File Folder book

On AFTCM we are doing a swap where you use an 8 ½" x 11" file folder and turn it into a book.

I had originally started making one with a butterfly/garden theme, but after receiving my partner's name I decided she might not like that so I made another one for her.

In my stash  I had some beautiful double-sided Bo Bunny black and white scrapbook paper and that was my jumping off point for the book.

I took a manila file folder and folded it  using a tutorial by splitcoast stampers. I coloured the edges of each portion of the page and the tabs with Blackbird fluid chalk ink. I cut the scrapbook papers to fit both the inside of the pockets and the folded edges, alternating the colours to create contrast and adhered them in place.

On the back I used the same paper on each end and some Bazil script paper.

The travel theme evolved when I was looking through my stamps and came across three that fit a French theme.  From there I remembered my set of PSX Pixie Expressions which have several travel sentiments.

On the book cover, the Inkadinkado Eiffel Tower is done on acetate and embossed with pewter embossing powder, with a piece of cardstock coloured and attached behind to make the word "Paris" more visible. I added a touch of colour to the Paper Inspirations Tender Embrace image just to add a little accent and match the acetate piece.

I added various travel themed items on the bottom portions of the folder. A hero arts stamp with International landmarks, the Pixie Expressions sentiments,  Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) sentiment and  little antique car and Autumn Leaves clear stamps set of Arrows.

For the tags I continued with the travel theme and did a collage on each tag.

For the first one I used an ocean cruise theme, using the Shipboard Crossing stamp by Rubber stampede, Now Boarding by Inkadinkado, Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) ticket and sentiment, and more of the Pixie Expressions. To complete it I outlined the tag with a black marker.

Tag 2:  I stamped the Inkadinkado Envelope stamp and the Hero Arts Skyland stamps, masked them and stamped the Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) script stamp over portions of the tag, then added the city names with another Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stamp.  I stamped and embossed the ticket and antique car (Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) ) and the Inkadinkado camera. cut them out and adhered them to the tag. To complete it I outlined the tag with a black marker.

Tag 3: I stamped the PSX World Traveler, added the birds  by Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) and a couple of the Pixie Expressions sentiments. To complete it I outlined the tag with a black marker.

For the last tag, I stamped a train stamp, masked it and stamped a Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) background over it. I stamped the Impression Obsession Eiffel Tower over the top of the background. Stamped and embossed the Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz) film strip, cut it out and attached to the bottom of the tag.

Altered Alphabet

Another swap on AFTCM is to alter an alphabet letter representing the first letter of our partners name.

My partner's given name starts with the letter L and she likes vintage, Victorian, lace and filigree .

I took several pieces of chipboard, cut them out in an L shape and glued them together. I covered the piece with some script scrapbook paper.  I had some large pieces of lace and glued it to the bottom of the L shape then sprayed the whole thing with some Dylusions Melted Chocolate spray and some glimmer mist.

I felt like it need something on the left hand side so I attached some wood scroll pieces to the edge after painting them with a deep red and brown acrylic paint. I also sprayed some roses and daisy flowers with the Dylusions spray, and attached them at the bottom left corner along with a leaf and a broken piece from a broach (which is the closest thing I had to filigree!).

I wanted some texture so I added some Stampendous Ancient Wine embossing enamel at the top, edges and on a few areas of the scrolls.

I coloured two little ceramic pieces with Smooch gold and attached them above the flowers along with a home made hat pin and an old safety pin. I layered two Memory Box bird house dies together and put it at the top with foam tape underneath to raise it a bit. I added an old earring at the top which looks like grapes; added a little bird cut from some scrapbook paper. I had a stamped butterfly on my desk so I glued it in with the flowers, then added a little bottle cap with the letter L imprinted on it.

On  the bottom I added the wood embellishment with the word Dream on which I had embossed the edges with the Stampendous enamel; added a little screw brad to it. I coloured two little dragonflies with permanent ink pens and Smooch Ink, removed the backs and glued them beside the wooden embellishment. The last step was to add tiny gems scattered throughout.

Playing around with 3-D Mbossabilities

I received a bunch of supplies that I had ordered and one of the items was the new 3-D Mbossabilities by Spellbinders. So instead of working on one of my swaps that I am trying to decide on a theme, I played with the embossing folder.

I came across my Radiant Pearls paints that I have not used in a long time and sadly these beautiful paints are no longer available. I painted the whole surface with these paints except for the banner which I covered with Bisque Fluid Chalk ink then highlighted with the Creamy Brown Fluid Chalk ink. 

