Hello there! It's an AJVD Monday and I have a few cards ready for viewing over on their blog. ;-) Head on over to check them out and here is my little sneak peek:

Thanks for stopping by!

Guest Artist for StencilGirl!

Happy Friday!! I am very honored to be a guest artist on the StencilGirl blog today! You'll have to head on over there to see my whole creation but here is a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day and summery weekend. ;-)

June Really is a Wrapped Journal Fest…

Hello! I'm back with another Wrapped Journal from Eileen Hull's newest Sizzix die collection Book Club Chapter 2 of which the Wrapped Journal is a cornerstone. Her Inspiration Team is sharing journal and other projects all month long so be sure to keep your eye on her blog. There is more inspiration there than you can shake a stick at!

This is another project I had made for the Creativations 2018 show and I'm happy that now I can share the tutorial and more photos with you.

In the course of his job, my husband runs across a lot of broken hard drives and other computer things so he'll save them from the trash heap and take them apart for me. I have a whole box of computer mother boards, RAM sticks and other do-hickies that looks so cool. I dove into that box for this journal.

Inside:

In the back I made a tuck spot with one of the parts.

Now hang on for some how-to!

Step 1 – Preparing the base: first I glued on some Seth Apter die cuts to the journal blank and then base coated everything with metallic green paint and dry brushed chalk paint.

Next I used Prima Soft Matte Gel to glue on the various computer parts.

Note: I did not glue the RAM stick onto the spine at this point. I waited until
the end after I had strung the elastic cord through the spine holes for
the binding of the inserts.

After the gel was dry, I coated all the computer parts with clear gesso to help the subsequent layers of paint adhere well. When completely painted to my satisfaction, I covered the whole thing with DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish to help seal it and protect the paint.

Step 2 – The covers of the inserts are made from old paper cross stitch mesh I found at an estate sale. It never hurts to think outside of the box about materials and use them for purposes they weren't intended for. ;-) The inside pages are cut from an old ledger pad and a technical book.

Pages/covers were cut 4.25 x 7 inches and the final signatures trimmed to
4.25 x 3.5 inches after assembly.

I used a simple saddle stitch to sew the signatures:

Step 3 – I used elastic for the binding so I could easily slip the signatures underneath the straps.

Oops, I forgot to take photos of this part! BUT, it's just like Step 3 of my game journal I just posted about last week. See it here.

I glued the RAM stick on the spine after stringing the elastic cording.

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm also entering this in the June Mini Album Makers Challenge:

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix -

Wrapped Journal
Mover & Shaper Book Binding


Broken Maze ( SSS )
Steering Wheel ( SSS )
Shield ( SSS )

Stamps:
Stampendous -  Andy Skinner Steampunk, ASCRS02
Stampers Anonymuos - Basic Backgrounds
Artistic Outpost - Typography

Other:

mat board

Distress Ink - Black Soot
Distress Oxide Ink - Frayed Burlap, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint
Archival Ink - Jet Black, Leaf Green, Fern Green, Tiger Lily

Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint - Pumpkin Soup
Prima Clear Gesso
Prima Soft Matte Gel
Distress Collage Medium - Crazing

Perfect Pearls Mist - Green Patina, Kiwi
Eileen Hull Twist 'n Style Tool
black elastic cord
black rubber cord
Tim Holtz Hitch Fastener

DecoArt Media
Mister - Orange
Dazzling Metallics - Festive Green
Ultra Matte Varnish

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

Lavinia Goes to Sea with Topflight Stamps

Hello there! I have another section divider page from my ATC binders project to share with you today (also on the Topflight Stamps blog). As you can probably surmise, this one is for the "sea" section of my collection. I have a great fondness for the Lavinia brand stamps and when I saw the new Sebastian Seahorse stamp I immediately fell in love and got my hot little hands on it as soon as possible. It can be found at Topflight Stamps – your go to online store for unique art stamps and products sourced from companies worldwide.

