Be Inspired! Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni Monthly Challenge

It is hard to believe that this is our six month for the Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni monthly challenge. Jami picked a really fun challenge for us to create a journal of some kind, large or small and gave a lovely inspiration picture to work with.

Be Inspired! This is what Jami wrote in our challenge:

"As soon as I saw the photo I knew it needed to be an Inspiration Challenge. The color combo in the four page magazine spread was one I never would have put together, but it has such a feeling of Spring…a really fresh quality. Of course you can choose to be inspired by the color palette or by the composition of the photo or by any element that grabs you. Take the photo literally or be as abstract as you dare. And what better way to use an Inspiration Challenge than to make an Inspiration Journal – something to jot down little ideas when you’re out shopping or something to keep in your stamping area with sketches, color swatches and the like, or even to journal about your dreams or prayers".

-Challenge Focus: See the Inspiration Photo below. The photo is from BH&G 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100 magazine.
-Required Element: Make an Inspiration Journal for yourself or as a gift. It can be any size from tiny to huge.
-Restricted Element: No markers (SU, Copic, or any other brand), no watercolor crayons.
-Keyword: DCI408 (for Dirty Challenge Inspired April 08 )

You can see all the challenge entries by clicking here DCI408

I was more inspired by the colors in the photo than the actual furniture.  I loved the blue, white and the arrangement of orange flowers. I have never made a coaster book before so I decided to try my hand at one and to use my new Zutter Bind-it-All. My mind instantly went to the Ranger Distress Crackle Paint color -Weathered Wood and how lovely it would look with the Adirondack Dabber-Snow Cap white. I knew I wanted to create an aged and weathered wood look of some kind so I started what was sort of an experiment for me and ended up being a project I really love. You can read below how I created the faux wood fence background layer for the book front.

I used Rubbernecker KK Originals Flowers to create my flower garden along the framed garden fence .  I stamped, painted and cut out all the flowers and leaves so I could pop them into the scene. I attached all the flowers along the faux wood background with glue dots. I painted a SU scalloped chipboard frame with the white acrylic paint and then applied a layer of orange designer paper and lightly dabbed the white acrylic over it as well. I adhered the frame to the coaster and added a few other flowers to the frame area.

I stamped the Watering Can with black craft ink and embossed with copper embossing powder. I took a brush and lightly applied touches of black craft reinker to the can and then heated again to give an old, worn look. I had to take a close-up of the can for this article as I think it looks so realistic.

I finished attaching flowers and leaves in the can and attached it to the front of the journal.  I created the Inspiration sentiment with my computer, cut it with a scalloped oval Nestabilities and attached to the front of the book. I used the *Bind-it-All to cut the holes in both the front and back journal covers and inside sheets, and attached the wire with the machine.  Wow!  You gotta get one of these things. I tied orange and blue grosgrain ribbons through the holes and out the side of the book front instead of to the wires rings so they would always stay in place.

     *Hint: Do not adhere two layers of coaster or a coaster and chipboard together as they will not both fit into the Bind-it-All.  I had to peel off lots of the inside layer of the coaster, sand down and repaint to get the cover to fit. Ugh!  I thought I was going to have to scrap the whole project.  Whew!

Creating Faux Wood on a Coaster

I recreated the faux wood technique and took some pictures for a tutorial . I didn’t have enough sense to do it as I was making the project as I didn’t know if it would turn out well.

I painted the coaster with the acrylic white paint and dried.

I painted on a hit and miss coat of Weathered Wood crackle paint and dried.

I used my paper piercer to pull through the paint to create the look of lines in the wood. I then used a file to deepen the division to create the appearance of age and separation between the wood.

I sanded the line and paint lightly and then used a mini tip sponge applicator to apply Vintage Photo ink to the line to give it more age and definition.

I lightly applied the white acrylic paint to the blue paint and sanded just lightly.  I wanted the wood to look like a coat of white wash was weathering off over a layer of blue paint.

The inside and back cover of the journal are painted with the Weathered Wood Crackle paint.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker KK Originals Flower Collectiona

Paper:  Papertrey White, SU Designer Paper, Watercolor

Ink:  Pumpkin, Chocolate Chip Craft, Black Craft, Distress Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo, Adirondack Acrylic Snow Cap Dabber, Distress Crackle Paint Weathered Wood,

Accessories:  Bind-it-All, Coasters, Chipboard, Copper Embossing Powder, Grosgrain, Glue Dots, Paper Piercer, File, Sandpaper, Mini Tip Applicator, Snips, Nestabilities,