Wednesday 15 January 2014

Sketch Book Cover {with Squiggly Ink Stamps by Elaine Wainwright}

Hi everyone. I'm Elaine, and I am thrilled to have been asked to do a guest design piece for the PaperArtsy blog. I have many styles and love to create cards and alter things. A crafter for about 9 years, I find the diversity to be relaxing and inspiring after a long week at my day job. 

Today I am altering the cover on a sketch book. 

I started with this soft backed sketch book, which as you can see has a brown/kraft coloured cover. This makes for a warm but still fairly neutral base on which to paint. 


I began by covering the front cover with Limelight Fresco Paint, as this is a translucent it adds a subtle layer of colour while allowing the brown cover to still show through. I then stencilled two of the corners using Hey Pesto. To avoid a harsh line of paint, I applied it heavier in the corner and then lighter as the stencil comes towards the centre of the cover, allowing it to fade away at the inner edge.


Next I inked up my stamps. Curls and Swirls 5 using the 'tree' image as the centre focal point. I then stamped the corner image onto the two remaining book corners. 

Finally I added some Tim Holtz 'chit chat' words with painted edges to make them blend in. 

This was a quick make that took me around 25 minutes to complete. I hope you like it and perhaps you might have a go at something similar this weekend. 

Elaine. 

A huge thank you to Elaine from PaperArtsy HQ. Those two greens work perfectly with the brown sketch book cover, complimenting the base colour while still adding a bit of 'zing' and bringing the cover to life. What a great, effective way to personalise a book cover.

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE.You will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00 (London time) Sunday January 19th 2014

21 comments:

Helen said...

Now this I could do even with my cold!! Love the colours, Elaine, and the overall look to your sketchbook is just fab.

Julie Lee said...

What a lovely, soft and gentle idea.A lovely, restful project. Julie Ann xx

Hazel Agnew said...

Love Limelight. Could play with this idea. Digging out chit chat words as I type. Thanks. X

massofhair said...

Lovely simple project, looks beautiful. Thank you for the inspiration:-) xxx

Anonymous said...

That looks great, the tree makes a perfect focal image & colours are lovely.

Unknown said...

Nice way to subtly make kraft card a bit more cheery

Claire said...

Lovely project, love the green combo! Claire x

♥Gemma♥ said...

Wow Elaine...i love it and love the colours too!!
hugs and xxx
Gemma

Little crafter said...

This is fantastic Elaine such a fun project well done

Unknown said...

Great project! xx

nananessa said...

Love it Elaine . Come on PaperArtsy more from Elaine please xx

Craftyfield said...

The Limelight looks lovely on the Kraft, good idea. I like the layers without bulk too, much more practical when stacking the books.

May said...

Love your sketchbook cover Elaine... Fabulous.... Hugs May x x x

craftimamma said...

Lovely fairly quick alteration of the cover Elaine. Love the fading stencilling. That's one of the few Squiggly Ink stamps sets I own, Lol!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Elaine aka Ellapu said...

well done you - fab make hunnie as always xxx

Peanut said...

Fabulous project, Elaine. Looks complicated, very arty but simple enough for lil' ol' me to have a go at it too. Thanks for the tut.
hugs, xxx Asha - Sunny Summer Crafts

Peanut said...

Fabulous project, Elaine. Looks complicated, very arty but simple enough for lil' ol' me to have a go at it too. Thanks for the tut.
hugs, xxx Asha - Sunny Summer Crafts

Stamping With Bibiana said...

congrats , this project looks fantastic, thanks for sharing it with all of us hugs from california'
bibiana

Unknown said...

Great idea Elaine! Love the corners :)
Eithne

Alison said...

A wonderful transformation Elaine!
Alison xxx

Kezzy said...

Wow absolutely gorgeous cover, I really love the colours you used as well :-) Kezzy xxx