One Lucky Day

Love Book

Today my Love Book was posted on the 7g blog (Feb 12th post) for the design team challenge.  I made the Love Book for my husband as a Valentines Day gift but I guess he will see it a few days before!  The basic instructions for the structure can be found on the 7g post, so I thought I could give a little more detail here on One Lucky Day.

INSIDE

On the left side of the portfolio I stamped the word Love in as many languages as I could fit in and added a little message to my husband. I just Googled, "the word love in many languages" and came up with ton of sites to choose from.  I cut all the little strips of words from an old book I have.  It took me a while to find them but it actually became a game to see what I could find during commercial breaks.

 I sewed hand cut stem decorations on the front side of each file folder and added some hidden meaning (at least until now) on each folder .  First, the stem grows taller on each successive file folder to represent growth throughout the years and then each stem was given a number to represent a certain year in our lives when something big happened or changed.  Here are the finished folders:

 You might notice all the words on the side...they are all song titles and artist of music that has somehow been part of our lives.  Funny, how you can tell your age by typing the words, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel.  Can't you just see John Cusack standing there in the rain with the boom box over his head?  Oh, 1989 where did you go?
My husband loves music so I knew this would be his favorite part of the book...remembering the song from New Years 1984 (Against All Odds), to dating 1986 (Romance Ideal), and after years of marriage (Push and Chasing Cars).  Do you know what songs would be in your LOVE BOOK?

COVER
Punch holes to tie the folders to the structure.

I cut the two top and bottom flaps off the center of the portfolio. 

I cut a variety of papers into long strips and layered on the cover.  It's a good way to use up a bunch of scraps!

I made an oval template on my computer

Then used it to cut out an oval from Sticky Back Canvas.

Color the Sticky Back Canvas with Distress Ink and a blending tool (remember, circular motion from the edge toward the center):

First layer-

Crushed Olive

Second Layer-

Tumbled Glass

 third layer-

(very light)

Antique Linen

Now to the sewing machine...it least 4 times around

I added the letters that I downloaded from House of 3.  They have such cool stuff to download.  I could spend some serious money on that site!

I used the same oval template to cut an oval slightly larger from polka dot paper.  Peel the backing off the Sticky Back Canvas.  I know, I know I sewed it on but if you work at it you comes off.

Well, I hope between the two tutorials you get the gist of the project.   I think something like this is going to work it's way into our teaching schedule...just gotta figure out to do it without a sewing machine! -paula