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Sunday 30 June 2013

Dreaming

Hi, a very quick post this evening.  I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  The Stampsmith's current June challenge is closing in a matter of hours so, after moving my craft room to yet another room, I've spent ages today trying to find my SS stamps!  With most of them found, I managed to finish my entry.

Their current challenge is Boxes, Books or Bags, and their Guest Designer this month is Paula Tidman from Ephemera's Attic (who makes the most amazing bags, by the way).

I altered a notebook/journal from Ikea, which cost about £4 but, as it was nice and thick with unlined cream pages, I thought it would look nice with a facelift:


I used Melissa Franced dps for the covers and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.  Beautiful Lily was stamped onto Ranger Stamping Paper with Coffee archival ink - I made the mistake of reinking this inkpad a couple of weeks ago, and discovered that it was way too wet to stamp my photo image so, after inking the stamp up, I ran a clean brayer over the top to remove some of the ink, and it turned out really well.  Once dried, I used Old Paper DI over the whole image, and Vintage Photo round the edges.  I roughed up the edged and tore across the bottom, then a few creases here and there to age it a little, then mounted it onto a scrap of Kraft which got the same treatment, then onto a scrap of cream muslin, and attached to the top half of the cover.

A heart shaped doily covered in Old Paper DI was glued to the bottom half of the front cover, some lace was attached to the spine with a bow in the centre and some washi tape on the back side of the spine.  More lace on the top and bottom, some cork letters (edged with Walnut Stain DI) attached down the right side, and a trail of flower trim from the top around to the bottom.  The TH sentiment was put in a frame and Magi-glos was added over the top and cured under a UV lamp (a last minute addition so not enough time for Ice Resin, which I would much prefer).  Some burgundy flowers were added for a splash of colour and a couple of TH words here and there.

I'd like to enter this into a couple of other challenges:

It's All About The Vintage - Distress and Tear
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

I hope you all have a great week and the weather picks up a bit.  It's really windy here in Manchester this evening, and it's now pouring down with rain as well - I hate the wind, I'd rather have snow, lol!

This wasn't so short after all!  Thank you for dropping by, I really do appreciate your visit.

Take care

Maria xxxxx





7 comments:

Words and Pictures said...

A beautiful altered book - this will be so inspiring every time you pick it up to look inside! So glad you found your stamps in time...
Alison x

Debi said...

Beautifully altered maria- looks just vintagely divine :-) Debi xxx

Jean said...

You have made your plain book into something beautiful. I love all the vintage and lacy embellishments.
Jean x

chriscesar said...

So lovely really dreamy creation.
Enjoy your summertime!

Anonymous said...

Maria
Sorry it has taken me so long to visit.
This is divine! So many of my favourites - I've had a passion for notebooks since a child (and yes I am being serious!). The transformation is a dream.
Hope life is being kind and that your bruises have all but disappeared by now.
Wishes
Lynne
P.S. Not managed to use the Ice Resin as yet but hope to do so very soon - the bezels you gifted to me are calling my name lol
I've not forgotten about the envelope I will be sending to you - sorry you've had to wait.

Elena V. said...

Wow! It's so cute! Fantastic!

Paper Profusion said...

This is exquisite Maria! I love all elements. You really have achieved a wonderfully dreamy artpiece. The photoreal stamp and the frame are beautiful, as for that lace along the spine and swirled flowers!! Just gorgeous! Will email you soon. Super hot over here - way to hot to craft! Big hug, Nicola x