What I learned: A travel themed mini book

Hello everyone!
I've been holding this project back for over 3 months but I decided it was time to share it and get your feedback.

I've made mini books before- my December Daily project from 2011 is an all time favorite of mine.
But this mini about our family road trip from New York to Salt Lake City was a challenge.

Here's a look:

I found you CAN spray Hambly transparencies!
Just let them dry out over night.
Materials: Hambly Screen print cover, Maya Road Tangerine mist, washi tape from Target,
American Crafts layered embellishments and Ormolu journaling spots.

I wanted try out two things with this new book:
1. A transparent Hambly Screenprints cover with a machine stitched spine
2. Border sewn and gessoed interior pages for an art journal look.

I used brittle vintage travel magazine pages for the inside of my book so
I covered most of them with gesso to guard against breaking.
The resulting pages are a joy to turn!  

The sewn spine became a challenge when I tried to run the finished pages through my sewing machine.
As I quickly found out, hand sewing a couple of stitches to keep the pages together BEFORE you run the whole thing through your machine is a very good idea- especially when working with slippery transparency material.

The mini quickly became an art journal project. Here I'm using a chipboard stencil from Retro Cafe Art.
 I also tried to make a confetti page with a glassine envelope but the resulting look was down right ugly so I ripped half the envelope off and just left one side. 

I made three false starts and punched holes all over the place before I got anything resembling a straight line.
Washi tape now covers the holes.
Unlike fabric, paper does not recover from a missed seam.

The gesso also provided plenty of journaling space for my travel memories. I really wish Hambly hadn't gone out of business- I love their products so much! A left over piece of their "Uncharted" design holds two of my favorite photos from our family vacation.

Stitching the gessoed page edges together made them sturdy and gave them the flexibility of fabric.
I no longer worried they would crumble apart and HUGE bonus- it feels great to touch and turn the pages.

Also, Hambly transparencies don't bend very well.
I used my Martha Stewart Score Board to make the spine but the material is so thick it resists permanent bending and doesn't close properly.
I used a piece of washi tape to hold the book shut this time but next time I plan to make a little fabric button hook for the closure.

Jenni Bowlin Studio kraft tags and Studio Calico car veneers-some of my favorite CHA summer 2012 items. The quote snippets from from a Glitz print from 2011- I wish I had gotten an extra sheet because the quotes are amazing.

Photographing the book was a dilemma as well. 

Since it doesn't lie flat I had to hold it while shooting.

Next time, I will use a knife to score a line on the transparency which should get it to lie flat for photos (and reading!)

The mini has very few actual embellishments. I used a pack of October Afternoon die cuts, Hambly camera rub-ons and  an arrow from A Flair for Buttons. The compass stencil on the right-hand page is from Prima. Stamps are from Studio Calico, Studio AE and Viva Last Vegas Stamps (which is awesome- check out their website)

Here is the back cover- I loved the texture from the stenciled gesso so much I left it mostly blank.

The Greek coffee cup was such a New York City corner deli thing!
It's not really available anymore so this stamp from Viva Las Vegas has major nostalgia factor.
The bubbles stencil from Studio Calico is AMAZING- I just reminded myself I wanted to try it again on another vintage paper project- the writing shows through the borders and looks really beautiful.

So what do you think?
Any tips?

Lots of tape used in this mini. Most of it came from Target and the Recollection's
brand sold in Michael's but I also used American Crafts Amy Tangerine tape and
Tim Holtz NYC subway tape (FAVE!!!!)

I'm very glad I pushed my technical limits with this project. 

I loved working with gesso even if I had to wait 48 hours for it to dry evenly.

And the final take away? Never be afraid to make mistakes while making what is essentially a "memory" project.

You can always go back and fix those mistakes.

Or you can decide- like I did- that the mistakes are part of your process.

The next book will be better but only because I took so many "risks" with this one.

Halloween cards made with Paper Source die cuts and stamps.
(Someone's been having fun at work!)

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Travelin' Fool- Mixing it up with silver and kraft paper

This page is one of those that just turns left mid process and totally surprises me with how great it turned out.
I wanted to try silver embossing powder from Paper Source and this heavy weight kraft paper I found on sale from 2 dollars for  pack of 25 at Joann's.
The combination seemed really strange to me but I love I love the contrast it provides.

Materials: Prima Travel themes masks, Studio Calico Atmosphere mist, Viva Las Vegas chicken wire stamp,   Wood Veneer stars from Studio Calico, silver glitter Thickers from American Crafts. Silver paint stick from Farber-Castell

I REALLY wish I had bought all the packs because it turns out The Paper Company brand kraft paper is AMAZING- thicker, darker and more flecked than the more refined kraft paper from Bazzill or American Crafts (which I also love but it's nice to have the variety).

Some detail shots:

Playing with semi transparency-I love common gift wrap tape in layers!
I love these water droplet embellishments from Sticko for the same reason I love vellum-
lots of  detail but not the crowding you get when using color embellishments.

The Viva Las Vegas chicken wire stamp is amazing!.
The edges aren't squared up so you can layer it more organically.
You can also order it mounted on wood, unmounted or
foam mounted  so it can be attached to an acrylic block. 

Ok I'm off to try to make a new project- this is my only day off this week so I have to make it count.
Tomorrow I teach my first class ever!!!
I'll be leading a "Girl's Night" over at the Paper Source on 75th street and Columbus. We'll be using the Zutter Bind it All to make a birthday card organization book.

I must admit I'm a little scared- 4 students means it should be fairly easy going but I have been reviewing videos and practicing proper binding technique just in case.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!

Check out the new "Jane" lens on the Hipstamatic.
No strange effects, just the ability to shoot square photos and mix them up with other Hipsta films.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle