Book Project Swap

I participated in my online group's annual book project swap this year. The book could be any size but had to have more than twenty pages and most of the pages decorated somewhat.

I gutted an old, unused journal and made a traveler's notebook style book. Instead of using elastics for the traditional spine I sewed the signature in with the three-hole pamphlet stitch. To cover the stitching and the original cover, I glued on a piece of handmade paper with floral bits that I have had forever. The inside cover (which you can see in the second photo) was too pretty to cover up. The "theme" of the book is botanical - flowers, herbs, toadstools, butterflies and birds.

This is the cover with added metal corners and a lovely green ribbon tied around for the closure.

The following photos are of some (but not all) of the spreads and not in any particular order. I added lots of pockets, flips and tags.

This was such a fun book to put together. I had to finally stop myself from adding more!

Collage Challenges - Weeks 42 & 43

I have scheduled this post for when we are in Mexico this week (hopefully!).  

I can't believe there are only 10-11 weeks left for this challenge this year!

Week 42

Prompts:

1) black and white image (man with umbrella, clock, stamp)

2) something in a color you don't normally use (purple papers and flowers)

3) botanicals (flowers)

4) graph paper or lined paper (graph paper at top of page)

5) chocolate or candy wrapper (Andes mint wrapper at left of yucca image)

Bonus: something that starts with "Y" (yucca plant)

Week 43

Prompts:

1) something that represents spring (daffodils, butterfly)

2) something ornate (crest)

3) shoe (high heel)

4) something stencilled (leaf sprigs at top left of page)

5) a tea bag cover (above the flowers)

Bonus: photo or portion of photo (vintage cabinet card)

 

"Think Pink" Challenge

Last week my online group's weekly challenge was anything pink.

I created this flip/pocket for a journal page from a recycled window envelope.

I cut it down and also cut off the back, leaving the flap intact. Then I collaged both sides with scrap paper pieces. I glued on a small piece of card stock on the back for a little pocket. Then I made a tag, decorating it on both sides and making sure what I wanted to show through the window on the front was positioned properly on the front of the tag.

Completed flip with tag in pocket

Front of flip and front of tag

Back of flip and back of tag

This is an easy project, uses up scraps, recycles and is a great addition to a journal.

October Journal Page Swap

Surprise! I thought we would be out of town this week but there was a huge snafu with Southwest Airlines over the weekend and we were not able to fly this week. Mexico has now been postponed to next week, so I'm back to posting!

There was no given theme for this month's vintage junk journal page swap so I used a "fashion/style" theme and used images from old vintage sewing patterns.

This is the front of the page. The pocket flip is made from a recycled window envelope which I collaged with different papers.

This is the tag inserted into the pocket. The quote is an old rubber stamp.

Here is the flip open to reveal the front of the page with another stamp and an image from a sewing pattern.  The back of the pocket flip has a vellum pocket and another tag.

This is the back of the page. I used a coordinating patterned paper to make a corner pocket/tuck spot with three more tags.

 

Halloween Swap - Day 6 (Last Day)

Boo hoo - today is the last day of our Halloween swap. I've received six absolutely wonderful gifts and each is totally unique!

Here is the Book of Spells I received today. It's an altered book - such great texture on the cover - and inside on many pages are instructions for "spells." I love it.

I hate to see this swap end, but already am thinking ahead to next year and what special project I can come up with!

Just a heads up - we are traveling to Mexico tomorrow to finish up some dental work and I'll be out of touch for most of the week. I'll post when I return.

Halloween Day 5 (me!)

I was assigned Day 5.  I made these little shadowboxes out of Brie cheese balsa wood containers. I have quite a stash of these (we like Brie!) and decided to use them.

I first painted both inside and out with black gesso and then covered with a sparkly "varnish."  I added the mini ball fringe around the lip and glued on a black and white diamond-patterned ribbon around the outside edge.  The moon was cut from yellow glitter paper and I found the two little girl images online and sized them appropriately and glued together. I embellished them a little with colored pencil. They are raised from the background on several pieces of corrugated cardboard. The finishing touch is the moss, berries and tiny pumpkin glued to the foreground. A loop could be added to the back for hanging or this could be displayed on an easel (my preferred method of display).

I hope everyone enjoys them.

Halloween Swap - Day 4

 So today's gift is over the top! It came wrapped in a reusable Halloween bag tied with caution tape. Cute!

Inside was this book box collaged with bright Halloween papers.

And inside the box was this darling book, each page being a pocket with a tag.

Here it is open. The two center pages fold out.

This shows the page with the man open to reveal two other pages.

And this shows the haunted house page open revealing the witch and cat pages.

This is the back fully opened.

And these are the six tags hidden inside the pockets.

So much work went into this petite book (3.5" x 5").  And so many cool images and embellishments 

inside!  I love it!

Halloween Swap - Day 3

Ooh, look what spookiness I opened today! She is wonderfully scary. Love her green face, the RIP banner and all the dyed fibers for her dress. 

I love this swap so much. Everyone comes up with such unique projects, year after year!

Halloween Swap - Day 2

This is the Day 2 giftie -  a darling Halloween decoration. It is made on the backing of a 5" x 7" photo frame so it is freestanding.  So, so cute!

Annual Spooktacular Swap - Let the Fun Begin!

 My online group did "12 Days of Christmas" swaps for many years, but last year due to rising postage costs and how hectic December can be, we switched to "6 Days of Halloween" with groups of 6 instead of 12.

Since the group consists of 6 participants, everyone is designated one day and makes 6 gifts (usually identical or very similar) for each person including yourself. Today is the day we start opening each day's gift.

Day 1 is a great, "spooky" altered composition book. It's hard to see in the photo but the front is covered with a patterned tissue paper and is wrinkly and very textured. I love all the Halloween icons that were added and the spider is really 3D. Love it! It will be great to use for Halloween ideas and inspiration, and even recipes.

Collage Challenges - Weeks 40 & 41

Week 40

 

Prompts:

1) an illustration (couple from old book)

2) something with fur (sheep, leopard)

3) math symbol (page from algebra book - upper right corner)

4) postage stamp (3, upper right)

5) the sun (hand-drawn image from magazine and sunset stamp)

Bonus: food item (steak and asparagus)

Week 41

Prompts:

1) a tool (the black and white illustration, lower left)

2) a doll or toy (teddy bear)

3) something cold (snow image)

4) a playing card (upper left)

5) sheet music (upper right and lower left corners)

Bonus: security envelope design (red patterned paper, lower right corner)

I added a few extras - patterned papers, washi tape, postage stamps and labels.

I Believe in Santa Claus

 Christmas already? Well, you can never be prepared enough. A friend and I got together a few weeks ago  to do some "stitching." I found a large box of very old cross-stitch and primitive stitch patterns from years ago and discovered a cute, simple project to stitch.

The base is tea-dyed muslin and the stocking and star are cut from cotton fabrics and adhered with Wonder-Under (a fusible web often used for appliqué and sewing projects). I used backstitch and a dark red embroidery floss for the lettering and a dark green floss for stitching around the stocking. This is approximately 6' w x 7" h.

I mounted it on an old book cover that I cut down to size and added wide rick rack trim around the edge. It can be placed on an easel for holiday decor or a loop could be added to the back to hang it. I will give this to two of my grandsons.