2024 Topic 4: Books & Journals {by Kaz Hall} on the PaperArtsy Blog

Hi everyone

It's Kaz Hall from The Maker's Table here with you today,

I've been really excited to share with you this vintage inspired project, that I have created for our current topic of 'Books & Journals' here on the PaperArtsy blog. 

This topic had me thinking about how in this ever changing age of technology, books are still so important. There's something about starting a new chapter, turning a page, the enjoyment of finishing that last page and the excitement of starting the next book.  

I love to collect old books, (I have quite a collection!) the typography, images and graphics, are often starting points of inspiration for me when creating.

For this project, I was keen to have lots of layers, along with hidden pockets, to stash away my ever growing collection of vintage ephemera.

So Grab yourself a cup of tea, this is quite a long blog post!

My book had a lovely embossed texture on the cover, which I really wanted to highlight in the background, so I decided to create paint layers using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics to create a worn/distressed look. I will explain how I achieved this as you read on.

If you know me and my style, you might be aware that a vintage colour palette ticks my creative boxes. To create a vintage style to complement the stamp sets that I would be using,  I took inspiration from the original book cover used as my starting point. 

I loved the idea of blue and brown hues, so I decided on PaperArtsy 'In the Navy' Infusions for the main colour scheme, expecting this would continue throughout the whole project. Mattints come in the mix too, even though the colours I selected above are bright, you might be surprised how they end up!

As I mentioned previously, I selected this book. The cover is embossed, and I wanted to highlight that texture in the background. 

I then set about dismantling the book by removing the insides with a craft knife, luckily it came out in one go!

As I only needed the patterned part of the book cover so I used a craft knife to remove the embossed title text from the top of the book along with the text from the bottom of the book. (Please be careful when using a craft knife!)

As the spine was still quite flimsy, so I set about reinforcing the spine, by adding a strip of cardboard, and added glued text pages to create the inside covers of the book.

Time to add some layers of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in sage and chalk; 3 - 4 thin coats and allowed it to dry. 

This was followed by a thin layer of chocolate pudding and French Roast. Just before it dried, I wiped off that layer with a paper towel, which created a distressed look.

When the paint had dried, I took a piece of sandpaper and gently rubbed it over the dried paint. It revealed a lovely textured effect. (Don't worry if you rub to much off, you can add more layers of paint and repeat the process.)

I then took the Mattint (Squeezed) and using my finger I rubbed it over areas where I wanted the cover to look more defined, I added several layers.

To finish I added more of the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic paint, this time in Hyde Park, I applied it to the edges and repeated sanding it back until I was happy with the results.

Next step was to think about the main focal point of the book. I started with Scrapcosy stamp set 04 (ESC04) and Versafine ink (Vintage sepia.) Here's an easy way to distress white card with infusions to make it appear more vintage and distressed.

1. The image was stamped onto white card
2. Clear embossing powder was sprinkled over the stamped image, and melted with a heat tool
3. I sprinkled a tiny amount of 'In the Navy' Infusions onto my glass mat and generously spritzed water over to activate them
4. The stamped image was pressed face down into the wet infusions, making sure the whole area was covered with them

When the card was dry, I masked off the image with a piece of card, diluted some chalk Fresco finish paint and added splashes of paint using a paintbrush to the edges of the infusions-distressed card.

I then repeated the steps above with the butterfly image from the same stamp set. 

This time I used PaperArtsy Mattints to colour the image. The Mattints add a gentle pop of colour and allow you to build them up to the desired look. As they are totally transparent, the vintage blues of the infusions still allow an old, almost worn look.

I also added some Tim Holtz distress ink in Walnut stain to the edges.

Once it was coloured, I started to bring it all together by adding layers of text papers to the larger image. I stitched around the edges using my sewing machine and then attached the label and butterfly to complete the focal point.

I was really happy with how the infusions had coloured the card, it gave me the vintage look that I had wanted to achieve. I now wanted to continue this colour scheme to create page-pockets for inside the book.

For the next phase of this project, I needed to make pages for the revised 'book'. I decided a series of pockets work work well, so first I'm going to explain how to make these blue pockets as shown above. The same method of distressing the card with 'In The Navy' infusions was used, but first let me explain how the template was made.

