2017 #11 Books: Book in a Box with ETS {by Chris Cresswell}

2017 Topic 11:  Book in a Box by Chris Cresswell

Chris is here today to shows us a 'book in a box' idea. These are a lot of fun, but boy can they take longer than you expect, you finish one side, then there is the whole other side to go...and Chris toiled for 4 days to produce this wondrous scrapbooking-mixed-media hybrid book, and wait till you see how she's used Infusions with the Oxide inks!!

Hi everyone, it's Chris Cresswell from loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk with you today, and I'd like to share with you my 'Book in a Box'. I have loved making this project for several reasons: it incorporates my 'go-to' favourite colour combo; I was given 'free-reign' as to what I could make; I could use some of Tracy Scott's fabulous stamp sets - brilliant for art journaling - and it was an opportunity to create a mini photo album of my favourite little people - my five gorgeous granddaughters!

I recently bought a medley of mini books from the lovely Carol Fox in Tracy Evans' Declutter group which included the 'Book in the Box' I have used here. I'm unsure of the make as it wasn't in its original packaging, but I'm guessing Creative Imaginations.

Tracy's stamps are perfect for art journaling which is my first love, so I treated each surface as a large art journal page. However, I also intended to use a variety of mixed media to complete the whole project which took me four days. No one day workshop here! So how did I get from this blank canvas to ... this?

When I'm art journaling, I use a lot of paint - and a lot of colours. These are the ones I started with but I probably added a few more along the way. My huge box of Frescos is right beside me and too easy to keep dipping into for 'just the right colour'.

I'm not going to explain the build up of the way I decorated the box (and the back of the concertina book inside) as I have done that on my blog, but I will show a few photos of the key steps I generally use: collage, paint, stencil, stamp. I love using this structure as it builds a page relatively quickly and puts me right bang into the middle of my comfort zone!

I've used a little Fresco Chalk Elephant across the spread, a tip I learned from Kate Crane @ TheKathrynWheel, which helps to 'neutralise' the use of so many bright colours. I've also used a bubble stencil to add some 3D gel medium through.

You can see here that I've completed the box cover in the same way as the concertina book. When adding a stencil layer, I start with the lighter colours, already used in the spread, before adding darker colours from the same colour pallette - Fresco Chalk Bougainvillea will always make an appearance somewhere in an art journal spread. I love that colour. I've also added touches of Fresco Chalk China to contrast against the yellows, oranges and pinks, just to add some interest. I've used a mixture of Crafter's Workshop stencils and PaperArtsy: PS031, PS021 and PS011.

And now the stamping. These delicious stamps are taken from Tracy Scott's first set: ETS01.

I used Ranger's/Tim Holtz Distress pens to colour the stamps in after I had added more stenciling in black and a few extra marks here and there. I used Gelatos to add colour within the circles, created with bottle/jar caps, which added a lovely transparent layer to the colouring. A little doodling with a white gel pen completed the spread. Now for the inside pages. 

I used PaperArtsy Smoothy 240gms card to prepare some backgrounds for the photos, using Ranger Distress Oxides. I'm no expert with these oxides (I'm no Lesley Ebdon who is a whizz with these) but I am pleased with the ones I eventually selected to use. I tried to remember Lesley's tip of not swooshing the card through the saturated colour on the craft sheet, but just to dab. Easier said than done when you are heavy handed like me! They were vastly improved with the addition of some PaperArtsy Infusions I tried to match similar colours. I used: Golden Sands, A Bit Jaded, Olive Tree, Sleight Blue, Magenta and Frankly Scarlet. They add a gorgeous layer on top of those Oxides.
  

Before adhering the Oxides/Infusions backgrounds onto the book pages, I painted them with Fresco Chalk Bubble Gum and stenciled over it (using PS031) with Fresco Chalk Tango. After mounting the photos onto black card, I was then able to use Tracy Scott's gorgeous heart sets: ETS04/ETS05...

...to stamp and cut out the images to embellish the photos. Again, they were coloured in using a Distress pen. I will add some journaling to each page later.

I made good use of Tracy's stamps, as you can see from the final result. The box was completed in the same way as the reverse of the book, and only needed the addition of a title. Here I've used a Dylusions text stamp set from Stampers Anonymous to create the words. I have added more photos and more detailed explanations of how I created the journaled background, if you are interested, on my blog. 

It is such fun to create mini books and you have seen a wide variety over the past fortnight. I do hope it has inspired you to use some of these ideas to create your own. Mine has extra significance of course as it captures a few, small moments in the lives of my precious grandfairies. I like this art journal spread so much I might do something similar on a long, horizontal canvas, also using some Zinski monsters, for the littlest grandfairy's bedroom wall! Until next time...
Chris Cresswell.

