You have permission to A Handmade Book by Lynne Moncrieff

Hello

This week I return to the book format, a Slit Book.

The springboard for returning to the Slit Book format, actually two springboards, That's Crafty! Pearl Inks and an Affirmations Set

I recently shared a post where I made a Japanese Stab Binding book which featured mark making with the Navy Pearl Ink. Since then I received a few other Pearl Ink colours and wanted to play around some more with mark making.

The Slit Book is perfect for displaying, whether it be words or images, or both, that feature within the book.  I saw this as an opportunity to display Affirmations from Set 10

You can see how a handful of supplies can make a book.

This is a photo heavy blog post, you have been warned!  I will also share a flick through of the book on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Supplies
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 10
That's Crafty! Liquid Acrylic Wax
That's Crafty! Pearl Inks: Antique Gold, Bronze, Tree Bark
That's Crafty! Multi-Purpose Craft Adhesive
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Brush (for application of Liquid Acrylic Wax)
Extras: cotton rag/watercolour paper, small shipping tag, scraps of papers, buttons.

Instructions

The instructions for forming the Slit Book I have taken from the book Bound by Rachel Hazell. I used A4 cotton rag/watercolour paper.

This book started with rice paper which had been under-paper for when I had been drying eco dyed papers and textiles. The colour of the paper was pale but I knew any marks on the papers would intensify once the Liquid Acrylic Wax was applied.

The paper was torn to fit the size required for each panel of the book.

The Liquid Acrylic Wax was applied to the cotton rag paper before laying down the stained rice paper panel,

applying a coat of the Liquid Acrylic Wax over the rice paper as well, taking care to smooth out any air bubbles.

Ideally, allow each page spread to dry before moving on.... I did say, ideally, that is not to say I did so!!!

Attention is turned away from the book to focus on stamping.

Onto handmade paper I stamped the Affirmations from Set 10 with Tuxedo Black ink.

Then the fun of mark making with the Pearl Inks.

We all have our particular ways and habits for creating. For me, it is definitely, that I always make more than I need for one project. I like having a selection of prepared elements whether they be stained with sprays, tea/coffee/eco dyed or in this instance mark making. It brings a sense of freedom when working on a project, to pull out different prepared elements.

So here, I laid out the Pearl Inks: Antique Gold Bronze and Tree Bark, making marks with them onto various pieces of papers, such as handmade papers and some which had Liquid Acrylic Wax applied to them.

At this stage the basic book had been completed, the Affirmations stamped and marks made. The extras required were a stained shipping tag, buttons and linen scraps.

The Book

The notion of this little book, which can be displayed, is the idea of giving someone permission to be themselves, to believe in themselves and not be held back.

With the neutral colour palette, a combination of marks is not overly demanding on the left side page especially with a sense of lightness on the facing page.

Teeny piece torn from one of the marked papers brings a small mark making detail to the page and balance to the composition.

I wanted a feeling of space around the collaged Affirmations.

The focus for each page is the Affirmation but other than the marks, there was a need for something else, the teeny buttons were the answer and they also bring a lovely light which suits the positive nature of this wee book.

Eco dyed rice paper, folded over at the top with marks made with Pearl Ink Bronze and Tree Bark.

To balance the bolder marks on the left page, I kept the right side lighter in feel.

On the lower corner of this page, I tore a piece from a larger piece of paper which I had made marks onto it, layering to a scrappy piece of linen, fraying the edges for interest.

The book sitting open.

Each time I make a Slit Book, I am filled with awe, that a sheet of A4 paper, so simply made into a book structure, can provide space for so much content.

Thank you for visiting, especially as it is quite a lengthy blog post!
Wishes
Lynne