An Altered Bind It All Book

Hello again!

I decided to make an altered style book today...thinking it was going to be a little project as I have some teensy wires and wanted to have a go with them. As with all things, this project just kept on going and I ended up with another big one!!







For the first page, I used Antique Linen distress pad, then added a bit of Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans to the edges. I used a water mister and spritzed with water to get the dappled effect. I then took a mini card and envelope and used the same inking technique and then stamped on the card and the envelope. I stuck the flap of the envelope down with sticky velcro, so it can be opened at any time. I used the same colour scheme for page two, and then added a piece of mountboard which I had coloured and stamped, just to add a bit of definition. The stamps I used for these pages are by Catslife Press and Tim Holtz collection.





The next entry in the book is actually a Glassine bag. I used archival ink and stamped the flying cat and then the little Catslife Stamps on to it. I used clear embossing powder just to set the stamped images and then used a little cut out of mountboard and stamped the cat image. This little extra was then popped into the bag, as a little token. The back of the bag was then stamped using a Catslife stamp and a Penny Black seedhead stamp.




Page three was made using plain white card and then colouring with Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress pads. I also used a Lettuce Dabber to drag the colour across the pages. I used a Tim Holtz stamp for the main word and then added an extra piece of card with the definition which is by Catslife Press. The little crown was stamped with the Lettuce dabber and set with clear embossing powder and then mounted on 3D to give a definition. A giant gold brad is the finishing touch on this page. For page four, I repeated the process with the same colours and then used a piece of mountboard to stamp the main phrase. This is another Tim Holtz collection stamp. For the background, I used a harlequin stamp by Catslife Press.






The next entry is a little envelope...I got a pack of them from WHSmith....they are little money envelopes I think! Using Fired Brick distress ink, I covered both sides of the envelope and then spritzed with water to get a distressed look. I also used a Gold dabber to smudge a bit of contrasting colour over the envelope. I used Tim Holtz collection stamps for the front of the envelope. For the back, I repeated the colouring stage and then used Tim Holtz stamps and added a small photo turn and a brad to make a clasp for the envelope. I added a little piece of card with a phrase on both sides as a little secret thing inside the envelope.



For pages five and six, I used Tea Dye and Walnut Stain inks and smudged them over the pages. I then stamped a Crafty Individuals thistle stamp and added a little piece of mountboard on top of the seedhead to give it a bit of definition. I stamped a PaperArtsy definition stamp and then added four little flowers by German Scrap to the corners of the definition. Going round the outside of the page with a zig-zag stitch stamp just finished the page off. For the next page, I used a Tim Holtz stamp of the little girl and then made a little ruler embellishment to attach to the image. I used Tim's Staples down the page and then added a Crafty Individuals "treasure" stamp. Again, I stamped the zig-zag around the edges of the page.














For pages seven and eight I used Milled Lavendar and Dusty Concord inks. I also used an Eggplant Dabber to streak a few extra lines across the pages. I left the top of the two pages unstuck so I could add a little taglet. I used Tim Holtz and Catslife Press stamps for both pages and for the taglet, I used Catslife Press and a little star peg stamp by RubberStamp Tapestry.









For the final two pages, I took a Juniper Dabber and painted it directly on to the card. I used a wet baby wipe and smudged the paint over so it left a smooth surface. I then used a black Dabber and streaked a few lines on the surface of the primed card. Then repeated the process with a Gold Dabber. I used a Catslife Harlequin stamp for the random images on page 9. Then stamped a Crafty Individuals thistle and a Penny Black butterfly stamp and then embossed with clear powder as the ink didn't want to dry on the painted surface! For the very last page, I used a Crafty Individual stamp and also used a Rick-Rack stamp to give the page a nice finish. For the final touch, I glued a bottle cap onto the little girl image. I had previously stamped the image, cut it out, placed into a bottle cap and filled with Glossy Accents to set it. I really love using bottle caps as it is something different to add to the page.




To add a final look to the book, I added a few ribbons and fibres to the pages and then tied a few to the binding wire too.

So, what started out as a tiny project, ended up as this!!

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Domino Book

Hi Peeps

I have got all inky and messy today and altered a couple of dominos and added a concertina of card inbetween them so I could make a little book.

Firstly, I cut the card to fit the dominos and used Adirondack InkPads in Butterscotch, Stonewashed and Wild Plum. I dragged the pads roughly over both sides of the card and then wet them with a water spray. I dabbed the wet inks with tissue and then used my heatgun to dry the ink off. I then used various little stamps to add images to the inked card. I used a mixture of PaperArtsy and Catslife Press stamps as they are tiny enough to give a really good image on the project.





I then altered the dominos using Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks in Butterscotch, Stonewashed and Wild Plum, to co-ordinate with the card inside. I used Blending Solution so I could have a lighter colour and used a heatgun to dry the inks quickly so I got a more stippled effect.

I then stamped the dominos, using an Archival pad and stamps by Catslife Press. To set the stamped images, I then covered them with embossing powder and heated until it had melted.

