Hello everyone, you might remember that in my last post I showed how to use a chipboard element as a stencil. So today I thought I would make a mini art journal and use some of the stencilled prints to decorate it.
To make the small journal, I am using the chipboard set called Altoids Book Cover C2F and some of the stencilled paper from my previous chipboard printing session. In addition to the gel printing, I also used the chipboard stencil in two other ways - firstly with ink and a sponge:
Then with texture paste:
So I ended up with these prints in addition to my gel prints:
I cut down the top print down to fit both sides of the book cover leaving a little extra on the side.
I used PVA glue to adhere the pieces to my cover leaving a small gap in between so that my journal would lay flat and also close properly.
Here's how it looks on the outside with the paper overlapped on the spine.
For the inside, I repeated the process using a piece of watercolour paper already painted.
Then I took the texture paste print and cut a piece to fit on the spine with a little extra to wrap around to the front cover to make it more interesting.
Position the shaped side where you want it to be and glue that down first. Once that is dry, glue the rest to the spine making sure that you can open and close the book.
I used wax to colour the edges of the book, but paint would also work.
I used watercolour paper (9.5 x 12.5 inch size) to cut 6 x 4 3/8 inch pages that I folded in half.
I cut 14 pages in total to make 7 signatures. There are a number of ways to assemble the inside of the journal. The signatures could be stitched together, or they could be held firmly in position as in the photo below and glued together, then glued to the spine.
But, since I wanted my pages to be removable, I used elastic cords to hold my pages in place. 
For this size book, these hair elastics are the perfect size!
Slide the pages through the elastics and the mini journal is ready to use!
The pages can be removed to work in them and returned to the journal when finished.
To finish off my journal I added another hair elastic to hold it closed and attached a tassel leftover from another project.
It's a nice size to carry around or pop in a handbag or a pocket. The pages are 6 x 4 3/8 inches and the journal will take at least 14 removable pages to work in.
I hope you liked this little tutorial, let me know in the comments!
Elle
Empire of the Cat
Altoids Book Cover C2F
PE126ES Seaweed Circle *coming soon*
PE129ES Oceanic *coming soon*
acrylic paints, texture paste, PVA,
From stash: pre-painted watercolour paper, hair elastics, pre-made tassel,
My childhood was spent going to church at a small Baptist Church that stood on a hill just about a mile from my county home. There were many restrictions and expectations about what a Christian should look like and behave. I felt trapped sometimes by its dogma. As a gay man I knew that I was condemned to "hell" and I was an abomination. These words kept me from expressing my true self, but I did grow up with a value system that seems to be missing from much of our world today. I have made my peace with my faith and am thankful for all the darkness it has carried me through. I used to pray that my hope would be taken away because I have known some very deep disappointments. BUT I am thankful that prayer has never been answered and I have somehow managed to keep a positive disposition through most of this past year. This is the inspiration for this artwork.
1. Attach Song Sheet to Wooden Cigar Box Substrate with Weldbond. This is from a church hymnal that came from Moreland Baptist Church. My dad loved singing in their small choir.
Some Final Thoughts.
My faith is now best described by Over The Rhine's song "All My Favorite People Are Broken"
Supplies: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Waterworks Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Heart of Gears, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Sandra Evertson | Filigree Heart - Mixed Media Chips (Pack of 2), Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Leafy Hearts, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Barbed Wire Shape Set, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Set, Wooden Cigar Box Lid Substrate, Music Song Sheet, Weldbond, ArtFomies Writer's Block, Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Pyrrole Red, Diaylide Yellow Paint, Lumiere Metallic Rust and Copper Paint, Neon Pink Paint, Script and Wooden Grain Stamp, Embossing Powders-Red, Metallic Bronze, Vintage Photo. Etched Platinum, Pewter, German Silver, Versa Mark Gel, Heating Tool, Metallic Blue Nail Polish, Paintbrush, Heavy Books
I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!
