Nature Inspired Folio

Hello friends,

I'm grateful to be here today sharing the nature filled journal I made using the newest and last Distress color, Scorched Timber! I didn't want to make a completely brown journal cover so I started with what you might guess was a peach color (but you would be wrong)...I started with Kitsch Flamingo, spraying then wiping away the spray pattern. I dried it, then added added Antique Linen.  Back and forth I went, until the cover was covered.  NOTE: Because the Accordion Folio is made with Mixed Media paper, it has a bit of yellow in it, so the pink turns a bit peach. 

Once the cover was dry, I used a stamp set that was intended for Halloween called, The Obscure. I loved the sorta of weedy plant that is part of that set. I used the Scorched Timber Oxide pad to ink the stamp, then lightly spritzed the stamp with water before stamping the cover.  I repeated the stamping process until the cover was covered with the image.

The Obscure

*I did not use the root end of the stamp, just the weedy branches

Here you can see the Folio flipped over (cover is on the right in this photo) so you can see all the stamping. When I stamped the flap, I masked off the center portion of the book so the image did not go onto the back cover.  *Remember the flap flips up into the book, so you have to stamp up-side down.

The wrap/closure was made with a piece of vintage lace - it just ties closed and you can slip it up and off the Folio without untying it, if you don't want to.

When you open the Folio, there is a pocket on the left side with three cards.

To create the three cards to go in the pocket, cut three Distress Mixed Media Heavystock pieces (3.25 x 5.5").  I chose a background stamp from the set, 'Tiny Prints', to stamp the ditsy print with Scorched Timber Oxide ink. 

Once the ink was dry, I added the sayings I created on my computer. I printed the sayings on vintage typing paper (onion skin) so you can see the print behind the words. As you can see, I stitched the paper to secure it to each card so no glue was needed.

Little snippets of ephemera were added to each with a staple, glue or a Mini Paper Clip.

I used paper from Backdrops 4 (the neutral pack) to cover the inside of the Folio. It a challenge to decide each time the best way to cover the 'gusset' - the narrow portion on either side of the center.  This time I decided to use 'Sticky Back Canvas' tape from Dina Wakley.  The tape comes in a solid white, so sprayed it with Antique Linen Distress Spray, dried it with a heat tool, then stamped it with the Tiny Prints image (Scorched Timber Oxide ink). I believe the tape is 1 1/2" wide on the roll, so I just cut it to size to fit the gussets. Worked like a charm.

The center of the Folio has a flip up portion. I kept it very simple with more stamping and a little bit of ephemera stapled on. 

I like that from this view you are given just a glimpse of whats to unfold before you. It shows a little bit of everything.

The faux stitching on the card at the bottom (meaning I stitched only the card, then glued it to the flap) balances out the ephemera on the left. I left the strings long because that just makes me happy.

All the inking on ephemera has been done by pressing Gathered Twigs Distress ink onto my glass mat, then spritzing the ink with water to create a puddle. I wipe a thin layer of collage medium over the ephemera then dip the ephemera into the ink. I go back and forth between the ink puddle and drying with the heat tool until I am satisfied.  

The ephemera used in the Folio is from the Organic Layers pack. So many great flowers, birds, and leaves to choose from!

Stamping was done using Scorched Timber Oxide ink + the stamps, Distress Damask on the right and Media Marks 1 on the left and backside (don't you just love that loop-d-loop? It was a stamp image I had never used before).

Label from Field Notes Ephemera Pack and the Snippets pack Curator, that has about a million darling little labels like this blue one here.

The circle was drawn with a Stabilo pencil and then tapped with water to make the pencil lines wick out.

The palette background paper is from the Backdrops 4 pack.  Combined with the dragonfly from the Organic Layers pack, some vintage netting, Clipping Stickers and some stitching...well. thats just magical.

And the last section of the accordion is the bird and nest.  Repeating themes, but with similar elements makes for a cohesive message throughout. I love how the bold stamping in the background really adds to the overall look.  Layers, layers, layers...thats the key.

The last pocket I created on the right side has more of the palette paper from the Backdrops 4 pack. It fit perfectly so I had to use it! Stitching added.

I added some vintage lace that you can see when the cards are pulled.

And a few more elements to add to the pocket.

I dyed the string with Scorched Timber too!

Well, I hope you enjoyed the walk-through of my Folio. I love the nature theme of the folio which came together so easily because of the Organic Layers pack.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Now carry on,
paula