Simple Truths

Lately I’ve been feeling a little “blah” about scrapbooking. My creativity has been bombarded with products and projects and “have-to’s”. So today I made this little book to bring it back to the basics:

I decided to use a 7gypsies rubber band book because I wanted to take out the pages it came with and add my own fun stuff (a gorgeous new Amy Butler fabric, some graph transparencies, library cards, magazine clippings) and make it completely customized.

I knew I wanted it to be a book full of inspirational ideas, words and quotes, but nothing too time consuming or product heavy. So I just sat down with a bunch of paints and let the thought of “simplicity” guide me. Although it may look complicated, this cover was actually really simple to make.

I started out with the naked chipboard and painted it a light aqua blue. Using my fingers, of course! Then I zapped it with a heat gun because I didn’t feel like waiting for it to dry.

Next I brushed a globby layer of rubber cement across the center, allowing it to squish out a bit towards the top and bottom. Once that dried, I lightly went over it with a coat of grey paint, and while still wet I smudged in a light sagey-green as well. Then I hit it with the gun again.

A fun effect is to leave the stream of air in one place, giving the paint a concentrated shot of heat and causing it to bubble. I love the texture and life it brings to my pained projects, especially when layering.

When the second layer is dry, take your fingers or a rubber cement eraser and rub off the area where you applied the cement. It will easily peel away, along with your top layer of paint. If you aren’t happy with your results, continue scratching at the paint with your fingernail until you get the desired effect. Basically you are playing until it just “feels” right.

And now you’ve created your very own work of art!

To further embellish I stamped with Brilliance Ink and embossed with Antiquities (for that pearlescent texture) and added rub ons for title and accent. I also used a regular soft pencil and used the edge to lightly shadow the corners and seams. The book only took about 20 minutes to create, but will remind me for a lifetime that it’s about loving what you make and loving the process as well.

Kristina

Comments

[Alane Davis]

This is so cool. Thanks for sharing the process..I'm looking forward to giving it a go. I'd love to see the whole book. The texture looks awesome.
-Alane
http://wildonions.blogspot.com

[RamonGustav]

Hi I liked your note, add your site to your bookmarks.

[ClubPenguin]

Thanks for sharing the process..I'm looking forward to giving it a go.