Hello

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set A5 Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set ATCoin Set 11
PaperArtsy Eclectica EEA05
Memento Ink Danube Blue, Tuxedo Black
13Arts Clear Stamp Script
Sharpie White Paint Pen
Extras:  vintage button, torn piece from small tag, handmade paper (substitute with watercolour paper)

Instructions

When closed, cover size approx 3"x3" - opened, approx 3"x15"


This book was already folded, working with a favourite paper but it takes no time or effort and no special tools to form your own, making it to any size you want.

Many, many months ago, the book was amongst a stash of items which I eco dyed but the colour didn't really take very well. I kept it knowing it could be dyed again or painted at a future date. Catching sight of it again, I realised it was a good project to play with the That's Crafty! Pearl Inks which I had in the colours Navy and Sepia.

Two Wildflowers stamps were selected, using them to stamp repeatedly at the bottom edge of the book, before flipping over, selecting the second Wildflower stamp to stamp across the bottom edge of the rear of the book.

Then, with the PaperArtsy EEA05 stamps, on one side I stamped out the word, imagination and again, flipping over, to stamp imagine on the rear side.

With a white paint pen, I scribbled around the stamped letters, highlighting some areas and also using the paint pen to add dots of white to the stamped Wildflowers. and to create a doodled border.

With the Pearl Inks, I first reached for the Navy. dipping a bamboo dip pen into the ink to create a edge around the book, before blending with a slightly damp cloth. To this, I added the Sepia.

For the cover, a torn piece of eco dyed tag layered beneath a scrap of Rice Paper, stamped with the 13arts Script Stamp before applying Liquid Acrylic Wax.

Two words stamped from the ATCoin Sets, Explore, The, stamped onto watercolour paper, cut into word tiles and edged with black ink before layering to the cover.
Explore the imagination...imagine

Until next time,
Wishes
Lynne.

Hello


A style of book known as a Slit Book was something I was aware of but it took the reading of Bound by Rachel Hazell for me to finally try my hand.

It was a lightbulb moment as I folded the paper. That first formed Slit Book became the first of a trio with a running theme, I might share one of those books in a future post because it does heavily feature the upcoming That's Crafty! Acrylic Wax.

For this book, I wanted it to be almost a minimal style, echoing the light and darkness inspired by the PaperArtsy EAB stamp.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Texture Collection Set 2
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2
That's Crafty! Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Surfaces Specialised Paper Pack (Rice Paper)
That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (corrugated cardboard)
13arts Ayeeda Mist Pearl Clear
PaperArtsy Eclectica Alison Bomber EAB02
PaperArtsy Eclectica EEA02
Archival Ink Designer Series Watering Can
A4 sheet of paper (I worked with Khadi Cotton Rag) and Khadi handmade paper scraps
Stabilo Watersoluble Pencil Black
Watercolour Brush
Gel Medium

Instructions

Following instructions to make the Slit Book, once formed I began applying Texture Paste.

It was  applied relatively thickly in some areas as I wanted to create a heavy textural appearance, with cracks forming in areas by bending the paper when the Texture Paste was almost dry. The paste was applied to every page including front and rear covers.

It is a relatively quick drying paste but as I applied it so thickly in areas, I allowed for longer drying time.

Meantime, I stamped Wildflowers onto the beautiful rice paper. To create a feathered edge around the stamped images, I lightly dipped a paintbrush into water, "drawing" an edge around the stamped edges, allowing the rice paper to pull gently away from the stamped image.

Onto scraps of the Rice Paper, I stamped a favourite stamp of mine from PaperArtsy EEA02, an EAB quote and the words "light" and "darkness" from another EAB quote.

With the stamped elements gathered and a few scraps of corrugated cardboard swiped with Gesso, it was time to enjoy assembling the book.

I roughly had an idea of placement of the Wildflowers and quote. Normally I don't really have a plan but it was to give me a guideline for where I would create shadow and depth with Stabilo watersoluble pencil, manipulating with water and watercolour brush/soft brush.

For the front cover, the ever useful circle/coffee ring stain was stamped onto the lower corner with Watering Can ink, with the stamped words added to the centre. Towards the spine, the stamped marks were layered with a scrap of the Gesso'ed corrugated cardboard.

Pages 1, 2

A stamped Wildflower was adhered, not taking the Gel Medium fully to the edges, creating the softness of a feathered edge here and there. I elongated the stem of the Wildflower and continued the line of the Stabilo pencil, blending again with water, so that it covered the Rice paper image,

with a grouping of scraps on the facing page of stamped rice paper, corrugated cardboard and a teeny scrap of handmade paper.

Pages 3, 4

By only partially inking up this Wildflower, it allowed the placement I wanted on the left side of the page, with the stamped quote on the opposite page.


Pages 5, 6

A lone, stamped Wildflower with only the EEA marks stamped on the facing page. I wanted this to have a solitary feel, to echo the lonely feeling of darkness but also to have, contradictory, a sense of lightness around the upper area of the Wildflower.

13arts Ayeeda Mist Pearl Clear was applied. Instead of spraying, I dipping a small brush into the bottle, applying the brush to selected areas. This allowed me more control to be selective in placement, such as the darkest areas of Stabilo pencil.

