Musings Of A Crafty Life

Afternoon all,

A few months ago my friend Dan celebrated his birthday and I made a little note book for him. Seeing as I have been a baaaad blogger, I haven't had chance to pop the piccies of it on here yet.




I returned to my comfort zone to make this book - mainly using background papers and inky stamping techniques. I wanted the book to be useful but also have a more personal feel to it. With this in mind, I began the project with a trip to Staples, where I bought some little File Tab folders. I had it in my mind to make a little section for each title and the file tabs were ideal separaters.




Using mountboard for the book covers, I cut out papers from the Rustic Gem range by Diane's Daughters and decorated them with various stamps.




For each file tab, I again cut out Rustic Gem papers and covered both sides of each file tab and decorated them as before.




I added a little mini envelope and popped a few of the Adage Tickets from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology range, which are available from The Artistic Stamper. Throughout the book, I also used various metal embellishments from the Idea-ology range, mmmmm, I love this hardware lots and lots! :O)) I used Distress Inks to colour the tickets and then spritzed with water to achieve a blotchy background look.




I have some offcuts of wood, which I inked using alcohol inks and then embossed in gold over the top, I punched this thru the Bind It All and added it to the book just to add a little something different.




Each file tab has a title on it. The titles are made using a Jnr Dymo and then sanding the tape, popping it onto some cardstock and then using a bit of gold Krylon on my finger and rubbing this over the top of the sanded area. They are then fancied up at the end and placed on 3d foam onto the page.



In between each section, I have cut up white paper and then distressed it lightly with Walnut Stain ink - just to make it look a little older.

I added a little Hitch Fastener to each tab - I punched a hole thru each tab and popped the fastener through it and then tightened the little cap onto the front. These are fab little fasteners and I think that they just add a little extra to each section piece.



The hardware on the side of the binding wires is also from the Idea-ology range, oh, I looove those keys :O))



The stamps I used are by Lost Coast Designs, Tim Holtz Collection, Catslife Press, Hampton Art & Queens Dresser Drawers.



Anyways, I think Dan liked his book - and the title? Well, his blog, which is here, is called My Crafty Life, so I kind of pinched the idea from there!! Oh, and the other thing....when you go and visit Dan you will see just how clever and talented he is, so making something for him was a bit nerve wracking cos I so wanted to make it perfect LOL :O))

Thanks for looking

Hels x