20 November 2019

Lovely Leaves at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the start of a new challenge theme over at the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. It's my turn to host and this time the challenge is called 'Lovely Leaves'. "At this time of year leaves take over from flowers as the stars of Nature's display - the deciduous ones take on beautiful Autumnal hues before falling to the ground, whilst the evergreen ones keep our gardens from looking bare as we wait for new flowers to appear in the Spring. For this challenge make sure to add leaves (or even Pine Needles if you like) to your vintage or shabby chic projects."

As ever, the Design Team will choose their top four picks, with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog and the next three will receive Top 3 Badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

This DT project features layers of Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint in the background and leaves from Tim Holtz 'Nature's Wonder' stamp set in the foreground, and has an Autumnal colour palette (which seems to have come and gone very quickly this year here!)


I've put together a tutorial for recreating the cover of this Pocket Notebook below.

Tutorial


Having cut the two covers using Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook die the spine has been cut away and rejoined with a quarter inch space either side using Architape. I've shown this step several times on my blog including here. After covering the covers and spine with a coat of White Gesso follow up with a layer of Dina Wakley Media 'Gilt' Acrylic Paint. Then scrape over random patches of White Gesso on the top.


From here it looks a little scary with some brighter colours in play but fear not, you've seen that it turns out alright in the end. Use a brayer to apply a coat of Dina Wakley Media 'Blushing' Acrylic Paint; you can see below that I left some of the previous layers visible underneath.


Repeat the process, this time with Dina Wakley Media 'Cheddar' Acrylic Paint. As each layer is applied so I use less and less paint.


Again, repeat the process with Dina Wakley Media 'Carnation' Acrylic Paint.


To tone down the bright colours dry brush over it all with White Gesso, taking care to go lightly at this stage - you don't want to lose all the colour that's been lovingly applied so far!


While the covers and spine are still flat trim the spine with ribbon or lace; Linda stocks beautiful ribbon in her store including this Gold Crocheted Metallic Ribbon from May Arts.


To compliment the gold ribbon and protect the edges of the notebook add Gold Tone Corners, altered with first Black Gesso then a little Mushroom and Latte Alcohol Inks. You'll see from the photo below that I used the same paint/inks to alter some of the gold beads on a yarn tassel, attached to the inside of the spine before the text block is added.


As this challenge theme is all about leaves it's time to include some of those; stamp out oak leaves from the 'Nature's Wonder' stamp set on coloured paper/card. Mine was left over from a Gel Press printing session and has many of Dina Wakley's colours on it including Ruby, Cheddar, Sedona and Buff. Cut them out ready for adding to the front cover.


Apply some of the 'Aviary' Collage Paper to a piece of card using Matte Distress Collage Medium and cut/tear to trim the section you want.


To finish I added some torn strips of painted paper (more of the stuff used for the leaves plus some coloured with Dina Wakley Media 'Olive' Acrylic Paint) stitched together with lace trim. With the bird in place I attached a key from my stash (Linda also has keys in her store) wound with burlap string and wire and arranged the stamped leaves around it. For a final detail I added a Drusy Cabochon and small gilt bead before attaching the tea stained paper text block inside.

Here are some close ups to show you the finished notebook in more detail;






Inside are the bound tea stained copy paper pages that can be held open by the beaded tassel;


For now that's my take on the theme 'Lovely Leaves' for the current The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog challenge. My fantastic team mates have created the most amazing projects for this challenge so make sure you hop on over and check them out HERE. And remember to link up your own shabby chic or vintage projects featuring leaves to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

Thanks for visiting,
Jenny xxx

Products used to create this Pocket Notebook are available from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and are listed/linked below.

7 comments:

  1. I imagine you having a library of all your fabulous notebooks! The designs and techniques on your covers and how you create them are inspiring! Beautiful design with the lovely texture on the covers. I love that bird nestled into your leaves and perched on the key!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, my, Jenny! This is a favorite for me! First off, I love that chippie paint background that shows off your gorgeous collage. I love the way you've used the bird from the collage paper, and was what first caught my attention. You have a way of making THE most eye-catching collages, and this one is a true favorite for me! Thank you for your inspiration! Sending hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amazing Jenny! A little paint here, a little paint there, next thing I know you've whippedout a masterpiece, again! You do inspire me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That paint-scraped background is a knockout - beautiful colours, especially with that gilded shimmer hovering within the layers. Beautiful leaves of course, and I love the wrapped key.
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stunning Jenny and as always thank you for sharing how you achieved the look and for the inspiration, the key and corners are just perfect touches 😊
    MaggieH

    ReplyDelete
  6. This project is so stunning & all those layers!!! Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial I love that you have an amazingly detailed step-out pics. I know that takes extra time but makes following this project so much easier. Really need to make this project!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your journal/notebook covers are always so beautiful and inspiring Jenny x I adore the colours you used and that textured layout/stamps is just stunning x
    Sending huge hugs
    Annie xx

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...