For the background, I collaged some hand marbled paper onto the base and then layered it with stenciling, stamping and embossing (the rocks/sand at the bottom). Similar to the "Fairytale" section divider I made previously, I used a tag cut from Mix Media Heavystock as a focal point and a suitable area for the fab seahorse stamping. Look at that detail!!

Thanks for stopping by! Check out Topflight Stamps and all the cool stuff they carry. They also regularly share fabulous projects done by the design team on their blog so don't miss out on that inspiration.

Dies:
Sizzix - Tag Die 

Stamps:
from Topflight Stamps:

Lavinia - Sebastian Seahorse, Alana Mermaid, Forest Spruce, Fairy Thistles
Crafty Individuals - By the Sea

Other:

Ranger Mix Media Heavystock

Baked Texture embossing powder - Dirty Sand

Visible Image Stencil - Fibres

Ranger Distress Spray Stains - Broken China

Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Broken China, Forest Moss, Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce, Blueprint Sketch
Ranger Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Black Soot

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black, Cobalt
Fresco Chalk Paint - Amethyst, Coral
Tim Holtz Collage Paper - Plain
Ranger Emboss-It Dabber

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

More Eileen Hull Wrapped Journals!

The Wrapped Journal frenzy continues! Eileen Hull's newest journal die is sure to please and after our long, impatient wait is finally appearing in stores. Her Inspiration Team is sharing journal and other projects all month long that utilize her new Book Club Chapter 2 Collection of which the Wrapped Journal is a cornerstone. Eileen Hull is also the sponsor this month over at Mixed Media Monthly and she sent some Wrapped Journal die cuts to the MMM Design Team and they had lots of fun with those! Inspiration abounds! Be sure to head on over to check out the June 'Wrap it Up' challenge and join in for a chance to win one of Eileen's dies.

And now for one of my favorite projects (better grab a seat and a cup of something)…

Looooots of board game ephemera all throughout the inside:

and more game goodies on the spine (I had fun at the thrift stores hunting for it all!)

Hang on for some how-to!

Step 1 – I collaged Monopoly money onto the outside of the journal cover.

I also lightly brayered chalk paint over the cover…

…and the inside cover:

Step 2 – I used stencils to add further layers to the front and inside covers. Some were just plain ink and other parts I also embossed with embossing powder.

Step 3 – I used elastic for the binding so I could easily slip the signatures underneath the straps.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to head on over to the "Wrap it Up" challenge at MMM:

I'm also entering this in the June Mini Album Makers Challenge:

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix -

Wrapped Journal
Bookplate, Hinges & Label
Credit Card Sleeve & Tags

Alphanumeric ( Sizzix/ SSS )

Other:

mat board

Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Faded Jeans
Distress Oxide Ink - Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple
Archival Ink - Jet Black, Leaf Green, Red Geranium, Tiger Lily, Forget Me Not

Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paint - Metallic Glaze, Banana, Smurf, China
Prima Clear Gesso
Distress Collage Medium - Matte
Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder - Tiger Lily, Cornflower Blue, Buttercup
gel pens
Pear Pins
Tim Holtz Mini Paper Clips
Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Blocks, Cheveron, Mini Set 9, Mini Set 1

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

ATC Binder Divider for Topflight Stamps

Hello there! Today I'm sharing a project I made for Topflight Stamps. It's a divider for the Insects section in one of my ATC collection binders. This is the second one I've decorated; you can see the first one here and the rest are still plain and boring. I'll have to keep plugging away at these. ;-)

Here's a little close up shot!

Background mini tutorial!

Step 1 – I used a brayer and the Fresco Finish chalk paint to create the base layer of the background.

Thin coats of the paint really make a snazzy base layer!

Step 2 – The gorgeous Dragonfly & Butterfly stencil was perfect for covering the background as a secondary layer. I applied white crackle texture paste through the stencil and then immediately sprinkled the Patina Oxide embossing powder over the wet paste.