Blog: www.loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Chris Cresswell
Twitter: artmadnana
Instagram: artmadnana
Pinterest: Chris Cresswell

Woohoooo what a brilliant burst of colour, and yes that box is from Creative Imaginations, sadly no longer available, but we used to sell them waaaaaay back! I'm pretty sure it would be easy enough to construct your own with greyboard, then cover it with copy paper and you'd be good to go! Love the amazing end result! What a fun 4 days you had!!! ~Leandra

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

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Why not join our 2-weekly challenge by blogging your create response to the current topic and link it here?

The current topic link Topic 11 (Books: Mini/ Maxi/ Binding) will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, August 20th 2017, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.

2015 #11 Poem Box {by Keren Baker}

2015 Theme 11: Hidden Objects

Hi everyone Keren here, joining you this evening with a post about gradually revealing a story. I was thinking about Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 'How Do I Love Thee' poem and wanted to create something where parts of the poem were revealed after being initially hidden.

To begin- I simply painted a shadow box I bought for the princely sum of £1.79 (and it wasn't even on sale!) I painted it Jade from JoFy's Limited Edition collection & added crackle glaze over with a Snowflake Top Layer. Rub it down with a little Treasure Gold in Sapphire & that's the prep all done.

Here's all the Fresco colours I used

So now I'll just show you how the box unfolds. The front opens like a book to reveal an inner plain layer that hopefully gets the recipient wondering quite what's hidden underneath

 For the front cover 'hinges' and lock I've used the Hot Picks set 1103

Hot Picks set 1103

Using the little ribbon tab, pull the door down (like a trap door!) and this is what you find.. 

To fit in the poem box theme- (after adding various layers of greens and blues), I wrote out the entire poem twice onto the inner side of the door so it adds a further 'frame' to the opening box. I felt pretty romantic by the end of it ;-)

Now, if you un-slot the double hearts and pull the concertina folded book pages back you'll see the next part of the box. I added in some elastic to the sides to help contain the folds. The box helpfully had an inner smaller frame that I could add all my 'inner workings' to. Look up towards the right of the box and you can see a tied up scroll, unfurl and see...

I've used a few stamp sets to make this canvas part...I used the super versatile alphabet from the Emma Godfrey set EEG02 I also used the circles with holes in this set for the front cover of the box.

EEG02

Then to create the background I've used the fabulous 021 Stencil which I sprayed Gold mist through. The little circles were just a cotton bud dipped in London Bus and I stamped some hearts (I also popped some on the front cover from the JOFY set 22

JOFY set 22

Open the doors... and put a special message in there. I've left it blank for now. I've used the really useful doors from the Hot Picks 1011 set

Hot Picks 1011

                                     

 

So that's it- the lettering on the front was done freehand and using gel pens

It was never supposed to be this involved, but as I was thinking about hiding elements in a layered way, the project morphed into something very different than I'd originally planned. That's what I love about the creative process- it takes you places you never quite envisage! If you fancy creating something with the same idea..just one tip; start at the end and work backwards! It's much easier planning the end point first!

Hope you've enjoyed my odd little box, I really loved creating it!
See you again, Keren @craftstampink (Twitter, IG & Pinterest)

Keren this is just stunning, I adore all the doors, secrets and hidden messages. I love when there is so much more to a project than first appears. Genius use of the cotton bud, and great choices of the Hot Picks stamps, such useful ones. 

We would love you to join in with challenge #11: Hidden Objects If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Hidden Objects link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, June 21st, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

  

2015 #11: What the eye doesn't see {by Alison Bomber}

2015 Theme 11: Hidden Objects

Hello all, it's Alison here from Words and Pictures ready to reveal some Hidden Objects!  As soon as Leandra mentioned envelopes in her original outline of the theme, my brain hopped into action.  So today I've got a little wallet to share with you - one that likes to keep its secrets close to its chest.  It seems very simple and rustic on the outside...

But it's definitely worth digging a little deeper with this one to find the hidden depths...

I started by gluing two ATC-sized envelopes together so that the flaps created a double triangle fold.

I wanted to keep the outside as innocuous and simple as possible, so I blended Brown Shed and French Roast Fresco paints on the reverse before adding a layer of Crackle Glaze with a palette knife.

Once that was dry, I added Chalk Fresco over the top, allowing it to crackle, as well as some gentle inking to burnish the edges, and some simple rustic twine as a fastening.  The metal pick is both decorative and practical - you can use it to whittle the knot open if it gets too tight!

Heart-in-the-mouth stamping time on the inner flaps... I used the wonderful Lynne Perrella patchwork of images from LPC030.  They have some postal motifs involved, so they seemed all the more appropriate for my envelope wallet.  They're stamped in a combination of Vintage Photo and Rusty Hinge Distress Inks, which I then clear-embossed to preserve the image.  (Okay, one of them's not quite straight, but what's a few degrees between friends?!)

