Friday 14 February 2014

Love Story by Laura Bomber


Hi everyone! Welcome back to my second creation at The Artistic Stamper. With my appearance being scheduled for the 14th I had to make something for Valentines Day. I chose to make a romantic themed altered book. I had made altered books before, but this time I wanted to make something slightly different and after much thought I decided to turn it into a box. This was a lot of fun because I had to figure out how to do it - and the journey of discovery of what works and what things you 'should never do!' is always something I really enjoy!
I had a small hardback book and tore the pages out (and saving them for future projects!) being careful not to tear the binding at all. Once I had just the cover I needed to decorate it.
 First I used some plain white paper - and covered it with Antique Linen Distress Stain. I dried it with the heat gun and then creased the paper very slightly to add some texture. I wanted it to look old....like something found in an attic telling the story of ancestors....I then got to work using several stamps following the theme of travel.


I stamped the images using from the label and Carte Postale set using Potting Soil Archival ink and adding some Distress inks blended around the edges. Using Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap added a lovely shabby aged effect. I also stamped some of the images using Walnut Stain Distress ink
I glued the paper to the book cover using Matte Multi-Medium and left to dry while I worked on some leather effect paper.

For this I used the same white paper that I used for the cover and this time I swiped Forest Moss, Walnut Stain and Gathered Twigs Distress Stain all over the paper, then spritzed with a little bit of water. I scrunched the paper up in my hands and then unravelled it (very carefully!) I dried this with a heat gun and used Distress inks - Walnut Stain and Gathered Twigs with the blending tool to fill in any gaps of colour. I then wiped across the paper lightly with the Walnut Stain pad. This adds very intense colour to the creases. I then dried it carefully with the heat gun again.
I cut a strip of this leather effect paper to size for the book spine and glued it into place with a light coat of multi-medium and then began to construct the panel that would be used to hold the book box shut. This was just a sheet of card covered with the leather paper and glued onto the book box with Glossy accents glue.

 A Tim Holtz bookplate was used to decorate the front 
 and a metal clasp was attached to the card with brads to hold it shut.
The inside was decorated with plain white paper...this had been stamped with flowers from Botanical 3 in Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. I randomly stamped the images and then dabbed a bit of the ink over the roses to create a subtle faded effect. I used Shabby Shutters Distress Stain to add colour to the leaves and then used Antique Linen Distress ink to fill in around the flowers. A bit of Walnut Stain Distress ink around the edges added a bit of a shabby vintage look. When this was done I glued it to the inside of the book cover.
Now to construct the box. I cut three pieces of balsa wood to size, used some wood stain to match the cover of the book and glued them into place.

To decorate the inside cover I used a Gibson Girl stamp and the portrait from Men's Plate 001. I stamped them with Potting Soil Archival ink and then decided that I wanted them to look like old photographs. I used Faded Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain and Antique Linen Distress Stains to paint the stamps with vintage sepia photograph colours. When this was done I dabbed them with embossing ink and did a light coat of clear embossing powder to look like the photos were behind glass frames.

The frames were cut from embossed card and painted with Old Gold Fresco paint which was then dabbed with French Roast Fresco Paint. I glued the two photographs side by side and then began to add some decoration from my craft stash....
A rose was dabbed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, some leaves covered in Mocha Mousse Fresco paint and Rock Candy glitter glue. A flower die cut was painted with Antique Linen Distress Paint and then edged with Tattered Rose Distress Ink. A few metal embellishments were added including a key and envelope. I finished off the decoration with some crochet lace that was lightly dabbed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and some ivory hemp string tied into bows.

I decided that the box should hold some memories - perhaps of travel, romantic destinations, letters, postcards and photographs. All of them were tied up with peach ribbon and I couldn't resist adding a tarnished brass key - perhaps somewhere there are more intriguing memories locked away?......
One of the stamps resembled an old faded photograph when stamped with Potting Soil Archival ink and covered with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
I also used the map background
The rose was stamped with Potting Soil Archival ink and coloured with Tattered Rose Distress ink. The leaves were painted with Shabby Shutters Distress stain and the background of the picture was covered with Broken China Distress ink before being edged with Vintage Photo Distress ink. Calligraphic Mat 6 was used to add script around the edges.


