Read Any Good Books Lately? for Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome! It's Sara Emily's turn to host the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog and she's called it 'Read Any Good Books Lately?' Reading a good book on the beach or on the porch is a simple summer pleasure. For this challenge, please create a vintage or shabby chic project that depicts a favourite book or use book pages on your project, alter a book or even make a journal or journal page! Just be sure it's in the vintage or shabby chic style that we are looking for!

The team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive 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, so there are plenty of reasons for joining in the fun.

My DT creation for this challenge is a book, inspired by a book! It's a steampunk themed mini book which incorporates elements tying into the story The Invention of Hugo Cabret (more commonly known from the film adaptation, Hugo).

Now there are times when I have a clear idea how I'm going to create a project but to be honest that is rare! Normally, as in this case, it's a case of letting something evolve, layering until it looks right. So I decided to give you a 'warts and all' guide to getting the finished look to this little book.

I started by cutting covers using Eileen Hull's 'Passport' Book die, covering it with die cuts using Tim Holtz' Gear Head Thinlits and his Weathered Clock (covered in grit paste). This was all given a coat of Black Gesso, followed by a layer of Dina Wakley's Night acrylic paint (there's a special discount on this at The Funkie Junkie Boutique right now!) I diluted Ocean acrylic paint and dropped it onto the raised areas to highlight, allowing it to air dry.

The contrast was too dramatic for me so I dry brushed the Ocean acrylic paint over the whole thing. Next came dry brushed layers of Cheddar acrylic paint and White acrylic paint which looked lovey but was still too matte for gears and cogs. If I'd have had Dina's Guilt and Sterling paints they would have come into play at this point but instead I did more dry brushing with Tarnished Brass and Brushed Pewter Distress Paints. The key to all this layering is to use less of each colour as you progress to allow the previous ones to remain partially visible.

One of my favourite tricks is to spritz a dry dimensional project with water then drip alcohol ink (in this case Latte, though Mushroom, Rust or Butterscotch would also work). Heating it with a heat tool brings out various shades and effects.

Now just to show the difference you get by leaving out two of the layers of paint used on the cover, I painted the black gesso'd spine piece with Night and Ocean acrylic paints, then the two metallic Distress Paints.

You can see that the additional Cheddar and White layers significantly lightened the cover.

To embellish I added a die cut Eiffel Tower, covered in Crackle Medium and layers of Cheddar and Metallic paints. There are also dots of Liquid Pearls, cogs, metal charms, French coins, a sprinkle of druzy cabochons and some fabulous steampunk embellishments from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. The inside pages were stamped with the cog image to match the theme.

That's it for my DT project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge 'Read Any Good Books Lately?' I hope you've enjoyed today's tutorial. Do make sure you hop on over to see what my talented team mates have been inspired to create. And remember to link your own book related shabby chic or vintage projects, to be in with a chance of winning one of the fabulous prizes.

I'll be back on Friday with a new Friday Focus post. Until then have a fantastic end to the week, take care of yourselves and get creative! Jenny xxx

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 22PK - Gear Head by Tim Holtz 661184 (April Pre-Order)	Dina Wakley Media Mediums - Black Gesso	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Night, 1oz Bottle (February Pre-Order)	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Ocean, 1oz Bottle (February Pre-Order)	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Cheddar, 1oz Bottle (February Pre-Order)	Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - White, 1oz Bottle (February Pre-Order)	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Brushed Pewter	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Mushroom	*Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Fleur de Lis and Eiffel Tower BIGZ Die
3 Piece Antiqued Bronze Tone Eiffel Tower Charms	Wendy Vecchi Crackle Texture Paste	RANGER LIQUID PEARLS 1/2 OZ PEWTER	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Nail Heads TH93277 (February Pre-Order)	Drusy Resin Dome Seals Cabochon Round- Set of 5	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Typed Tokens	Steampunk Key - Antiqued Bronze Charm	Steampunk Gadget Charms	Set of 8 Bronze Gears	Silver Tone Jump Ring Set
2014 CHA Release - Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Tree Branch