1. With a standard 4" x 6" (approx 15 x 10cm) greeting card. I measured my book to see what size the pockets needed to be, the pocket would measure 11cm.
2. When cut to size I opened out the card and used a circle punch to punch half a circle.
3. The 'score fold' is approx 1cm. This fold is is important as when the pockets are layered on top of each other and secured, this will allow the pockets to open when they have been filled with their contents.
4. An example of a finished pocket, coloured, sewn and stamped

I decided to make 5 layers of 'pocket pages', so I repeated the process of colouring the pockets by using the Infusions, making sure to colour both external sides of the pocket.  A small amount of glue was used along the inside fold of the pocket.

I used Stamp sets by Scrapcosy, ESC04 and ESC21.  Ranger Distress Archival Ink (Faded Jeans) for the stamped images, and Ranger Distress Ink (Walnut Stain) around the edges.

I then layered up all the pockets on top of each other and used extra strong double sided tape to secured them together. I made a total of 5 pockets. 

TIP: be mindful that the pockets will fill out when you have added things to them.

I then added all five pockets to the back cover of my book, again using extra strong double sided tape.

With the pockets now completed, now begins the final phase. It' time to decorate. 

This is the really fun part; you can experiment with creative ways to make more hidden areas in your book. First I will share an easy, fun way to make your own envelopes.

To make an envelope, take a book page, or in my case I'm using an old letter.

1. fold the paper in half and draw half a heart on to it. Cut it out
2. you now have a heart shape; carefully fold in the curves of the heart
3. turn the heart so the point of it it is at the top
4. you can now see the envelope taking shape. Add a small amount of glue onto the folded flaps and fold into place
5. completed envelope

Voila! All you now need to do is to fill your envelopes with whatever you want, a great hiding place for hidden messages.

There are so many different ways of creating pockets, sleeves, envelopes, folds... the fun part is experimenting with what works for you and your project.  I often make a prototype of an idea, before committing to using an item that may not be easily replaced.  I would encourage you to just have a play around, see what works for you.

Now you can see how all these elements come together. Remember we started with the cover of the book; the distressed panel, the infusions-coloured card, and the Mattint-coloured butterfly.

The view of the inside with the 5 pocket-pages stacked on the right. You can see I have decorated the inside left panel too. Ribbon softens and adds another interactive element. And the addition of the numbers shows there is lots more to discover within.

Scrapcosy's stamp set 21 (ESC21) is loaded with tags, labels and other useful elements, perfect for adding layers or interest to pages like these. 

Here is the stack of pockets, the ribbon ...

Pocket 2 shows one of those Scrapcosy labels with some zig zag stitching ... 

Pocket 3 ....

Pocket 4 ...

Pocket 5 ...

I really enjoyed creating this book, I love all the hidden areas that hide my vintage ephemera. I have really enjoyed using all the stamps, paints and Mattints to bring to life a new book from an old one.

Like most creatives, I am always open to learning new ideas, experimenting with techniques and finding my own way that works for me. I hope that by sharing some of my ideas from my book, it will inspire you to have a go at creating your own.

Thank you for sharing my love of all things vintage, enjoy your maker's journey!

Kaz 

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2023 Topic 11: Monochrome {by Keren Baker} with Magenta & Scrapcosy stamps

Hi everyone, Keren Baker with you today.

What scares you, artistically speaking? Some of us find putting colour combinations together challenging. Others get freaked out by white space. Yet others (myself included) find a limited colour palette a little scary...but using just one colour? That's playing hardball!

So joining in with this Monochrome topic was a good way to push myself in a new direction. Resisting adding a tiny dot of extra complementary colour nearly finished me off!! I ended up with two finished projects- and here's one of them.

I don't ever really do art journalling and you'd be forgiven for arguing that this isn't either. But I wanted to use it as a piece of wall art, so didn't add it into my journal (even though I currently have a very bare one!!). I absolutely loved creating this A4 piece; not my usual pared back style- definitely a little too much product on one page for my level of arty calmness!

The pieces began with a pack of giant playing cards that I'd bought a while back and had been wanting to use. They measure 12cm x 17cm so are definitely super-sized. Nothing else was purchased for this creative session, I made do with what I already had.

My selection of products revolved around the colour pink; Cerise to be precise and then adding Little Black Dress and Snowflake both as contrasts and also to change the Cerise into shades (adding black) and tints (adding white). I had the beautiful nature-themed set ESC04 from Scrapcosy as my hero stamp set to act as my starting point.

