also added four THIN foam squares to the back of each card t adhere to the book when I am ready.

I created a second set of cards (same exact size as the first) - these were made to go into the pockets.

This time I used the same leaf stamps but in a different way.

1. Stamp each card with a text stamp using Hickory Smoke Archival Ink.
2. Pounce Distress Oxide Ink on craft mat, spritz with water.  Press edges of the cards into the ink and dry with heat tool, patting off the excess Oxide ink with a paper towel. Dry with a heat tool.
3. Press multiple Oxide Ink pads directly onto the stamp.  Spritz with water and stamp card.  If you have never tried this before, test stamping on a scrap paper before stamping the cards - I also do this to test color combinations since some colors will overwhelm others.  Dry with heat tool.
4. Press Salvaged Patina Oxide Ink onto craft mat. Add a drop of water to the ink.  Pick up with a small paint brush and flick over the surface of the cards.  Dry with heat tool.
5. Add words from the Clipping Sticker Book.
6. Use the same paint brush and the leftover Salvage Patina Oxide ink to watercolor under or around the Clippings Stickers.

Here are photos of the book pages, starting with what would be the second square of the first strip (right before the pocket comes into play.

The photobooth photos were lightly sanded and colored with Oxide Inks using a small paint brush.

Seriously one of my favorites - I could have made the cards over and over!  I love the addition of Salvaged Patina to the mix.  That bit of turquoise just makes the Villainous Potion pop!  
now carry on,
paula

Believe In Yourself

Hello friends,

Hope your week is going well! Things are looking up in California as some restrictions has been eased in our area. Although, we are still staying put and not doing things that involve travel or leaving home unless necessary.  Good thing I can work from home (as I have done for many years) and that my husband can teach school in his classroom via Zoom.  

Today I am sharing information/tips on another idea-ology project I recently created.  I used a Vignette Shrine as the housing for a zig zag book I created from chipboard.  This was a fun project because I've never done anything like this before.  And I like the "figuring stuff out" part.

So lets start with the Shrine itself.  I painted the interior with Speckled Egg Distress Paint and let that dry before moving on to the outside paper portion.  Some of the new Backdrops paper was cut into strips and added to the outside of the Shrine.  I just butted the pieces right up against each other rather than overlapping (but that is fine too).  There was no rhyme or reason, I just picked paper I liked - large scale like the butterflies and small scale like the print below.  That is what makes Backdrops so fun to use - the mix of scale helps to make almost every print to work with another.  I saved ever single scrap from my projects and put them in a Plastic Storage Envelope for later use.  I have found that even the smallest scrap works for something.

You might notice that I did not use tape for the lip edge of this piece.  I used Backdrops again.  You need about 1/4" of paper to cover the lip edge in any paper you wish.  It was easy to do, I just used my Tonic Guillotine Trimmer to cut the 1/4" strips from a small print.  The Trimmer can precisely cut paper that narrow because of the sharp blade and the plastic guard that holds the paper in place while you cut.  I also cut enough strips to use on the two levels of the base.

Lets talk about the closure - 

To begin, I cut off the top and bottom stitching of the Ruler Ribbon to make it narrower and give it frayed edges.  I sewed a loop at one end with the Mini Book Ring inside the loop (you don't need to do anything to the other end).  To test placement, I wrapped the Ruler Ribbon around the Shrine, then marked where the Ruler Ribbon goes around the corner.  I was able to add Score Tape to the Ribbon then add it to the Shrine just where I wanted it with no wait time for liquid glue.

You can see here I used a tack nail to secure the Hook Clasp to the Shrine.

When you want access to the book, you just open the Mini Book Ring and let the Hook Clasp fall away.

The book consists of 5 house shapes I cut from a chipboard.  I made a test book to get the right size and shape before I cut the final that is in use here.  I could have used the original but I decided to keep it as a template in case I wanted to re-create the book another time.  One thing I did find in the process was that you have to test how the book opens inside the Shrine, so you can make sure that each house flows out easily and does not get caught up in the roof line.  I also know that if you make each house the same width, it would be a much easier job, since it has to fold back on itself.

There are MANY way to connect the house pieces.  I decided to hide the mechanism under the paper but I could have easily used the new Linen Tape.  It would work perfect as a hinge detail.  

Once I had cut my house shapes, then tested them to see if they worked in the Shrine, I was ready to start.

1. Cut Backdrop paper to fit each house shape, set aside till chipboard is connected.
2. Use 1" Score Tape to connect each shape, leaving a 1/16" gap between the houses so they can fold over.
3. Adhere the pre-cut paper to each house with Collage Medium.  Be sure to go over the Score Tape in the "crack" between the houses with the Collage Medium.  This will seal the tape so it does not stick to itself when you fold it over.  Could you use something else to bind the house shapes?  yes!  you could use the idea-ology Linen Tape, a muslin/fabric strip or another kind of tape for book binding.  Remember it will be hidden in this method.

For the book, I chose to use some of the new Paper Dolls that were just released last month.  I picked 4 to work with but you can add as many as you wish.  The cover has one of the new Curio Frames with a Paper Doll over the top. You may be wondering why I tied her to the frame? It was really from a feeling I wanted to convey...that when we lack belief in ourself it can hold us back from doing things we are meant to do.

