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

With all My Heart

Hello friends,

Happy to be here today with another project featuring Scorched Timber. This is a very easy project using an Etcetera Panel as the substrate. I love how Scorched Timber mixes with bright Distress Colors to make such a great background.

Lets start by gathering some supplies... you'll need Distress Watercolor Paper cut to the size of the substrate you are using. As I said above, I'm using a rectangle Etcetera Panel (6 x 8.5") . The pack comes with 4 panels: two 5.25 x 7.25" and two 6 x 8.5" so its a very good value!

I'm also using the Stamper Anonymous Sketchy Leaves Stamp set (CMS467) and a Grid Block for stamping.

NOTE: before stamping the leaves, I sprayed the Watercolor paper with Antique Linen Distress Stain and wiped it away.  I just wanted to take the edge off the white Watercolor paper before stamping the leaves.

I pressed the three ink pads (Scorched Timber, Worn Lipstick, and Fossilized Amber) onto a craft sheet (very near each other), then sprayed the ink with water. I pressed the stamp into the ink once or twice, then stamped the paper. 

While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled Embossing Glaze into the ink puddles in the leaf, then dried the ink with a heat tool, thereby melting the tiny crystals of the Embossing Glaze. I repeated the process till the paper was covered in leaves. I love how each of the leaves turns out different. Some with more Scorched Timber, some with Worn Lipstick.

You can better see the Embossing Glaze crystals in this photo.

I needed a centerpiece for the collage so I cut a piece of paper from the Backdrops 4 pack.

I used the stencil "Stitches" and Texture Paste Opaque to create the pattern over the paper. Once that was dry, I painted Collage Medium over the entire piece, then sprayed it with Iced Spruce and Scorched Timber Distress Spray Stain and a bit of water to make the ink move around.  Using a heat tool, I dried the paper, thereby embedding the Distress Ink into the Collage Medium as it dried. It was only after I finished all of that, that I went to the sewing macing to stitch around the edge.

Next step was to add a piece of Chipboard to the back, so the paper becomes sturdy foundation piece to build on.

Collage- Here is the stack - from the bottom up

vintage crocheted lace

Photo Frame splattered with black paint

Library card (Layers Organic)

pink rose (Layers Organic)

Photobooth

Clipping sticker

Simple, simple, simple. But the result is beautiful. I just love the pink and the brown together! Scorched Timber for the win!

One more Scorched Timber project to go. Hoping to have that up on the blog by Friday!

Carry on now, 

paula

Kind Words Vignette Tray

Hello Friends,

Gosh, my week has gotten away from me. I had to have one of my wisdom teeth extracted (yes, I still had them all until Monday!) so Monday and Tuesday were all about taking it easy. I read a book I got for Christmas, organized a few drawers in my craft room and watched some episodes of Top Chef (like in the daytime!). For me, that's taking it slow and easy. But now I'm good and back to business (although still eating soft foods).

Another project today featuring the new Distress Color, Scorched Timber. I did not take photos of how I made this project so what are seeing today is me recreating the inked background I made for the project. I've also added some other information and a variation, just because wanted to try it. So lets get started!

I am using the small Vignette Tray which is about 9" tall and 4 1/2" wide.  I use Scorched Timber Distress paint to paint the entire Tray, except for the center of the tray that will be covered with paper. Once the paint was completely dry, I lightly sanded the edges, then added a coat of Collage Medium to give the wood a more finished look.

While the paint was drying, I cut a piece of Distress Watercolor cardstock just bigger than the opening of the tray (9 x 4 1/2") - I will trim to fit before adding to the tray.

I am using the Tim Holtz Crest Stencil and Distress Grit Paste Opaque for this project. I spread the paste over the crest image from the bottom to the top, because this stencil has tiny parts in the leaves that will bend the wrong direction if you pull the paste down. So just spread the paste upwards!

Wash the stencil and palette knife immediately or place in a water bath.  You will need let the Grit Paste dry (at least 20-30 minutes) then repeat the stencil on the right side.

Since I needed to wait for the paste to dry, I cut another piece of Watercolor cardstock and repeated the stenciling, but this time I used Texture Paste Opaque.

You really can see the difference in the two pastes in this close up. 

I wanted to try this comparison so I could see how the two pastes react to the ink that will be added once the paste is completely dry.

Gather the supplies you will need:

Distress Spray Stain: Antique Linen and Scorched Timber

Distress Sprayer full of water

Multiple Paper Towels

Heat Tool

*I will add my Media Surface Mat over my Glass Media Mat before I start.

I wanted to show you this image (It won't effect what I do when I start with the sprays). I just wanted you to see why sprays are important. If you use an ink pad, it's very difficult to get the ink around the paste Especially in this case, where there is a lot of tiny spaces to fill.  Just something to remember when using paste. Now on to the real deal...