I'll show you a pre-project photo. My original plan was to add in a neutral or two plus some Glaze but I decided against that. Let's go cold-turkey. Simply stick to one colour and black and white.

Breaking the 'plainness' of Smoothy Cardstock is always hard. I knew I needed some different tints and shades so started mixing colours and adding them lazily to my cardstock, diluting them down so I had more interest in depth of colour too.

Don't be afraid of 'letting go'. Let the paintbrush dance and allow it to move in random unexpected directions. Don't overthink (I'm definitely guilty of this one!).

I also needed to lay some colour down on the playing card. It is a plastic coated cardstock and I wasn't sure how the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics would do on that. I know that these lovely paints will go onto anything - but as I was diluting with water, I was interested to see what effect that would have. Added to that, Cerise is Semi-Opaque, so wouldn't give as solid and opaque a colour as I might have wanted.

My concerns were unfounded. Everything went down onto the cards justfine. If you need more coverage - add more paint, or, add in a little of the Snowflake / Little Black Dress which are useful fully-opaque paints.

Hold your nerve at this point. It's not looking too promising right now- but once we start to add layers, the piece will start to develop.

 

The next step was to use Grunge Paste onto both the playing card and the painted A4 cardstock sheet. My Grunge Paste didn't have much left in it and it also needed 'reactivating'. If you find that your paste has gone a little harder (but not rock hard 'set'), you can get it back by adding a little warm water and mixing (or chopping into it with a plastic knife) until it reaches the original consistency. You can always add more, so be sparing when adding water.

It's hard to know which stencil design to use. I like to 'audition' my stencils to see which one seems right. The Scrapcosy PS108 worked well.

After I let the Grunge Paste dry (doesn't take very long) I started to add more paint. This will colour the paste, and as I preferred a contrast, I simply sanded off the top with a nail file.

To add more texture to the 'flat' cardstock, I enlisted the aid of Infusions, which if you've never tried them- they're like unexpected magic!

I wanted the strength of the initial colour, not the secondary brown walnut stain that comes through more strongly as more water is added, so I dried them off fairly quickly with a heat gun. You can see here the other stencil that I used (my all-time favourite) PS021.

It was definitely time to stamp, and I grabbed the beautiful ESC04 set from Scrapcosy

You might be bothered that you've got to stamp over an uneven surface after using Grunge Paste- so 2 easy tips. Firstly- a stamp positioner is a really handy tool for situations like this. Secondly- I'd used the lighter-weight Smoothy cardstock (rookie error) and had thrown quite a bit of water and paint at it, so it was a little warped. One easy fix is to run it through your die-cutting machine, or leave it sandwiched in there over night. The added bonus of this is that it will flatten your Grunge Paste relief thus making it easier to stamp on!!

I wanted to focus all my detail into one area of the piece so as not to make it feel cluttered (design-wise). I trimmed some thin strips from some of the painted cardstock and created a small woven section.

To help 'ground' the focal point, I thought to add some of the stamps from the EC04 set but in a very delicate way. Using Matte Duralar, stamped and white heat embossed was a good solution, and helped that you could see a little of the underneath colours showing through.

It was heading towards the home-straight now, just a few little flourishes to add.

I love to add a quote - I do like CS Lewis and this quote fitted perfectly with the stamping I was about to do.

I rarely create projects without some sort of fibre or fabric and felt that this needed a few French knots. I was sorely tempted to add some turquoise knots at this point but managed to resist!! I also added a few pieces of washi tape and little tiny pieces of text that were under the butterflies in the Scrapcosy set.

I was looking for a mid-sized alphabet and the Ink and The Dog Words 2 (W2) is perfect stamped onto the larger Scrapcosy butterfly.

You can see the other finished playing-card project here. It's almost grungy!!

I did love the restricted monotone challenge and also how you can achieve interesting results just using a few simple techniques. I would definitely use the Metallic Glaze if I was doing something similar again and I'm looking forward to making more art with the giant playing cards. Wouldn't they look great bound as a book or with hinges on? So many possibilities. 

What could you create by editing your starting supplies? What could you add to increase the texture and interest on your journaling pages? Could you get a friend to challenge you - or hunt down one of the previously popular 'tic-tac-toe' challenges online.

I hope that you'll try a limited colour palette and see how freeing it can be...no more guessing which colours go with each other!! Thanks for being with me tonight,

Keren x

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