I then went over the whole piece with the Creamy Brown and distressed the edges with Vintage photo Distress ink. The sparkle of the Radiant Pearls still shows underneath the fluid chalks. I stamped the sentiment with Memento Ink. 

I think I will be playing more with this embossing folder using different supplies.

 

Altered CD

For the month of March we are doing an Altered CD on AMCA with the theme of Vintage Women.

 I took some scrapbook paper and cut it to size and adhered it to the CD with some YES glue. I then stamped a script stamp with a second generation of Memory Brown ink.

I stamped the image of the Eiffel Tower in the same colour of ink and coloured the Paris portion with a Tombow marker. I wanted it to be more dimensional so I stamped and embossed it again on some acetate and attached it to the CD with Glossy Accents.

I dabbed some clear embossing ink around the edge of the CD and covered it with Stampendous Aged Wine Embossing Enamel and heat set it.

I attached the image from Moonlight Journey to a scrap piece of cardstock and cut it out and adhered it with some double-sided foam carpet tape.

I had some flowers (which are actually sticker like things for a lap top) and coloured them with some Inka Gold and glued them to the right of the image. To complete it I added the clock charm.

The piece you see jutting out at the bottom is an easel that I made from cardstock so the CD can be put on display if the recipient should desire.

Annette's having a giveaway

Annette is giving away some lovely Mica Pigment powders by Luminarte. Even if you don't want to enter to win, I would recommend you visit Annette's blog as there are so many beautiful pieces of art that she has created.

A-Z techniques Z For Zig-Zag

We are finally at the end of the alphabets for the A to Z techniques in ArtVentures.

The only Z techniques I could think of were Zentangles and Zetiology, but I don't really enjoy  doodling unless I happen to be on the phone and then I sometimes doodle.

I decided to do a zig-zag pattern using coloured text weight papers that I had on my table. I cut them into strips (trying to make sure they were all the same width), then braided them together. When each piece was long enough I glued them to an ATC blank.

I then cut out a frame from some coordinating coloured cardstock and stamped a line of Z's around the perimeter and embossed it with Queens Gold embossing powder.  I attached the frame to the base with Sookwang tape.

I then took some chipboard letters and embossed them with Stampendous Embossing Enamel. I used Aged Wine and Aged Rose. I was thinking of adding some other embellishments but decided against it.

I also decided to try another way of doing the Zig-Zag pattern and experimented with a photo corner stamp. I used pigment ink and stamped it in two different colours across the base, then embossed with clear embossing powder.

A-Z techniques Yellow Melted Crayons

We are now up to Y on the ArtVentures A to Z techniques.

This round I decided to do a wax crayon background and was going to do the usual technique where you rub the crayons on a hot iron then onto the cardstock. To be honest I am not crazy about that method as you have to be sure to clean the iron thoroughly in case you need to iron clothes and the dyes seem to be hard to remove.

While browsing for something else I came across a tutorial for the crayon background which is incredibly easy.

I cut a piece of wax paper large enough to fold over the ATC blank. I placed the cardstock piece on it using a crayon sharpener, shaved several shades of yellow crayons, including a pearlized one on to the ATC. I then sprinkled some Sunflower Yellow Perfect Pearls on top.

I folded the wax paper over the top and heated it till the wax paper and crayons melted. While heating it I moved the cardstock around so the wax spread.  I used a scrap of folded cardstock and pushed it over the top of the wax paper to  move the wax into areas where there were gaps. The Perfect Pearls add a nice dimension to the background.

I stamped a large Hero Arts Y stamp on embossable acetate and embossed it with black embossing powder, then cut it out leaving a small halo so the embossing doesn't rub off.  Rather than leaving it clear I stamped the embossed side with clear embossing powder, added Stamp and Stick embossing powder, (this is a sticky embossing powder which acts like a glue) then added Yellow Glitter Ritz. I adhered this to the background with some Judikins Diamond Glaze.

I then stamped a Stampendous Image on the acetate and coloured the embossed side with markers, cut it out and attached it beside the Y with the Diamond Glaze. The stamp is actually Queen Ann's Lace but I am calling it Yarrow for this technique as it looks close enough!!

To complete the ATC I added a little gem embellishment to the Alphabet.

This ATC is Y for Yellow Melted Crayon with Sunflower Yellow Perfect Pearls and Yarrow.