Instantly, this style of book gripped me. It certainly opens the eyes and mind to what constitutes a book. For anyone who wants to dip into making books but finds it a daunting prospect, all this requires is one sheet of paper and scissors/craft knife and in la few minutes, a book is formed, ready for you to lay your mark upon it.

Until next time,
Wishes
Lynne

Hello
Today, I am sharing a Chunkie, another inspirational surface from That's Crafty! Sturdy yet not clumsy in any way.

I incorporated several other That's Crafty! products including the recently released small sized MDF Rounds, a perfect size to layer a used teabag (with contents disposed off) onto which I layered a stamped and stitched butterfly.


Supplies

That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Rounds 2.5"
That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Chunkies 4.5"x9" (pack of 2)
That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit ( Rice Paper, Corrugated Cardboard)
That's Crafty! Multi Surfaces Paints: Antique Gold
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paints: Metallic Patina
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paints: Metallic Bronze
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 7
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Textures Collection Set 3
That's Crafty! Multi-Purpose Craft Adhesive
PaperArtsy Seth Apter Limited Edition Frescos Chalk Paints Set 4
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Fluid Acrylic Titanium White (I used Golden but you could use watered down white Gesso)
Small Tag
Old Book Pages
Twig
Nettle Yarn
Used Teabag
Sewing Thread - Black
Sewing Needle

Instructions

After assembling the Chunkie, I applied Gesso but you don't need to, it is more a habit with me!
To this, I then applied Fresco Venice Blue and Glazier. I repeatedly stamped "Make Friends With Silence" onto the Chunkie with a Wildflowers stamp towards lower, left corner.

To this, next add torn pieces of corrugated cardboard which has been prepared with swipes of paint and Gesso, adding two length to left and right side of Chunkie.

Before giving attention to the focal, a piece of rice paper was adhered to the Chunkie. I say a piece of rice paper, this was a few pieces of rice paper which were stacked together before eco dying and allowing to dry. With the layered pieces being torn before that process, once dry it provided a lovely textural piece of paper.

Now, the focal. A used teabag, snipped carefully to allow me to dispose of the contents, was adhered to a MDF Round - they were a perfect match. Onto a piece of teabag paper, stained with tea/coffee, the stunning butterfly was stamped. With black thread, I added some stitched details to the butterfly.

Gel Medium was only applied down the centre of the stamped butterfly (on the rear), allowing the edges of this panel to remain free.


Onto scraps of eco dyed rice paper, an Affirmation from Set 7 was partially inked up, providing me with the words "friends with silence". This was adhered to a small tag which had been stained with tea/coffee.

At this point I  should say "Re-wind" because the ends of the tag were adhered behind the MDF Round before adhering to the Chunkie.

Working with the Multi-Surface paints, I applied them to areas, with my fingertips, only small areas at a time, just catching the edges, here and there. Small fragments of stained book text were also adhered, again here and there.

The final touches, nettle yarn wrapped around a twig adhered to upper edge of Chunkie with touches of Titanium White Fluid Acrylic applied, with fingertips, to unify the project and also give a dreamy quality.

Thank you for taking the time to visit.

Wishes
Lynne

Hello
I often mention that I work on preparing multiple surfaces at any one time, this project features two MDF Rounds which had been prepared along with various papers which were in my stash, having been eco dyed.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Wildflowers Set 1 
That's Crafty! MDF Surfaces Rounds (working with 8" and 4")
That's Crafty! Surfaces Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (working with Rice Paper, Teabag Paper, Corrugated Cardboard)
That's Crafty! Bits and Pieces Greyboard  Sheet Large Butterflies
That's Crafty! Multi-Purpose Craft Adhesive
That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paint: Ivory 
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black 
Extras:
Found Papers including Old Book Pages and Rusted Safety Pin
Black Stabilo Watersoluble Pencil

Instructions

The MDF Rounds had been prepared at a time I was preparing other surfaces but to start at the beginning, adhere torn pieces of Rice Paper, Teabag Paper, old book pages and found papers, all eco dyed but you can easily substitute the dying with tea/coffee staining, walnut ink dissolved at various strengths or what about playing with the That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays to achieve nature tones.
You can either smooth all the papers as you apply or to enhance texture, crumple papers as you adhere them.  The papers on the larger MDF Round have the effect of more texture compared to the smaller MDF Round.

Stamp Wildflower onto smaller MDF Round.  Before adhering to the larger MDF Round, first gather eco dyed rice paper and corrugated cardboard, swiping a little bit of Ivory paint onto the corrugated cardboard scrap, adhering towards upper left of the larger Round.  To the lower right side of the Round, adhere piece of found paper, again eco dyed, pleating slightly before adhering.

Adhere torn book text to the large greyboard butterfly, layering more of the eco dyed rice paper fragments onto the butterfly, at the same time adding a piece to the smaller Round.

Stamp sentiment from Wildflowers Set 1 repeatedly onto the large round and also onto fragment of rice paper (again, eco dyed), tucking end beneath layers of paper on butterfly, finally adding rusted safety pin to centre of butterfly - I know, it is predictable to place an element here but it does bring balance to the butterfly.

(adhesive was still drying on the safety pin as I took the photos!)



With black Stabilo watersoluble pencil (or suitable alternative), activating with water, edge the butterfly and both of the MDF Rounds also adding depth to both Rounds with the pencil and water. Now, adhere the butterfly to the panel.

Until next week,
Wishes
Lynne