Journal Cover - Memories

Needing a gift for a teacher was my inspiration for this project. 

Many times teachers need to write notes or jot down reminders or even write about their teaching Memories. 

I have created a Journal Cover for a small notebook about 5 x 7 inches in size. 





The papers used in the project are Graphic 45 with stamps from Tim Holtz and Ali Edwards.

I made the measuring pieces by inking white paper with TH Mustard Seed and Wild Honey then stamping with 
TH Artful Tools. 
I cut the stamped image apart and inked lightly with TH Vintage Photo and along the edges with Black Soot.

The Tim Holtz Sizzix Die 

Mini Paper Rosettes along with 
Graphic 45 - Le Cirque paper was used to make the three rosettes. The front and back of this paper was used; the center brads are from Close to My Heart.

The notebook was covered with three Graphic 45 papers including a striped paper for the Simon Says Challenge - Stripes. Each paper was inked along the edges with Black Soot plus Vintage Photo on the red paper.

Glossy Accents was used to glue the paper to the notebook. I like to use Glossy Accents so I can nudge the paper before it dries.


I selected the Ali Edwards stamp 

for her unique handwriting and 
stamped it using Range Archival 
Ink - Jet Black then placed the 
measuring pieces around it. 



I stamped the brushes from the TH Artful Tools stamp and cut out a small brush.

The brush was attached just to the end of the word to look as if "memories" had just been written.

The assembly of the cover was just 

as fun as making the individual pieces. The cute little girl sitting at the school desk is from Graphic 45 - ABC Primer and the metal pieces are from a local hardware store.

Glossy Accents worked great in attacking the gears.

More gears and rosettes were added to the bottom section of the cover with a black piece of ribbon in the corner.




Open the journal and the first page 

included a pocket which was perfect for a couple of tags.
The "Telling Time" verse and 
"This book belongs to" tag are 
also from the ABC Primer collection and were inked with Black Soot.

Another touch was added 
to the 

bottom edge using TH Idea-ology 
Collection tissue tape - Elements.

There you have it, my project is ready to give to an appreciated teacher.

.

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge - Stripes

Kraft Challenge with a Card

Simon Says is having a challenge this week that allows me to use one of my favorite kinds of paper- Kraft paper. 

This challenge allowed me to use kraft paper and cardboard plus lots of Tim Holtz Distress Stains and Distress Paint. 

 

My project began by 
using kraft paper 
and distressing it 
with TH Gathered Twigs.












Then embossing it with  

Sizzix Embossing Folder 
TH Alterations Textures Fades 
America Background and Border Set.

I used such a combination of Distress Stains and paints trying to get the look I was after. 

Stains: Barn Door, Salty Ocean, Antique Bronze, Tarnish Brass
Paints: Brushed Pewter, Chipped Sapphire, Barn Door, Picket Fence



I used a small paint brush 
on some of the raised letters at first but kept distressing with additional paint and stains.

I worked on the folder print for two days, painting, staining, drying, more painting, more staining. It took many times before I had what I thought I was looking for. 






Next I used another 
Sizzix Die - 
TH Alterations Old Glory. 

I used cardboard to cut the die 
then began distressing the flag with Barn Door, Brushed Corduroy Stain and Picket Fence Paint. I painted the stars again after this picture, you'll see in the final product.


After that I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my project, I didn't want a card, I wanted something bigger - a collage. It began with the inside of a pizza box. I started painting it with Picket Fence Distress Paint for a washed look.

The box also went through many stages with more layers of paint - Picket Fence and Tarnished Brass. Drying, painting and over again. The final layer was stamping with  TH Mixed Media and Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee. 

I printed a patriotic images of an 
eagle and shield from The Graphics Fairy on watercolor paper, tore the edges, stained then with Gathered Twigs and added just a tiny bit of color on the shield. 

I add a little blue to the shield at the end.



I started putting the collage together by just laying everything in place for a visual then adding a few more touches.

In a corner I stamped a USA from the TH Mini Blueprints CMS 146 with Ranger Archival Ink - Vermillion.  The reverse of the stars from the embossing folder was used as a stencil and dabbed with TH Brushed Pewter.



"Freedom" letters from 
Sizzix TH Alterations - 
Wanted Alphabet strip were used. These were cut from kraft paper then painted with 
Brushed Pewter Distress Paint.

There is a very light stamp of the Statue of Liberty Head just below the "Freedom" letters also from the Mini Blueprints CMS 146 collection of TH.

I added some burlap ribbon that I dabbed with Adirondack Dabber - Gold and began gluing it all together with CH Studio multi-medium matte.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Kraft Challenge