I have used one of my favorite new products, Mini Marquee, for the emboldened words, LEAD and LIFT.  The letters are a heavy plastic (they do not bend easily) and perfect over the paper.  I just used a bit of Collage Medium to glue them down since it dries clear.  That might not work as well over solid paper but it sure worked over patterned.

I added one of the new Stitched Scraps 2 to make the ephemera piece (idea-ology Remnants) look like a pocket.  I also added a heart charm from the new pack of Adornment Hearts and a sicker from the new Metallic Stick Book (same book as the word strips).

The stitching here is faux, meaning that I stitched the card (idea-ology Keepsakes) and then used Score tape to make a pocket that I added other ephemera into.

The last decorated page has one of the darling Mini Flair Embellishments (don't you love that dog?) with some crinkle ribbon sprayed in Rustic Wilderness Distress Spray Stain.

I found that I needed one more house shape to make all the decorated pages pull from the book - this one I just used Backdrops and some ephemera.

You can see when I turn the book over,  I have cut a 1" strip of chipboard and secured it to the book with idea-ology Linen Tape.  The 1" strip has Score Tape on the back so it can be adhered to the inside of the Shrine.

I hope this project might spur you on to trying something new or look at an old structure in a new way.  

Now carry on,

paula

Just an Instagram kinda day.

Still working away on a boat load of stuff that needs to be done this week.
Problem is, none of it is laundry.

Good thing I have a husband who can do his own if it becomes necessary.
He's good like that.

Everything I am working has to do with counting and measuring and filling in boxes on a spread sheet...not really my cup of tea.  I decided I had had enough of that and set out to continue the journey I started last week with the modeling paste and paint.  Today I am going to put into practice what I leaned and make a little zig zag book that I cut from some very beautiful 140lb Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper I bought at Dick Blick in Las Vegas in the fall.  I know most people go to casinos, I go to Dick Blick.

 The paper is very long.  I cut it 5" tall and then just folded it back and forth, every 4" to create the book.  You end up with a short little stubby piece on one end but not to worry that will easily be resolved by adding a sturdy back piece.

After I took the picture above I decided to change it up today (once again) and use my iPhone and Instagram to take the rest of the pictures.  Love the results.

Anyway, here we go...
Golden Fluid Acrylics are the paint choice for today...
in my favorite color, Cobalt Teal + water = happiness on a paintbrush.

Paint on Golden Fluid Acrylics in Green Gold along the top edge...spritz with water. 
Lift paper to make the diluted paint run.

Adding diluted splatters to the craft mat to add more Cobalt Teal to the backside (just because I can...and I like what's going on back there) 

Note: Here is where I loose my mind an change to a different filter on the pictures...darn it, I was going to stay with the same filter the whole tutorial.  Funny, it only took two pictures and I forgot which one I was using...uggg.)

See what I mean?  

Now I can't decide which do I like better, the front or the back?

Using a mask, add modeling paste to the project (refer to last weeks post for directions).  This one is Christy Tomlinson - vintage doily.  Let the paste dry.

Work on another project that is in progress in the kitchen while modeling paste dries.

30 minutes later and back from the kitchen.

Paste is dry.

Paint over the paste with diluted Martha Stewart Metallic Paint - Vintage Gold (this color is DIVINE).

Oh, I like this part.   Seriously, you must try this.

Use stamps to create more texture.  

Archival Ink in Aquamarine and Dyan Revelry Stamp - Basic Backgrounds

The Archival Ink pad is new so I stamped it on a tag before I stamped the book to get a lighter image.

Add some vintage paper strips.

Words are next (my favorite part),

This is my "One Little Word" for 2012

Substance.
You can see that when folded, the cover was part of the "backside" of the paper so I got the best of both worlds going on.

Font Stamp: Doodle Bug Designs for Hampton Art found at Michaels

(here is where I noticed I changed Instagram filters some time ago)

More words inside in Archival Ink - Coffee

More doodling with a random black pen and a circle stencil I made from punching a piece of cardstock with a 1" circle punch.  I really don't doodle much on projects because it always seems like I mess it up when I do. 
No thinking like that today. 

My signature...word strips cut from an old book.  This one, a Grammar book I picked up in Old Town Orange when I was shopping with Carolyn Peeler after CHA.  The equation is from an old math book.  I love the line, "Carefully cherish virtuous principles".  Not something we hear much about in this day and age of the "Housewives" and the Kardashians.

A bit of handwriting...again, something I don't do too much of.  The writing never seems good enough.   But today, I am not going to let fear stop me from trying.

NOTE TO SELF: practice writing!

And lastly, a bit of stitching.

Love it, love it, love it.

I am happy about the way it turned out.  

In fact, so happy I am ready to make another.

If you look back at the picture of the folded paper there's that little bit on the right end that was sticking out.  I had one of the cards I made a while ago during experimentation with Liquid Pearls that fit perfectly on the end (love when that happens).  All I did was glue it to the little stubby piece to make a back then added some vintage music to the backside behind the yellow card.

Happy day.
Amazing what doing something free and creative can do for your spirit.

I have to go back to counting and measuring now but I am going to be thinking about getting back to the worktable all day. 
Maybe I can sneak in a little between laundry loads.

cheers
paula

ps) of course you know what measuring and counting means....a new kit is coming soon.