    Thanks so much for being here to see my Valentines day creation at The Artistic Stamper - I really hope you like it! I will be back here with my final creation on the 28th - Hope you will come back to see what I have made!

Happy Crafting!

Laura xxx

Artistic Stamper stamps:
Gibson Girl 5 
Carte Postale Size A5
Labels A6
Botanical 3
Ephemera 1
Men's Plate 001
Gibson Girl 5 
Architecture 1
Europe Map Background 
Calligraphic Script 6



Other items used:
Distress Stains - Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Forest Moss, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs and Shabby Shutters
Distress Inks - Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Tattered Rose, Broken China and Embossing ink
Distress paints - Antique Linen
Archival Inks - Potting Soil
Fresco Paint - Old Gold, French Roast and Mocha Mousse
Claudine Hellmuth Studio -Matte Multi-Medium
Distress stickles - Rock Candy
Inkssentials - Glossy Accents
Embossing powder - Clear



25 comments:

itsazoo said...

This is just Stunning......

Geraldine said...

Gorgeous project Laura.

Marci said...

Gorgeous, really like the inside. The portraits are fantastic.

massofhair said...

Lost for words..... STUNNING :-) xxx

Helen said...

So beautiful and certainly romantic! and you have all those pages to use on other projects...

Inkypinkycraft said...

A beautiful make Laura ! X

Astrid Maclean said...

Totally amazing project Laura, there is no way you could tell this started as a book! Love the cover with those faux leather bits and the inside is out of this world! A truly stunning make and a piece to treasure! So much inspiration, love it to bits!!

Claudia N. said...

Don't know what I like more - the inside or the outside of your marvellous altered book, Laura!

The faux leather looks awesome and the couple on the inside is brilliant too! An adorable make!

Hugs,
Claudia x

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is gorgeous Laura, the effect of those photographs in the frames created just from stamps is amazing,

Lucy x

Words and Pictures said...

Lovely, romantic, vintage make!
Alison x

Juliz Design Post said...

Laura, This is a masterpiece in every way. Thanks for all the step by step as you crafted. What a great idea using Balsawood. Love it.

Julie x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Absolutely stunning Laura - I have just read your post three times! There are so many wonderful details I wouldn't know where to start to say what I loved best and everything is so inspirational. I just love every bit of it!

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

this is such a marvelous book with so many beautiful stamps perfectly fitting together !!! love it !

Paper Profusion said...

Totally beautiful. Nicola x

Anonymous said...

I have no words for how gorgeous I think this is, it's completely stunning.

Anneke said...

This is a wonderful project. Every detail fits perfect. Thank you for your explanation. Anneke.

Annie said...

A fantastic project from start to finish. Beautiful exterior and the inside is divine, perfect for keeping love letters.

TFS Laura

Hugs Annie x

toni said...

Superb ! Absolutely gorgeous project x

craftytrog said...

A beautiful project Laura, very cleverly constructed!
Alison x

Artyjen said...

Ooh Super ;)
xoxo Sioux

Julie Lee said...

What a fabulous idea! It's beautiful and ingenious; a lovely play with altered book techniques. I love the colour scheme and the imaginative ideas behind the project too! Inspirational! Julie Ann xxx

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Laura, this box and it's contents are drop dead gorgeous,what a stunning make well all your creations are, thanks for sharing, ((( BIG HUGS)))..

Anonymous said...

I love the romance of this piece so my absolute favourite aspect is the framed images of the woman and gentleman, that is so beautiful.
Wishes
Lynne

Cindy Groh said...

AMAZING! I love it. Thanks for the inspiration. This is really cool and well done.

Anneke said...

Just one word BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for your explanation Anneke.
www.annekescardart.blogspot.com