This is really about layers so when you spray in the ink, don;t cover the entire surface of the Watercolor cardstock.  Much better to spray in layers!

1. Spray ink (I like to spray the ink, then spray with water to move the ink)
2. Dry with heat tool (don't cook the paper, just dry for 30 seconds or so between layers)
3. Blot of excess ink 
4. Repeat steps (probably 3 times)

Round One

Round One when dried and blotted.

*only Scorched Timber

Round Two

More of a splatter, rather than a spray (done by pushing down slowly)

Also spraying Antique Linen over any white areas.

Round Two when dried and blotted.

Round Three

Another splatter of Scorched Timber

Round Three when dried and blotted.

And just because they were there... I pressed the paper into some of those small ink droplets on the right. Then dried the paper again.

So here is the final layered paper.

I repeated the steps with the second Texture Paste card.  Scroll down to see the difference in the two pastes. Absolutely fascinating...

The Grit Paste works as a resist to the Distress Ink and the Texture Paste soaks it in.  Same exact steps leading up to this result. Both are great and either would work for the next step with the Foundry Wax.  I think you could use less Foundry Wax with the Texture Paste or at least more random. 

I'm going to continue this project with the Grit Paste background. 

*I will save the Texture Paste background for another project, since its way too grungy good to pass up. 

For the next step, you will need a thin brush, Foundry Wax (I'm using Statue, but Gilded will work too), a wet wipe and a bit of Isopropyl Alcohol to clean your brush.

Shake the Foundry Wax until you hear the mixing ball. Squeeze a small amount on the Media Mat (it will not damage your mat).  Foundry Wax dries quickly so it's important to work with a small amount at a time. Use the small brush to add the Foundry Wax over one area. As you are painting the paste, you will notice a build up of Wax on the brush. Just wipe it off the brush using a wet wipe, then continue painting.

Melt the Foundry Wax with an Embossing Tool. It melts very quickly so keep your eye on it. I like to tilt the paper to the light so I can see when it turns from dull to shiny. 

Repeat the steps to paint the entire image:

1. Shake (always with the cap on)
2. Pour out a small amount
3. Paint quickly
4. Wipe off brush when there is build up
5. Use Embossing Gun to melt

Squeeze out another puddle of Foundry Wax. You will also need your Splatter Brush.

Use the Splatter Brush to add splatter over all dark areas of Scorched Timber. It's hard to see here since it has not been embossed yet.

But once it has, it's like magic. Dull to glowing gold!

Use Isopropyl to clean the brush. So EASY!!

*You can see under the yellow cap that my Media Mat has soaked up the isopropyl.  Don't worry, as soon as the area dries, it will be gone.

Next, I used Scorched Earth Distress Crayon to scribble over the image. 

I have just scribbled over the leaves on the right.

On the left, I have scribbled and rubbed it into the image. If you get to much, just pounce with a wet wipe. 

Just as a comparison, you can see the image on the left is done and the image on the right has no crayon added (yet). Both work, it just depends on what kind of depth you want.

At this point, the paper was trimmed to size and added to the center of the Vignette Tray with Collage Medium.

Next step, the collage.

These are some of the pieces that are found in the collage I created.  You will be able to spot them when looking at the final photos.

NOTES: 

• I cut the clouds out and placed behind the Quote Chip Label. You could use as is but since I was highlighting the background, it made since to fussy cut the clouds.
• In the final piece, the Quote Chip is underneath the transparency.
• I also fussy cut the bird to get rid of the white edge.
• The Etcetera Trim was painted with Scorched Timber before being added to the bottom of the Window Frame with Scor-tape.
• To color the Mummy Cloth, I made a Scorched Timber ink puddle. I shredded the Mummy Cloth and lightly set it in the ink for a second or two before drying. My goal was to only get the ink in random places.

I added the transparency to the frame.  Then added the Etcetera Trim piece at the bottom of the frame (you can see this in later photos).

The fussy-cut clouds have two thin foam squares to raise it just a bit from the background. I also peeled off a bit of the chipboard backing of the Quote Chip, so it would fit between the Transparency and the clouds.

The frame was raised from the back with multiple sets of double stacked standard 3D foam squares.

The cluster with the bird is very loose, meaning anything goes. I wrapped the vintage lace around the stick, then added the stick to the frame with Collage Medium. Once secure, I added the Mummy Cloth, then the dyed flowers, more lace bits and the pearls. The bird and another Curator label were added next.

The vintage button was added with hot glue.

I stitched the tiny Curator labels, leaving the strings long. I used Collage Medium to add them to the background, then hammered a nail right into the wood tray.

This is a special piece. I love the depth that Scorched Timber gave to the overall feel! It will be fun to think about what I want to do with the Texture Paste sample I have leftover from the experiment. Time will tell!

Now carry on,

paula