The effects of hair cutting on creativity...

I had an idea this week to use Crinkle ribbon to create flowers...sometimes my ideas work and sometimes they don't.  Half way through the project today I still didn't know which it would be...but in the end, it worked out quite nicely.

Now I do admit I had to leave the house to get my hair cut right in the middle of the project because I couldn't take my overgrown hair anymore.  I was quite sure it was zapping my mojo, therefore I needed to make it better and cut it.  I grabbed my keys, got in the car, drove to the nearest Fantastic Sam's and said "cut it off"...maybe should I mention here that my favorite hairdresser moved to Arizona...okay, 4 or 5 years ago, but still she moved.

So the girl at Fantastic Sam's cut my hair.  I felt much better and came home and finished what I had intended to do in the first place.

But I digress, on to the project...

To start I made some different colors of Crinkle ribbon using bright colors as well as some browns just because I didn't know what direction I wanted to go with this project.
1. Brushed Corduroy
2. Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade
3. Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon and a touch of Squeezed Lemonade
4. Gathered Twigs

Here is how I made the variegated ribbon Number 2.
1. Spritz the ribbon with water on a non stick craft sheet.

 2. Pounce Picked Raspberry over ribbon.

 3.  Pounce Squeezed Lemonade leaving some white spots.

 4.  Lightly spritz one more time and dry with heat tool.

Alright, set the ribbon aside for a second while we make a cover for a Worn Journal.  The new Worn Journal is great as is, but I am going to use it as a base for today's project just because it is a great size.  You can use any kind of binder you have on hand just adjust the measurements to fit yours.

I cut a piece of fabric (in my case, classic blue and white ticking) 6" wider than your binder and 1 1/2" taller.  The worn cover is easy to measure since it lays flat when it comes out of the package.
Worn cover - 11" wide x 7" tall
Fabric piece 17" wide x 8 1/2" tall.
Fold each end toward the center 3" (right sides together) and stitch across the top of the 3" sections.  Turn right side out and press flat.

I tried the cover on just to make sure it fit (it did).  Then I used a piece of washi tape to temporarily mark the edge of the front cover so my design stays on the front.  I will just remove the washi tape when I am done.

Using the Crinkle ribbon start making small loops to create flower petals.  I used a needle and thread to tack the top of each loop I made with the ribbon (you can see the ends are not sewn down yet).

Then I went back and tacked the bottom of each loop in place.  This is very forgiving flower making.  NOTE: I pray that my friend Tammy Tutterow, who creates beautiful ribbon embroidery, will skip this post so as not to shudder with angst at my remedial sewing skills.

Now a second one.  I am thinking maybe I should have had them facing the opening of the book rather than the spine, but it's too late now.  What I am liking is how the variegated ribbon looks against the blue ticking. 

I decided to try and use the brown ribbon for the flower center.  This time I cut a small piece of ribbon (about 3") then starting with the two raw end together I start stitching right above the flower.

I tack each layer of the ribbon then add a little more, then tack, then add a little more...

till I created a little pile of ribbon for the flower center.

I figured the flowers needed stems so they weren't just floating on the cover.  I used wool felt, one of my very favorite things to work with, for the stems.  I freehand cut the shapes and used a tiny bit of white glue to keep them in place while I stitched them on.

One of the things I love about wool felt is that there is no wrong way to stitch it.  You can be precised or primitive, whatever your taste.  I decided on a primitive...or whimsical stitching.  Super easy to do.  I used wool thread because I had it, but you could use sewing thread.  The color doesn't even have to match.

Next I added a title for the book using an ornate plate, sticky back canvas and remnant rub words. 

Okay, now I need a way to keep the book closed.
I cut 3/4" strips of Grungepaper and color with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  Dry it with a Heat it tool.

Stitch edges on the sewing machine.

Add a buckle to one end (super easy to do as it is held in place with a brad).

Add a Plaquette to the belt on the spine of the book (I had to sew two strips of Grungepaper together to go around the book, this is how I hid the seam...see you didn't know, did you?).  I also added Wonder tape to the back portion of the belt so that it stays on the book when the book is opened.

And here is the finished result.  I like the way the flowers turned out.  I think they would look great on a tote bag...might have to try that.

I am working on a few other things things to share this week.  I suppose one of the posts better be the inside pages to this book!

Oh, and about the hair cut...
It has been a few hours now and I think my hair might be a bit shorter on one side than the other...not in a crazy Rosie O'Donnell way, but a bit lopsided just the same...oh, and I may also have a mullet.  So much for Fantastic Sam's. 

cheers for a good week!
paula
(2 weeks to Paris...just had to say it out loud!)

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