Altered Book

I'm taking a couple of classes over at My Creative Classroom and wanted to share some of my new found techniques. BTW, my craft room is in a mess. One of the classes I'm taking, The Organized Crafter, has caused me to send my messy, but always organized work space into a NIGHTMARE! I am such a disorganized reorganizer. In other words, I make a really big mess while moving and rearranging. The entire project is like a treasure hunt without a map and I'm so looking forward to using some of those forgotten treasures that I've been uncovering.

The other class I'm taking is Alter This by Shirley Pando. This is a SUPER fun class and I'm learning so much. As it turns out, I can alter a book in a very limited space. (Good thing since my work space is currently limited to the size of my self healing mat).  We are just starting our second week and up to now I've played with a few background techniques which are new to me. These include creating backgrounds with modeling paste, brown bags, waxpaper, and different types of crackle mediums, (I'm not an expert at the latter just yet. Still need lots of practice).

Here's a few photos to show off my progress so far. 

Brown paper bag. Painted, wrinkled, and glued. I used Distress Ink to highlight the raised areas.

Crackle paint. I need way more practice using this product. I also used Golden's Crackle  Paste  on another page. I'll share that at a later time.

So far this is my favorite technique - painted and wrinkled waxpaper. This picture doesn't  do it justice.

A close up of the wrinkles. Distress Ink was added to bring attention to the wrinkles.

This last one was made with lightweight spackling as an alternative to modeling paste. It worked just fine and I can use the spackling to fix a place in my ceiling that has a crack. This technique is "heavier" looking than the others and I'm not sure that I like it in my book. I plan to do another page or two using the spackling but with a much thinner coating.

A close  up of the spackling showing the lines I created using a plastic fork. The spackling can be painted before or after it is applied. I misted it with Adirondack color Wash in Sunset Orange.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan

Vintage Mini Envelope Book

So, is it "Vintage Mini Envelope Book", or "Vintage Envelope Mini Book"? I have no idea. Thank goodness the mini wasn't as hard to make as the title for this entry. 

A week or so ago Julie Fei-Fan Balzer posted a mini tag book that was made from coin envelopes. I thought I would just quickly assemble one so I would burn the process into my poorly functioning brain cells, but I just couldn't stop once I started.

Here's the link for Julie's original tutorial, (I won't mess with perfection by trying to retype it here).

My mini is made from Julie's first example and I followed it pretty much to the "t" except I used a letter opener to slit open the bottom of the envie before I attached it to the other envelopes, (easier to just not include a screwed up envie than try to fix it after it's already a part of the book).

Once I attached all the envies together, I used Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and Antique Photo to age them. I love the results.

Following the same process I also made some tags for the envelope pockets.  I aged the white string the same way. Got to love Ranger products.

Here's the finished product. Wish those were real pictures, (I would love to have a collection of vintage photos), but they are cut out from a Graphic 45 On the Boardwalk 6X6 pad, (I love the smaller print on 6X6 papers). 

Front cover

Inside front cover

Back cover

Another really fun project and the beach theme coordinates perfectly with The Paper Variety's current challenge.  Their week 55 challenge is all things ocean and nautical. Deadline for entering this challenge is Tuesday at noon. Oh, and I forgot to mention the prize for the winner of this challenge is from WeScrap.  Isn't it pretty? 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan

A Layout at Last

Finally I scrapped a picture. I've been so immersed in mixed media that I've set aside pictures, (I could add an extra measure of art to my mixed media and get scrappy with some photos - hum - something to seriously consider). 

Last weekend while at the Celebration Crop at my favorite LSS, I pulled out a piece of sassafras that's been hanging around for months in one of my page kit bags. 

I love the layered look of the paper but it's just that, "a look". I wanted some real 3D layers. I decided to dissect the page a bit with my nifty little craft knife. Then I roughed the cut edges with something, (can't remember what it was - I forgot my distress tools), from Cheryl's bag. (got to love friends - especially those who are always there to bail you out, even if it is with just a piece of sandpaper).

After attaching a piece of cardstock to the back of the patterned paper I put down the picture, added a little trim to the pocket I created, put on some flower brads and a chipboard title and called it a day. It felt good to scrap that picture of Jackie, Cheryl, and me. It was taken over a year ago at a weekend scrap retreat.

The project really was a lot of fun. I'm finding that I like to switch up my layouts with new techniques, (maybe not new to others but new and untried by me).

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan

Happy Birthday to A Scrapbook Store and More

A Scrapbook Store and More celebrated their one year anniversary this past weekend and I just wanted to take a minute to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to the greatest little scrapbook store in the world. 

Congratulations to Paula on her success. Also, a huge thank you for offering such a vast selection of products. I am amazed at the amount of product she has packed into her shop and the attractive displays and projects showcased. My eyes light up like a kid's at Christmas every time I visit. Also, Paula has an eye for talent, offering classes from many local designers,  (not to mention the nationally known ones too).

A Scrapbook Store and More is located in Port St Lucie and it's the only LSS in at least a three county area. In my book that makes the store a real gem. 

Happy Creating.

Susan

My New Romance

I have a new love. Well, actually two new loves. The first is for black gesso. I used some a couple of weeks ago at my friend Cheryl's house and just had to have some of my own. I can't tell you how it transforms a basic substrate, (makes an instant background, covering up a white journal page or canvas in nothing flat), and colors just pop off the page, (not all colors and not all mediums - I'm still playing with both and feeling out what I like best).

My second new romance is for my black PITT artist brush. That thing has been untouched for months. (Actually, I never would have bought it except for the incredible clearance deal I got). Never thought I had a need to create fat black lines. Was I ever wrong. The brush is also great for touching up little mistakes on my pages and panels that have been covered in black gesso, (think of it like a black eraser that covers instead of removing the mistake).

This example is from my art journal. I was experimenting with a technique called "Black Magic",  that I picked up from Roni at Ink Stinks. I used a variety of mediums including watercolor paint, (wasn't pleased with that result and probably won't use it again - too transparent), water soluble crayons and my PITT brush for outlining. I made small dots in the center with my Terra Cotta Adirondack marker.  The image was stamped using white acrylic paint on a thick foam flower stamp, (I can't remember the manufacturer). It was a super fun project and I definitely will use this technique again.

Thanks of stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Susan