Step 3 – Once the paste was dry and had developed a nice crackle, I heat embossed the powder that was stuck to it. So pretty!! Next I made a mist out of Eileen Hull's Nutmeg Blends ink and spritzed it over the whole background to help distress it and bring out the crackle. I also spritzed on some plain water so it would pool and puddle and run around into the nooks and crannies.

All I had left to do was layer on the front piece elements. The bee is a fussy cut stamped image from the Beautiful Bugs set.

Thanks for stopping by! Below is a list of supplies I used. Be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps blog for more inspiration. There is always something fun to see there! Have a great week. =)


Topflight Stamps Products:
Paperartsy Fresco Chalk Paint - Tinned Peas, Guacamole, Teresa Green
Baked Texture Embossing Powder - Patina Oxide

Stamps:
Rubber Dance - Beautiful Bugs
Crafty Individuals - Crackle Background

Stencils:
Stamperia - Dragonfly & Butterfly Stencil

Dies:
Garden Greens (Sizzix / SSS) 
Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fade - Lumber (Sizzix / SSS )

Other:

Ranger Archival Ink - Potting Soil, Leaf Green, Jet Black

Distress Inks - Ground Espresso, Vintage Photo
Clear Snap Eileen Hull Color Blends Ink - Nutmeg

Tim Holtz Clippings Stickers
Tim Holtz Ephemera Packs - Botanical, Emporium
Tim Holtz Mini Fasteners
Prima Texture Paste - White Crackle

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

The Final Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Wrap it Up

Sadly, this will be the final challenge of Mixed Media Monthly. However we are "Wrapping it Up" in style! Our sponsor this month is Eileen Hull and she sent each design team member a cut of her brand new die, the Wrapped Journal. The results were pretty spectacular so be sure to check out the main post and see. More will be revealed on our June 15th mid-month post as well. ;-)

I'm still feeling like I'm in spring mode around here so I created my journal using spring colors, floral stamps and an embossed butterfly die cut:

Fastens with a velcro closure under the front piece.

Step 1 – I blended Oxide inks all over the front side of the journal and used the Harlequin stencil over it in places too. Then I lightly sprinkled it with water to activate the Oxide ink.

I also stamped on the cover afterwards using Twisted Citron Oxide Ink.

Step 2 – I used Twisted Citron Distress Spray Stain for the inside of the cover. I also stamped on it when it was dry.

Step 3 – The inserts are mini composition books I bought at the Dollar Tree store. They are the perfect size! I covered them with patterned paper and some stamping.

Step 4 – Using elastic for the binding makes it really easy to put the inserts in. Thread the elastic through the holes, pull it tight and tie it off. Then just slide the inserts under each elastic strap.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit us over at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog. Join in our last challenge ever! =(  sniff… it's been a good run. If you enter you'll have a chance to win a Passport Die from our fabulous sponsor this month, Eileen Hull!

I'm also entering this journal into the Mini Album Makers June Challenge. Always lots of wonderful art there to see so check them out too. =)

Dies:
Eileen Hull Sizzix -

Wrapped Journal
Journal

other:
Tim Holtz Mini Detailed Butterfly ( Sizzix / SSS )
Tim Holtz Fall Foliage ( Sizzix / SSS )

Stamps:
Tim Holtz Ornate Trims
Tim Holtz Ledger Script
Tim Holtz Glorious Bouquet

Other:

Layering Stencil - Harlequin
Wendy Vecchi Stencil WVSFA006
Distress Spray Twisted Citron
Distress Ink - Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint
Distress Oxide Ink - Picked Raspberries, Seedless Preserves, Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick, Twisted Citron
Archival Ink - Leaf Green
Embossing Powder - Wendy Vecchi Violet
Tim Holtz Chitchat stickers

Sizzix & Simon Says Stamp links in this post are affiliate links which do not affect the price you pay but allow me to earn a small percentage of a sale. Thanks! (My husband also thanks you!)

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