Before I stuck the card to the dominos, I took a length of white ribbon and using the Adirondack inks, I coloured the ribbon to match and then wet with water to give softer look. Once I had dried the ribbon, I attached it to the card with doublesided tape and then stuck the card to the dominos.

The ribbon was then tied at the side of the closure in a bow.

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Flying Cats

Hi there,

Andrea kindly gave me a heavenly little stamp of a cat that has wings...and I just had to have a little play with it today. I used two A6 cards and stuck them in the middle to make a tri-fold card. I used a Black distress pad and Cut & Dry foam and smudged black ink all over the "pages" and then did the same again but using Spiced Marmalade Distress ink. I lightly scuffed an orange Dabber over the pages and then spritzed with water to achieve a blotchy effect.





I then used a small piece of black and white harlequin paper from the DCWV Glitter Stack...cutting along the diamonds so I could have a zig-zag look to the front of the card. I added two orange brads to the paper before I stuck it to the card as I wanted to break up the black and white colour. I randomly stamped a harlequin design onto the card using an archival black inkpad, and then stamped the cat design with the words under it and matted onto black card. I stamped the cat again on scrap card and then cut him out and used 3D pads and attached him over the first image to give the image more definition.




For the next page, I repeated what I had done on the first page but used a different sentiment stamp. For the third page, I cut a file folder from white card, decorated it with the same inks as before and then stamped the cat onto it. I also added the {Look Inside} and the magnifying glass stamps. Inside is decorated again with the cat and another word sentiment stamp.







For page 4, I again randomly stamped the harlequin and then stamped the cat directly onto the page. I then used a sentiment stamp, matted this onto black card and then added a little crown attaching this with 3D foam.





For pages 5 & 6 I again randomly stamped the harlequin to continue the theme. Using a sentiment stamps and matting onto black card as before, I then stamped the cat onto the pages and also onto scrap card, cutting him out and using 3D foam to attach him so he looks like he is jumping up across the pages.





This type of card is a great difference to the normal style I make but I really enjoyed making it and I am really pleased with the overall look of it.

I used a variety of stamps from Catslife Press for the random designs and for the sentiments.

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Rustic Bind It All Book

Hi There

I decided to make another little Bind It All book today. I used Rustic Gem papers by Diane's Daughters - as popularised by the crafty talents of Andrea!:o}

I used a variety of different patterns and also used rubberstamps to add sentiments and images.














You will see stamped words and images by Catslife Press, Tim Holtz Collection, Stampington Imperial Cargo, Penny Black and Crafty Individuals. I stamped most of the images and words in Walnut Stain Distress Ink, also rubbing the edges of the papers with this ink to blend all the papers in. I used a black Archival Ink for the papers that were darker patterns.























I also added dragonfly brads to the pages and used small charms, attached with jumprings as a little extra to the overall look. For the little extra words, I used Tim Holtz DooDads and covered them with Glossy Accents.





















I really enjoyed making this little book - it was made easier as the papers are so lovley to stamp on....and they match together so well.

Thanks for looking!

Hels x

Weekly Challenge ATC - Week 74

Hi there,

For well over a year now, there has been a Weekly Challenge set to make an ATC to a specific theme. I don't always get the time to join the challenge but I have managed to make one this week. The challenge title was "Punches". The only embellishments on the ATC had to be either made by paper punches or die cuts.

I turned to my trusty QuicKutz and used a tag die and then a Paisley die to make my embellishments.

Using Cool Peri Dabber I covered the ATC and then streaked Purple Dabber over the edges. I then used UTEE to make a nice shiney look to the ATC. Using the purple dabber I coloured the Paisley die-cuts and then stuck them to the ATC using 3d foam. I then covered each one in Glossy Accents and then added little gemstones for a touch of glamour.

The tag was coloured in with the Cool Peri and then streaked around the edges with the purple. I used a stamp to pop the Dream word onto it, wrote around the word with Glossy Accents and then added a few gems to the bottom of the tag.

The final flourish is the two shaped gems in the corners.

Thanks for looking

Hels x

Christmas Cards!!!!

Hi There

Blimey, it is that time of year again!! I have finally got around to starting the Christmas cardmaking list and I have made three for starters...still a hundred odd or so to go!! I have popped these three in here as I thought that I will not be able to put all of them in once they are made...they will take up tooooo much time!

The tree stamp is a borrowed image from a friend...it is a really lovely EZ Mount stamp and looks great in any colour.

The Polar Bear is my old favourite. He is one of the first stamps I ever bought. By Anita's Stamps, he is actually sitting with lots of snowflakes falling but I like him by himself too! I have added the snowflake and star to his nose as this just makes him look even cuter!










I used HoneyDew Encore Metallic Inkpad for the tree and then for the Polar bear, I used my waterbrush and added a bit of the ink onto the image so he blended in better.
Mounted on golden fancy card and then a bit of gold glitter glue added around the edge of the mats just to add a touch of Christmas sparkle.

Thanks for looking

Hels x