Monday 10 January 2011

I Challenge Thee...

...were the words I uttered yesterday to Ellen during our weekly Skype session... the thing is, Ellen said that her Mojo just wasn't there, see, another Mojo on holidays... so, I said to her, what you need is a little book that you can just jot down ideas in. Then I got all exciteable and said... "I challenge thee to make such a book and you are only allowed to use certain things..." Then I got even more exciteable and we decided that not only would Ellen be challenged, so would I. *I know that it could be argued that I already am challenged ROFL*




So, it started off with me saying that the book should have a title and then we chose two Distress Ink colours each plus one "wild card" DI of our own choosing... so Ellen chose Wild Honey and Crushed Olive and I chose Vintage Photo and Bundled Sage... but to make it more exciting *go with me on this one ROFL* we had to write down our choices before telling each other what they were - that way there would be no influence to make all four "match"... if you know what I mean. Then I said the Picket Fence Alterations Die had to be used... and ribbons and dangly bits had to be tied from the binding. Ellen chose the Hardware Findings Alterations Die and made sure that we could use Black, Coffe and Olive Archival inks... phew, I hadn't thought of that one and I just know I would have ended up pulling my feathers out *I call my hair feathers... cos it looks like feathers when it is just washed LOL* Oh yes, the size... we decided on 5" x 7".



Well, I have had THE best time making my little book. It is a little known thing but... I have a heap of paper hanging about the Room of *ahem* Trash... (still not tidied!) and on these sheets of paper are sketches and notes that I do when I have an idea for something... invariably these bits of paper get lost or doodled on and I can never find them when I need them... no worries about that now - I have a jazzy new book to do my jottings in.




For my background, I made a splooshy inky mix on my craft sheet ... using all the Distress Ink pads... oh and I forgot to say, my "wild card" was Aged Mahogany... I had done a little resist on for the front and back "covers"... so, I dipped and dried and dipped again until I had the looks I wanted. Then I got stampy with images from Tim (oh he who is the Sultan of Stamping) I had all of the stamping done and I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to add a couple of corners to the pages... well, the first one went good... then I stamped the corner on what was the front of the book... whoopsie-daisys! The image ended up wonky and miles away from the corner... so I made a little cover up piece and popped "embrace imperfection" on it... mwhahahhaaaa, I actually like this... it blends in well and I am chuffed that it was a "happy accident".




Once I had stuck the card to the mountboard, I whizzed around the edges with Black Archival... this did what I would usually use Walnut Stain for and "closed in" the design. The Picket Fence is on there... hidden a bit... I painted it with Picket Fence Cracklepaint and then smudged Vintage Photo over the top... then I stamped a Studio 490 flower border onto it using Olive... and matched this design in on the main page by stamping the same stamp using Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo which I spritzed with water before stamping... I added some ickle Grungepaper flowers and leaves,which are also Studio 490 designs, to the fence and then popped a few Idea-ology Snaps into the centre of the flowers.




My title, "13-6 art}", was made using Grungeboard from the Alphabet Soup set, coloured with Bundled Sage and then overstamped with a text image... then I popped Rock Candy Stickles onto them, then popped Rock Candy Cracklepaint over the top. The closure is the hinge from the Hardware Findings which I cut from Grungeboard and painted Gold and then sanded and rubbed Vintage Photo onto it... and it is closed using a Hitch Fastener. So, that is it! A challenge indeedily but I tell you what, no matter which Distress Inks you put together, they all seem to "go" with each other. Oh and the 13-6 bit of the title... that is my birthday!!! Anyways, it is late (or rather, it is very early LOL) and time for me to have a snoozle... Ellen is scheduling her blog too so both posts will publish at the same time... I cannot wait to see what she made... tis exciting indeedily!!! Thanks for looking... please pop over and see Ellen's book too :O)) Have a grand day! TTFN

Hels x

24 comments:

Sandy said...

O M G !!!!
This is stunning hun. Wonderful book. Amazing work.

Have a lovely day my sweet friend.

janita mantel said...

What a beautiful book

flutterbycrafter said...

This is absolutely stunning, beautiful work xx

sandra de said...

Fabulous ideas for a challenge and it all came together beautifully.

Helen said...

What a whopper of a post, but so worth it. I love this book and whilst I don't have anything to bind one together I can see you could adapt a (whisper it) bought one.... cool idea - you two are dynamite together.

Artyjen said...

Even though you both started out with the same recipe I love the way they are so different ;) That's the fab thing about stamping don't you think?
xoxo Sioux

Juls said...

ooooooooooooooh....such fun!!!! Love how you helped your friend Kick start her Mojo...loving the concept too...I like you have ideas jotted on loads of notepads all over the place, to have them all in one flace would be just fab!!!! Thanks for sharing, and for the inspiration too!!! Think I may have to make one too!!! Hugs Juls

ellen vargo designs said...

WOW Hon your book is completely, utterly STUNNING! So rich with layers and textures! And you figured out how to use that hinge... DUH...maybe I'll add one to my book, too. Just couldn't work it out yesterday. Thanks again for the kick-start! It worked! LOVE LOVE LOVE your book! Hugs, Els xxx

Lucy Edmondson said...

It's amazing! You have achieved such a wonderful layered effect. Love it! (but where is my Mojo?)

Lucy x

Sarah Anderson said...

Sorry Hun, you are definitely challenged already ;) But we love you that way :) Fab extra challenge to yourself though, and think how fab your books will be when full! I use mine to try out new colours, stamps etc and stick images I like in there too. Not used mine for a while, been on bits of paper, need to get back into it!

scrappin-scrappin said...

This is gorgeous Hels!! Love the little accident in the corner!! Amazing work as usual!!

Lori said...

Gorgeous work! Love this, and awesome to see how two people can make totally different things using the same ingredients! Love BOTH of your journals!

Marijane said...

What an amazing challenge with two amazing results! This is such a great idea that I may have to challenge myself to come up with my own version. I can always use something to keep me better organized.

SusanK said...

This is so cool!!!!! I'm off to see Ellen's work now!

Unknown said...

Grat idea to set the challenge between the two of you looks like both your mojo's returned top play love both the books

Love Dawn xx

whyducks said...

Gorgeous!

Andrea said...

Hels that should be 10/2 on the front LOL this is just beautiful, stunning ARTWORK as ever from you xx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Stunning hun ;-) and I love that the challenge worked for both of you to get your mojos workin'
Anne xx

Tracey said...

OOOOOH, gorgeous Hels, me thinks I need such a challenge too.

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

This book is absolutely stunning! Left me speachless...;)))) xx

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

Your book is fabulous!

Laura said...

These are glorious. Wish my mojo had the same vacation as yours!

craftimamma said...

This could be a good idea for my Hels! I jot notes for just about anything down onto scraps of paper on my workdesk as I think of them and have a feeling they somehow end up in the bin when I'm clearing up 'cos I can never find them again.

The book has turned out beautifully and I'm off to check out Helen's very shortly.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Anonymous said...

Stunning! Your pages are amazing!

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