It's Not What It Seems!!!

So what do you think I've got to show ya all today? Another notebook? Wrong :D It's a faux book card!

I've seen a few of these book cards on my travels around the land of blog and eventually I decided to have a go at making one for my GDT project over at Stampotique. I'm going to give this to Hubby for his birthday - if DD doesn't nab it first!!! Anyway, here it is - really picture heavy post so my apologies!

I made the card base using this tutorial - there are loads out there, but this one is really clear and simple to follow. I kinda had a plan in my head as to how I wanted this to look, but there were a few things I hadn't decided upon as I wasn't sure they'd work or for that matter look right. So the card has been constructed in a completely bizarre manner and the actual concertina part was added at the last minute!!! :D

The first thing I did was cut the kraft paper to fit the book/card (I'll call it a book from now on, so that I don't confuse you or myself) and distress the edges by rolling them and inking them. I then added some faux stitching.

Before gluing the papers in place I experimented with my fastener, once I was happy I taped and glued the loop part in place and then added the kraft papers to the book. I poked holes where I needed the button to sit and then simply tied it in place.

I stamped several of the Leaf  images onto an old book page before cutting out and inking with Distress Inks. These were then arranged in the book and around the frame before trimming to size. I used my Spellbinders Foliage Die to cut some leaves and again inked with DI's before arranging them into the book pages. I also cut one of the leaf sprays down and attached it to the branch that Owl With Wings sits on, before colouring the image with pencils.

The background was inked using Distress Inks and then mounted onto the book and the back of the "pages" frame.

I gently swiped the book pages with Antique Gold acrylic paint on a baby wipe, this gives a really distressed look. The sentiment was computer generated. I've popped it out a little from the frame using black pop dots.

The quote was computer generated and then printed onto kraft paper, which again has been distressed and faux stitched.

So there you have it, one Faux Book. I really hope you liked this as I have another one to show you very soon! :/

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire x

Materials:
Leaf by Jo Capper-Sandon
Owl With Wings
Kraft Paper
Card
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Forrest Moss, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Brick Red, Walnut Stain and Tea Dye

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - A Bit Of Brown
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Nature
Stamptacular Sunday - Fabulous Folds
Hotshot Crafts - Distress Inks
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Pixie Dust Studio - Birds

OMG 18 Years!!!

Good morning to you all. Sorry for the lack of a card for the last Delicious Doodles challenge, but life has been a touch frantic here. Anyway, I'm here for this weeks challenge which is texture. We want to see at least two different types of texture on your cards - think fabric, twine, embossing, distressing etc..... I'll be back with a second post later today, so keep your eyes peeled for that one (I have a feeling that you will not want to miss it!!!).

I decided that I'd use this challenge as an opportunity to make my Anniversary card for my hubby. We've been married for 18 years in April - I'm not quite sure how that's happened, but I've double checked and it's definitely 18 years!!! However, now I've made it I'm not sure if it's too girly??? :( So Mrs Organised, isn't quite so smug now as it's looking like I'm gonna have to make another card :/

Anyway, here's my card - what do you think?? Too girly???

I found this card blank in my stash, but sadly have no idea where it came from, so if you recognize it let me know as I really enjoyed working with it!

The image is of course Teri's Mr & Mrs Owl which I've paper pieced using some of those hoarded scraps "that might come in useful!". I've added some dimension to them with Glossy Accents and a bit of sparkle with Stickles. The tree branch has been cut free-hand in Kraft card and then run through the Big Shot in a Sizzix Wood-grain embossing folder before being swiped with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I used my Spellbinders Foliage Die to cut and emboss the leaves. These have then been snipped into singles and clusters.

The sentiment has been computer generated using this font and then punched out with a Fiskars Squeeze Punch. I've then used my pokey tool to create stitching holes before joining them a fine marker pen. The heart has been attached to a piece of twine and hung from the branch. I attached it with silicone glue to hold the twine taught.  I used Broken China Distress Ink to create a cloudy sky background on the card blank before mounting it all into place.

If you're not stopping by later for my second post, then I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stamp n Doodle - Embossing
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Get Hippity With Ippity - Things with wings
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Things with wings
Paper Pretties - Paper Piecing
Stamp & Create - Paper Piecing