52-Weeks of Book Binding, Journals and more...

Week 26

"Steampunk Journal"

Here we are, already half way through the year.  

Wow!  It doesn't seem possible that half the year has already gone by.  

Where did it go?

A couple of weeks ago, I took a Steampunk Journal Class at the Stamp Addict in San Diego, CA and I loved it!  I love Steampunk and I love making journals, so making a steampunk journal was the perfect marriage.  Here is what we did:

The front of the cover was made by using a Dreamweaver Steampunk Stencil and texture paste.  Then we sprayed it with Color Bloom Ink Sprays and used the Inka Golds and Silvers.  Die cut cogs and wheels were added for embellishments.  

While our cover was drying, we played with a variety of textured pastes, stencils and sprays.  Here are a few of the pages we created:

This one is my favorite.  We were playing with crackle paste, and adding color.  I had some left over and used the paste over a stencil.  It's hard to see, but when the paste dried, the circles ended up looking like lily pads.

After I got home, I sprayed a few more pages to add to my journal:

The class was lots of fun and I learned a lot about the different textured paste, how you can use them, and how each one looks with and without color.

Here is the back of the book that we got to decorate as well.  I liked how the inks dripped, making it look like tree branches.

I've always wanted to start an art journal, but was intimidated by it.  I never knew where to start and examples I saw, just made it more confusing.  I realize now that it's not that hard.  You just have to let go and dive in.

52-Weeks of Book Binding, Journals and more...

Week 25

Coaster Book

Father's Day is just around the corner.  A lot of us have a hard time trying to figure out what to buy for Dad. How about making something.  This is a quick and easy little book just for Dad.  It's a "Blizzard Book", which I turned into a coaster book.  

I like to collect various coasters from different places that I go to for a bite to eat.  The ones I like the best are from the Yard House.

With this type of book you can add as many pages as you like, and it can be as large or as small as you like.  I made mind to fit the coasters I had on hand and then added a cute mustache cover for the book.

Here are a few pages from the book:

Front Page

Inner Pages

Back Page

As  you can see, some of the pages of the book are quirky and other regular beer coasters.  The book does not have to be a book of coasters, you can add your favorite pictures and create a memory book.  

What I like about this particular style of book, is that the pages are interchangeable.  The pages can be removed and/or replaced by sliding your coasters or pictures out from the taps.  That simple! 

So, check out the links and see what you can come up with for your book.

52-Weeks of Book Binding, Journals and more...

Week 24

"FLAG BooK"

Sunday is "Flag Day", so that gave me the idea to make a "Flag Book".

The post on this is going to be short, sweet and to the point.  I did not do a tutorial, because there a many tutorials out there on how to make this book, which I will share some links with you at the end of this post.

Here is the inside of the book.  I found out there are 112 flags, but I made only enough spaces for 12.  I think that is plenty to start with.

For the outside of the book, I made pendant flags and hung the title of the book on them.  I was going to glue them down, but I like the way they look.  When you move the book, the flags move as if they are moving from the wind.  Blowing in the wind so to speak ;-)

Links:     http://jimmielanley.hubpages.com/hub/flag-book

              https://sketchbookproject.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/200905317-Make-a-Flag-Book

              https://sketchbookproject.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/200905337-Flag-Book

52-Weeks of Book Binding, Journals and more...

Week 23

Zen Doodle Workshop

This week's post is the new magazine by Cloth Paper Scissors, Zen Doodle Workshop.  I am excited to be posting this magazine on my blog.  Why, you might ask?  Well, because I just so happen to be in the magazine and am really excited to share it with you.

My studio is featured in the magazine,

I have a Mandala tutorial to share,

and one of my Zen Doodle art pieces is featured in the 

Gallery section of the magazine.

So, I hope you will go out and buy it.  

There are a lot of great artist in there, with lost of tutorial, ideas, inspirations and more.