Next, I set to with my favourite translucent Frescos.  I love using these with lots of water,  spritzed into the paint on my craft mat and then blending onto the paper as I go, to create a watercolour look to the painting.  In action here we've got Blue Glass, Southern Skies, Hey Pesto, Limelight, Zesty Zing and, I think, a touch of Beach Hut.

I make no apologies for working with my favourite colour palette... I wanted a surprise blast of fresh zingy colour on the inside, and I knew these colours would deliver.  You also get the light-reflecting gloss of the clear-embossing for additional zhuzh!

I hope you like my simple wallet with its unexpected internal complexity... an oasis of colour inside a neutral exterior.  I rather like that you can see straight away from the flaps that there's something else in store.  It's not a completely hidden secret - though you don't know what might be lurking, you know there's something to find.  I think it adds a pleasurable sense of anticipation.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you're enjoying hiding lots of things this fortnight.

Alison xx
Words and Pictures  

Ohh I love how it looks so simple and rustic on the outside, and then it opens up to a burst of joy and colour...like you say totally unexpected! And exactly as a hidden object should be...a wonderfully unexpected surprise! Thanks Alison! ~Leandra

We would love you to join in with challenge #11: Hidden Objects If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Hidden Objects link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, June 21st, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

2015 #11 Mini Book {by Etsuko Noguchi}

Hello Everyone, my name Etsuko Noguchi, I have been living in the East of Japan ‘Saga’. This area has agriculture in the main source of income, the rice fields have also spread around near my house. But the agriculture is becoming reduced by the difficult enough revenue for small farms and the aging of farmers. Farmland is changing to the mall and emerging residential areas. I have been crafting since 2013 and quickly I  found PA stamps and PA blog. Leandra’s wonderful video and guest designers tutorials are like a compass that leads me into the mixed media world. This fortnight PA topic is ‘Hiding Object’ then I decided to make the ’Mini Book’.

1st. I die cut the Tim Holtz Arch die with grey chipboard and painted Irish Cream Fresco and White Heavy Gesso to the base. Also I stamped Darcy's Mini stamps by Stazon Jet Black onto the smoothy heavy weight card.

2nd. I used some dots stencil with 3D Gross Gel, mica powders and micro beads.

This created the base of the book, now to create and hide some pages inside. 

Page 1-2:  I used ENS13 Circles, Music Notes and EDY11 Dots along with EM11 for the focal point. Fresco Paints - Bougainvillea, Wisteria, Claret and SnowFlake. Words - JOFY09 using Archival Ink Jet Black and a UniBall Gold Pen.

Page3-4. Stamps--EDY05, EDY11, EDY12 and Darcy's bird EM12 for focal point. Paints - Cinnamon, Tango, Hey Pesto and SnowFlake Fresco. Words-Darcy's EDY14.

EM12

Page 5-6. Stamps EDY06, EDY14, EDY02 for focal point. Paints-Cinnamon,Banana, Caribbean and SnowFlake Fresco. Words-Darcy's EDY11.

 EDY02

Page 7-8. Stamps--EDY12, EDY14, EEG02 EM04 for focal point. Paints-Bougainvillea, Hey Pesto, Caribbean and SnowFlake Fresco. Words- ESN15.

EM04

Page 9-10. Stamps-EDY05, EDY12, ENS11 EM14 for focal point. Paints-Tango, Caribbean Sea and SnowFlake Fresco. Words-EDY12.

EDY12.

EM14

I glued, tore and wrinkled Waxed Tissue with Matte Gel Matt onto the arch board, then applied a layer of clear Gesso, After I spread Cinnamon Fresco and water when it dried I used White Heavy Gesso and Pearl Glaze. 

These are front and back covers. I used Darcy's new Heart EM16, I made the heart by clay and other pieces made by white paper and beads for the front cover. Next for the back cover I stenciled with mixed Grunge Paste and China Fresco onto the arch board. Then I stamped Darcy's EM10 mini Tornado, painted and fussy cut then I used wire for the top. I was thinking how to bind this book. Then I made the binding to use Tim Holtz On the Edge die by smoothy heavy weight card and painted.

EM16,

Finally I did layout these embellishments onto the covers and used the ribbon to the binding.

I hope you'll join in with the PaperArtsy 'Hiding Object’' Challenge, and have a go at stamping with Frescos, I love the Fresco Paints so much, lots of beautiful colours , fantastic to mix, they extend smoothly and are permanent. The Darcy Eclectica³ Stamps have more wonderful characters and images, it will surely take you to fantasy world.

Etsuko xxx

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This is a wonderful colourful project Etsuko, full of fab images from the EDY collection. The soft stamped backgrounds allow the main focal images to "pop". The binding detail adds the perfect finishing touch. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us, hope to see you again.

We would love you to join in with challenge #11: Hidden Objects If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Hidden Objects link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, June 21st, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.