Wow, has it really been that long (April 26th) since I posted? So sorry, I was pre- occupied with a major studio re-do. Well, it fills my heart with joy to be arting again! I have been following Mini Album Makers for a while now and viewing with pure awe of the projects happening on the blog. With my re-org, I came across a Prima Frank Garcia square chipboard style journal that I had received in a mystery box many months back. With the sponsor being Stencil Girl this month, I knew I had to stop just viewing and enter a project of my own. You can find challenge details here , I do hope you give them a visit and see some of the gorgeousness yourself.

So, let me get to sharing the details … I will be posting the base or background pictures first and finished photos second with details of what I did or added to get the completed page.

 

I wanted the outside covers to be very simple. I quilted 1″ diagonal stitches with some batting on the Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements Wallflower ‘Ledger’ fabric. I then glued the fabric squares onto cardboard, which I then glued onto the book. The thickness of this book was too thick to sew directly on, plus this gave a really polished edge to the covers.

Pages 1 & 2 Tim Holtz Wallflower Paper Stash collage

Page 1- I added this flip out by cutting a slit then sliding a bottom tab into the slit.

Page 2- Still pretty simple… added some TH botanical ephemera, metal butterfly and cut up pocket card for the words. The butterfly is colored with Alcohol Inks.

Pages 3 & 4 The papers are actually TH Wallflower Vellum paperstash and were the first ones I glued down. Then added Distress paint in Vintage Photo. Strangely enough, one of the last sets I finished.

Page 3- I wanted to keep all photos removable because I may sell this and wanted a future purchaser to be able to add their own photos and journaling. The photo is from TH Found Relatives. Side collage includes packaging material, TH botanical flower, scrap of vintage book canvas that was hand stitched, burlap cut with TH tag thinlit and quote stamped (Therories CMS329) then heat embossed.

Page 4- I used American chalk finish ‘Whisper’ paint through a homemade stencil, also painted a flourish piece from TH Grungeboard ‘Harliquin’. Used the Wallflower Vellum and die cut using the Sizzix Bigz Pocket w/scallop edge. Added a few rub ons and a piece from the canvas for the journal insert.

Pages 5 & 6 I collaged torn pieces from the pocket cards pack, Memoranda paper stash and vintage automatic piano music roll (the blue tab is what was used the pull the roll through the piano mechanism).

Page 5- Added some distress crayon in walnut stain, another found relatives photo and some TH Idea-ology trinkets.

Page 6- I made the pocket using a gel press print which I then machine stitched around the three sides and glued down. The tag was made using a pocket card, added some scrap from gel print, die cut memories and then ran through with tag Thinlit. Also added some stitching around word,  TH flashcard and clip.

Page 7 & 8 Paper from TH Memoranda stash and a pocket card.

Page 7- I really wanted to keep the planner portion of the paper blank to be possibly filled in later. To make the vintage looking tape strips I used Alcohol Ink on double sided tape, then glued it down with collage medium.

Page 8- While the Alcohol Ink was out I used a cap to add some color ontop of the planner portion. To be able to remove the TH photobooth pictures, I only glued the TH ruler ribbon on the ends. 

Page 9 & 10 These pages are the most textured out of the lot. I glued torn TH Worn Wallpaper strips and flourishes from the TH Grungeboard Harliquin pack down with collage medium. I then added a layer of gesso, plaster paste and crackle. After that was dried I applied Distress Ink & Distress Oxides in Aged Mahogany and Antique Linen along with a lot of water to have the inks ‘dance’ and create depth.

Page 9- After more layers of distress ink, I made a flip out with dyed TH Trimmings sandwiched between two pocket cards, then stitched around the edges. I was going for the effect of weathered walls and the worn wallpaper paper was such a treat to use.

 

The TH ephemera photo can be pulled out from the frame I made using altered chipboard and acetate for the glass. Also a area for journaling and adding more photos.

Page 10- I had created this antique looking mirror awhile back when Tami from Plays Well With Paper first shared her technique (find it here). It didn’t end up in the project I originally intended it for back then but worked perfectly next to this lovely lady from Memoranda. Quote stamp from oldie but goodie TH Stampers Anonymous (CMS005) then heat embossed with black powder.

Pages 11, 11 1/2 & 12. Started with TH Dapper paper, glued the 1/2 page flap behind the ledger sheet. I then added some matte transparent texture paste through stencil (THS006). After that was dried, I applied some THD stain in tarnished brass.

Pages 11 & 11 1/2- I was really going for a used, vintage journal look, so there are a lot of layers and marks on these. After adding torn book pages, I also stamped some numbers and did reverse stenciling with blueprint sketch. I then sealed the pages with a thin layer of clear gesso. Added a cork washi, some TH ephemera, TH nailheads, big chat words and another found relatives photo. I glued a piece of TH Salvalged Baseboard (the cigar box top) to the 1/2 flap.

Page 12- Has the same layers as 11 although I added more of the Whispers chalk paint. For the doodled circles I added TH washi tape then cut the excess off, this really added a interesting touch.

Pages 13 & 14. I loved how this turned out. I glued page 13 down first, then glued 14 down with about 3″ overlapping into page 13 but didn’t apply glue all the way to the end. After it was dry, I pulled back the unglued edge and where the glue made contact stayed intact. Although I ended up covering page 13 (I was fighting with the feathers for some reason) I will be doing this again real soon in some project, the way the edges inked up and distressed was so interesting.

 Page 13- I know, completely different, lol but I was really missing something map themed. I glued over original paper with Memoranda paper, added vintage book paper and TH gilded rub ons. The globe is TH stamp and die cut which I then used gold foil to highlight areas (shimmer on this page was tricky to photograph). I also used a Stabilo All pencil to write words on the washi tape. The hearts are wood pieces that were altered using Paper Artsy Rusting powder.

Page 14- For this last page I wanted a full page pocket to stuff all kinds of memorabilia in, so I used the piece of cardstock that I had original pulled back, added some ink and double stitched around the edges. Used a pocket card quote and added rock candy crackle. Added some ephemera into the pocket and called the book done.

Well, I have to say that I have a new love and appreciation for all the journal makers out there. This was a bigger challenge creating all these pages than I thought but am pleased that I gave it a go. I am sure the future holds more handmade journals from me because I love a good challenge 🙂

Thank you for viewing and as always …

Have a blessed day!!!!

Wendy xo xo