Thursday 3 October 2013

Special Delivery by france papillon

Hi all!

I'm France (from Belgium) and i'm so excited to be here with you! 
Thank you Jennie and Emma for adopting me as a new member of the Artistic Stamper family. 
I hope i'll do you proud!

For my first offering as guest designer, i hand made one of my favorite toys: an art journal.
When i started working on this project, all i came up with, was this little fellow: a tiny mini journal that ended up being an embellishment on a bigger one.
To make it, i ripped water color paper (200gr) to the wanted size: 3,5 x 4,8 cm. Out of a packaging cardboard, i cut what would be the cover: 3,6 x 6 cm (spine: 9,9mm). 
I added color to the cover using the two layered Verdigris Patina by Pébéo and added Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges.
To give the paper a vintage look, i colorized it with Vintage Photo Distress ink and sprayed some water. I randomly added some stamping with the 'Carte Postale' stamp set with Vintage Photo Distress ink and the 'Dance Dictionary Background' with Black Archival ink. Once dry, i assembled the pages in 3 signatures and sew them together with a coptic binding.
Using the same 'Carte Postale' stamp set, i added some stamping on the cover with Black Archival ink.
Adding light touches of embossing ink on the edges with a sponge allowed me to add accents of Weathered Wood Distress Embossing powder.
 I glued the first and the last page of the inside pages to the front and back cover and added an eyelet so that i could place a chain. I now had a very fun but very small journal. But he needed a bigger brother:
I opened up an empty box of pasta, covered it with gesso and added gommed kraft to reinforce the edges.
Once dried, i gave it the same Verdegris Patina treatment as his little brother, but with a rougher finish.
I covered it with Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap, applying the glue to the paper and not to the cover, to make sure the patina would stay in place.
I dressed up the inside using Kraft Cardstock and linen canvas, then filled it with the same water color paper i used for the mini journal, sewing the signatures to the spine.
I prepared several plaster strips by dipping them into water, laying them flat to dry and then colorizing them with Sepia and Tobacco Colorex and Vintage Photo Distress ink. I printed a photo from my dad when he was 4 (love that photo!!), added some stamping to it with the 'Carte Postale' stamp set inVintage Photo and Black Soot Distress ink and glued it to black Cardstock. 
As fastener, i glued a coil with Matte accents to the cover and embellished it with a button. The 'Special Delivery' was stampend on Smoothy paper with Black Archival ink and colorized with Vintage Photo Distress ink.
I added an eyelet to the back cover, so that i could slip a piece of Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon through the it and attach it to the coil on the front cover.

To keep the small journal closed, i added a closed strip that has the same 'Special Delivery' stamping as the front, but stamped with Sepia Archival ink.
Wishing you all a fantastic end of the week,
be back soon with more Artistic Stamper fun!!

xx
france





25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful to see you on the Artistic Stamper DT blog France & this is a gorgeous project. I love the tiny journal, it's a perfect embellishment to the larger one.

massofhair said...

Always a pleasure to see France's work as she makes some Fab projects. Glad she is here as a guest designer.

Wonderful project, very different, love all the colours and pages :-)

Helen said...

I always love France's work, and it's great to see her here - this book is gorgeous - these books, I should say, as they are both fabulous!

Astrid Maclean said...

First of all welcome France, it's wonderful to have you join us here! These little books are both amazing, so much detail to admire, - I totally adore the little book as embellishment and thank you for this amazing step by step!! Love everything about this project, brilliant!

Dominike said...

What a beautiful introduction in this team. Your project is gorgeous.

Paula Whittaker said...

wow that's a stunning project.

Ginger said...

Lovely France, they are very lucky to have you playing along this month, you will be a real asset. look forward to seeing the other things you make. x

Jacqui Chimes said...

This is a beautiful project

Artyjen said...

That is so cool ;) Love the mini book attached to the larger one too. What a fabby idea :)
xoxo Sioux

Deborah said...

Both books are stunning! I must get to grips with coptic binding - it looks so cool.

craftytrog said...

Awesome, inspiring artwork France! Fab to have you sharing your talent with us here this month!
Alison xxx

Jane Wetzel said...

Absolutely LOVE this sweet journal and YAY FRANCE!!

Elly said...

I'm in love with empty pasta boxes, now!! (:o)Stunning at all

Zuzu's Blog said...

what a wonderful project. so nice to have you joining us this month.
Z x

Gez Butterworth said...

STUNNING work of art, as always France. Looks like you had sooooo much fun! Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Bravo! Gez.xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Love it! Great work, as usual, can't wait to see more !
You go, girl !
Corrie x

Kay Wallace said...

This is just such a beautiful vintage journal, France, especially with that mini journal as the perfect embellishment!! Congratulations on the Guest Designer position with The Artistic Stamper!

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

Quel art journal !! ça fait plaisir de t'avoir auprès de nous ! bienvenue !

Rebecca said...

As ever awesome work
Happy craftin
Rebecca

sara j said...

beautiful beautiful journal...the tiny little one is so damn funny. i love France's work - it's her little details that make it so nuanced. The bit of embossing powder on the the little journal is the perfect addition. wonderful project!

Words and Pictures said...

Wow - what a stunning first creation, France! I'm completely in love with it. Welcome - it's wonderful to have you playing along with us this month.
Alison x

Happy Me said...

France wow that's awesome. do you have a video tutorial of this as well?

Unknown said...

thank you thank you thank you! for taking great photos, not missing any of those wonderful details. THAT is a gorgeous art journal!

Luvcreatincards said...

Absolutely gorgeous - It has such a lovely old look about it and the tiny little book makes a wonderful embellishment. Thank you for this brilliant step by step.
France you are a STAR for sure.
Warmest best wishes
Susanne

Sande said...

Your project is brilliant! I adore the mini book and your work is to die for, France. I stumbled upon your blog which linked me to your project here. Thanks for the inspiration and step by step instructions.