Beware Vignette Book

Hi friends,

I have a fun little Halloween zig-zag book project to share today.  I call this a "fun" project because anything goes!  It could be any color or size and the inside could contain anything that suits your fancy.  I decided to use a fabulous green and yellow paper from the Halloween Paper Stash called Abandoned.  I'm just going to say, buy two packs because you'll need more of this paper than you think you might.  Super cool designs and colors, from pink and purple to green, black and orange!

I started with one of the Vignette boxes that is 2 3/4 x 4" and the matching Vignette panel (for the lid).  So in theory, if you have one set of Vignette Boxes and 1 set of Vignette Panels, you could create 4 books in 4 sizes.  

I cut a piece of the Distress Heavystock... this piece wraps from the back of the Vignette Box, up the left side and over the lid.  For my project, the measurement was 7 x 4" - you will have to adapt that measurement depending on the size of the box and matching lid.  I adhered the green patterned paper to the Heavystock (on the backside of the white piece shown here) and scored it where the paper turns a corner to create the spine of the book.

This is what it will look like once glued to the box and lid.  NOTE: I painted both the lid and box BEFORE adhering to the paper cover.  Once it was dry, I painted the spine too.

Maybe this will help - this is what it looks like finished.  The lid opens like a book and the paper spine is not attached to the box.

I smeared Opaque Crackle Texture Paste over the edges of the cover and let it dry before adding Distress Crayon to age it.  The owl has been inked with Gold and Mushroom Alcohol Ink and then splattered with black paint using the Distress Splatter Tool (love that tool).

The zig-zag book was created with Distress Heavystock paper and then sprayed (both sides) with Distress Oxide Spray.  That keyhole is actually a sticker, yes I said sticker!...it's from the new Halloween sticker book.  I added Distress Crayon and Hardware Heads to make it more realistic.

 The inside is ephemera, paper dolls and clipping stickers (also in the new sticker book).

 I colored the paper dolls with Distress Crayons and a Water Brush to get all the fine details.  NOTE: If you want to know more about how to color a paper doll you can find that here.

More stitching and stamping!  The Stampers Anonymous stamp is from the CMS187 Purveryor stamp set.  One of my all time favorites for backgrounds.

 Once the little book is done, add to the box.

I painted the Vignette panel with black paint.  You could easily put additional paper on the Vignette lid, I just choose to leave it black.

 A book should have a title so I added this perfect little token to the spine.

And another token on a chain (I swiped the chain from a Swivel Clasp) so you would have a "pull" to open the book.

I love this little book (just something about the size).  It was easy to make and very fun to fill the inside with ephemera and stitching.  I hope you will give it a try!

Now carry on,

paula

Spring Kits

Hello friends!

I have listed my remaining Spring kits in my Etsy shop.  Each kit comes with all the product and full color step-out instructions as well as written instructions.   If you are interested in any of the kits shown below, click on the link HERE or use the Etsy icon on the right sidebar.
thank you!
and now carry on!
paula

Lost and Found

Tokens Of Affection
sold out

Be Genuine

 Wildflower Garden

Masquerade

Hello friends!
There have been a lot of questions lately from the Tim Holtz Addicts Facebook group about using Distress Crayons with ephemera.  To be honest, all one needs to do is Google Distress Crayons or search Pinterest to find the information but since you're here anyway....this simple Vignette Tray Project has step-outs using Distress Crayons over ephemera so it might be a good visual.  Remember, as long as you start with a SLICK SURFACE it works perfectly every single time.  If you don't have a slick surface...then just add a coat of Collage Medium to create one.

Paint the outside of the small Vignette Tray with black paint.
Line the tray with paper.  I used paper from the Memoranda Paper Stash.

I also added Design Tape around the lip edge of the tray.

You might need to add a touch of Collage Medium on the corners where the Design Tape criss-crosses (it likes to stick to things, not itself).
Once adhered, I sanded it lightly and inked the edge.

I wanted to create a collage background so I cut a piece of chipboard as a foundation.  I also sanded a few pieces of Ephemera to use in the collage.

Lay them out in a pleasing pattern and adhere with Collage Medium.  Add a layer of CM over the top and let dry.

Once dry, scribble Walnut Stain Distress Crayon (my favorite brown) over the surface.

Rub with a damp fingertip.

Use a wet wipe to pounce lightly over the surface to mottle the rubbed surface.  If you wipe too much off you can easily add more.  The pouncing should make the surface more realistic looking (compare with the picture above).
NOTE: Remember, that wet wipes come in a variety of "wetness" (is that a real word?).  If you pull a wet wipe from the package and water drips off the edge...it's too darn wet.  Of course wet wipes should be wet, but you shouldn't be able to ring water from them.  Once a year I buy the giant box of individual packs from Costco (Kirkland brand).  They are the perfect "wetness" (there's that word again) and I never run out.  Just saying.

I love where the crayon has built up around the edge of the red piece of ephemera.

This is the finished result of the pouncing.  Very different looking than when the crayon was just rubbed on.

Adhere ephemera piece to a Vinette Panel for stability.  Set aside.

I colored the boys from the current Paper Doll pack using Distress Crayon and a Waterbrush (perfect for getting in the small detail areas).  I cut masks for the boys using the new Masquerade die.

One thing that is a must do is to add a Sizzix Adhesive Sheet to the cardstock BEFORE cutting.  That means you only have to peel off the protective sheet on the back and stick it on any Paper Doll. The  Adhesive Sheets come in 6 x 6" sheets or 2 1/2 x 4 1/4" (sized for the Sidekick).  I like to use the whole sheet on a piece of cardstock, so when I need to cut something small (like a couple masks) I just grab a piece that is already prepped and cut away.

The Masquerade mini masks fit all the sizes of Paper Dolls...even dogs!

To create the base, I used three 4" pieces of Etcetera Trim (pinked).  I glued them together and painted them with Gesso.

Once the Gesso was dry I added Opaque Crackle Texture Paste and let that dry.

Scribble with a Distress Crayon.

I used a damp paintbrush to move the crayon around and get it into the cracks.

Hardware Heads were added to each end (love these things).

Then I glued the ephemera portion into the small Vignette Tray.

I added foam square to the back of the trim to raise it up from the tray.

Just like that it's in!

I had an old paintbrush I picked up at some flea market and decided to wrap heavy wire around the neck.  I left the raw ends of the wire facing down so that when I placed the brush over the ephemera it would look like the wire went right through the surface.

To create the illusion, I placed the paintbrush over the background.  I used a pen to mark the spot where the wire will appear to go into the board.  Then used an awl and hammer to make the holes (remember there is a wood Vignette Panel under the ephemera).

I added Foam Squares to the back of the paint brush to secure to the ephemera and raise it up (the heavy wire made too much of a bump on the back to use Collage Medium as an adhesive).

You can also see where I added a very small amount of Collage Medium where the wire is stuck into the hole I made with the awl (it will dry clear). 

You can see that the elbow of the boy sits up again the paintbrush to appear as if he is leaning on it. 

 I did add Foam Squares to the back of the boys so they are raised up off the surface.

And one last thing...a Clippings Sticker...probably my most used product of the entire line.  Seems like these little word stickers fit with every project I make.

Well I hope you like some of the ideas in todays post from using Distress Crayons to color to Adhesive Sheets for small die cuts to creating illusions in art!  All good things!
Now carry on,
paula