Travelling Book {with Lynne Perrella and Hot Picks Stamps by Jo Myhill }

Hello again, Jo here with another idea using PaperArtsy yummy paints, stamps and paper.

Well I was really inspired by Kirsten's Stage Door Johnny book she created a couple of weeks ago, plus I'd seen a great book idea I'd seen  Nov / Dec 2013 Somerset Studio magazine by Kim Henkel (check out her blog there are some great handmade books and mixed media art.) Plus I needed to use some of the great new Lynne Perrella stamps I got at Ally Pally. 

A handmade book that looked like a leather travelling book containing artifacts and images of home that a weary samurai could look at lovingly on his quest across the great plains.

I selected two sheets of Chatsworth paper, I went with the greens as I knew I was going to add "reds" to it and it would act as a nice contrast and start to give that faded weathered leather look.

Using Chutney and Claret Fresco Paint I added layers with a brayer on both sides of the paper. I periodically spritzed the paper or the spare paint on the sheet to soften the paint. Being such high quality paper it can take the water and not warp.

Using the large square stamp from LPC030 I stamped all over both sides of the paper in Sepia Archival Ink.

LPC 030

 I then added in Black Versafine ink the Chinese script stamp from HPXT01.  Once this had dried I then lightly sanded the script with a sanding block.  This takes off the top shiny layer of the ink and sort of helps fade the text into the background of the paper. In the picture below the left hand stamp has been sanded.

HPXT 01

Now cut the paper sheets  at the 6" mark horizontally to give you four 6x12" pages. Pick one to act as your cover.

On the three other pages mark at 3", 6" and 9" with a pencil and score down to give you four pages measuring 6x3"

Trim a sliver of paper from the outer edges so that when they meet in the middle they should lie flat. Distress the edges all round and add Vintage Photo Distress Stain around the edges (both sides) and the folds. Using a bone folder get nice sharp creases, be careful though not to press too heavy and break the fibres on the folds (if they do break and tear repair with some washi tape over the spine and paint to tone in, it adds to the much loved handled book that has been repaired).

Now for the cover. Mark and fold in the same way, but this time cut a bigger sliver off the ends. Strengthen the spine with washi tape and paint with Claret and Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  Glue the outer "pages" down onto the inner pages to make your book cover.

 

On the front of the cover add a thin layer of Grunge Paste that has been coloured with Brown Shed and stipple with the palette knife to give texture. If the paste is too wet to get good texture, start drying with a heat gun and then go back in with the palette knife once its dried a bit.  Let it dry and add French Roast to start making the cover look like leather. 

Now put some glue over the Grunge Paste and add gilding flakes I used variegated red).  It goes everywhere so be warned!. Pat it down to make sure its all stuck an then go over lightly with a watered down layer of French Roast, just to take the edge of brightness away and make it a bit duller and aged. 

The final layer is to use embossing powder.  Using a Versamark pad lightly tap over the gilded section and add clear  ultra embossing powder, I did 2 or 3 layers.  Before you add the final layer of Frantage Ochre embossing powder get the stamp you want to press into the molten powder ready.  I used the scroll stamp from HP1107, put on a block and ink with Versamark.  Add a layer of the Ochre (or gold) embossing powder and melt, then quickly press the stamp into the molten powder to leave an impression. Leave it in place to set (30 seconds or so). On the front cover I went across and on the back I went down with the stamp. 

HP1107

Once the impression has set I went over with Treasure Gold in Onyxite, Ruby and Green Amber (I also added Treasure Gold to the pages as well along the spines and the edges).    Leave it to dry and then buff with a soft cloth to really make it shine.  I then took some Little Black Dress and gently dry brushed over the raised edges to accentuate the embossed look. 

Now to put it all together.  

Line up all your pages along the spine and add the cover underneath.  I used bulldog clips to hold it all together.  Mark 5 dots equally down the spine on the inside.  I marked the middle at the 6" mark and worked outwards. We are going to use something called the 5 hole pamphlet stitch to bind the book.  Rather than me trying to explain how to stitch take a look at this site, designsponge.com  its the one I used and it worked a treat for a first timer like me. I used hemp cord that I ran through a block of beeswax (old hand at patchwork and quilting me) and stained the sewn binding with Vintage Photo distress stain.  Finally I added some thin leather strips to hold it closed.

 

 Lets have a look at some close ups.

I'm really pleased with how this came out the Chatsworth papers are so strong and didn't fail under the intense additions of paint, water, mixed media and handling.  I intend to use Lynne Perrella stamps to fill the pages, probably on tags etc and practise my colouring in!

Well if any of this has sparked a desire for you to have a go, whether that be making a book or  making a leather look piece of art for say a scrapbook or tag then give it a go, I'd love to see. 

Jo

Huge thanks to Jo from PaperArtsy HQ. you were right Jo, I do love it. simply stunning, it is amazing how you have perfectly captured the look of an ancient well travelled book. Those centre panels of grunge paste, gilding flakes, frantage UTEE and stamping have built up into a glorious snippet of ancient luxury. I  hope you show us the inside pages when you have them finished. 

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 by17:00 (London time) Sunday April 27th 2014