Design Recollections

Yeah! Squarespace is playing today.

Last Friday I began a new class from Big Picture Scrapbooking. This class from Ten is about tip and techniques to fire our creativity and oh how we all need that every now and then. This workshop runs for 10 weeks and so far so good. Last one I did really did not live up to expectations but this one seems much better and much more me.

First task is too make a small book for all the ideas and tips. This is mine. It has taken a power of work to put together but I am really pleased as its a solid, chunky little book (6.5 x4.5) and I have taken extra care to double up the thickness of the pages as well as coat the front and back in various mediums so it lasts being handled for a long time.

I have really enjoyed this and making up the title letters was the best fun. I used DCVW textured scrappads which are cardstock weight. I mixed and match 2 pads and stuck two pages back to back that co-ordinated in runs of colour. Each page had its edges sanded and distressed too.

The number 5 was created from texture paste.I Used Jo Sonjas sealer on the negative of a chipboard number. This stopped any of the texture paste soaking into it. I then used it as a stencil and filled the 5 shape from the nozzle tube. Then because the chipboard is sealed and slightly glossy, it lifts straight off leaving a perfect image behind. This works on any chipboard negative, it just wipes clean for use another time. Love it! I have now set about sealing all my chipboard alphabets and shape sets LOL!

This also works with Dreamweaver embossing Paste. The small  chipboard letters were coated in sealer then given a coat of acrylic paint (Jo Sonjas) ,left to dry and given a coating of Decor Crackle. Once dry you can paint another layer of acrylic which will then crack showing the paint beneath.  I was none to keen on my undercoat colour choices and added a more muted touch of paint colour to the letters so some of the effect was lost.  I coated the covers of the book in sealer and a couple of coats of matt varnish to finish. I used American Crafts rubbons for the ‘Pick Up’ wording which coated well too.  I have sample of others finishes here too, you can prick, comb, dab and stamp, do anything you like to the paste while its soft. Even after setting it remains flexible and takes paint or ink.

Well, this course is about techniques and creativity, I just had to have a go at something new on the cover didn’t I?

To answer a couple of questions from Anso before I leave you. The swirls on my tiara below were stamped with Autumn Leaves Flourishes V2 (From Angelcrafts) with back stazon. I then used clear stickles to glitter the swirls. I used acetate to stamp so I could reverse the acetate to get a uniform pattern facing toward the centre on each side IYKWIM. That lovely green heart was a gift from a friend, I don’t know where she got them but I have a few in different colours, they are so cute eh?

Editing to add that I almost for to rave about my Hiedi Swapp stash that arrived from the US on Tuesday, just look at these playing cards!! I love em, there HUGE and are meant to be the backbone of books but I think I will have to use that Queen on its own Somewhere LOL! $9.99, wonder how much they will be when they hit the UK I also got that fab date stamp for $5, what a bargain. coloured pencil, edge distresser, pokey tool, I was in HS Heaven (I know, I am sad!) But also meant to tell Anso that I have a sheet of Embossing tape for her in my hand now yeah!

Its my camera clubs social night this evening so I am off out for a while although I got so little sleep last night (bad dreams and a small child in bed with my by 5AM) I wonder if I will last past 9 o’clock!

Until later xx …..