Monday, December 17, 2018

sewing "notions" journal

Hello everyone,
I am so happy to be back for another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog.
My December in the designer spotlight is moving quickly, and the month is very busy, I just want to savor this wonderful opportunity. I am grateful to Lols and the entire design team from the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for their encouragement and support, it means so much to me.

I hope that you are excited about this week's challenge "stitch it up." We would like to see you add some stitching to your project (real or faux).


I had quite a few ideas regarding this weeks theme and settled on a journal to store ideas or "notions" for sewing projects. My mom can do amazing things with her sewing machine and, thankfully, has taught my daughter to love creating with it as much as she does. I am comfortable running an embroidery on the machine; however, when it comes to putting needle to my paper crafting, I am somewhat of a scaredy cat. This journal will be a special place for us to generate new ideas and also make notes of changes for works in progress.
I start with a die cut journal base made from chipboard using the Eileen Hull/Sizzix journal scoreboards die. This is definitely one of my go to dies for all sorts of projects, it is really versatile. There are various ways that the covers can be put together. For my notions journal, I assemble the covers to accommodate two signatures. When I began, I was still unsure how I would be finishing the spine of the book; for this reason, I painted both spines with black soot distress paint and allowed to dry. The black will help to conceal any raw edges if I decide to cover the spine with paper or something that does not wrap the corners.
While the paint is drying, I die cut a base dress form from lightweight chipboard with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix sewing room bigz die. I cut a second dress form from woodgrain cardstock and a third from heavyweight cardstock covered with adhesive backed linen textile surfaces. The woodgrain cardstock is inked with distress inks in vintage photo, gathered twigs, ground expresso and walnut stain to simulate an aged wooden dress form frame. I trim the top finial and the bottom stand sections and attach them to the chipboard piece with collage medium. The linen covered bodice area is also trimmed, inked around the edges, and then attached to the form base. When the the glue is dry, I stamp the word PARIS from a section of a stamp onto the bodice with black soot archival ink. 
Next, I die cut the wings from metallic kraft stock with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix layered angel wings die. The largest layer is debossed with the wings texture fades embossing folder. The middle wing layer is embossed in the texture fade as well but on the reverse side so that the texture is raised. The topmost layer remains plain metallic gold. I lightly sand all of the wing pieces and ink around the edges. The wing layers are stacked and glued together along their innermost edges with collage medium. 
The winged dress form is the focal point of my cover. I attach a milagros adornment to the center of the bodice with a small star brad. This entire piece is situated above a strip of paper cut from the  Christmas paper stash. I just love how the wings and foiled stars from the paper play off of each other. The strip of paper is distressed along the edges and inked with gathered twigs before being attached to a piece of lightly sanded, classic black kraft stock. 

It is at this point that I realize the spine should coordinate with the main focal point, to unify the book design. To accomplish this, I wrap the outside spine with the same adhesive backed linen as the dress form. The edges are inked with gathered twigs distress ink.

I want to incorporate more of the woodgrain into the cover design. The word NOTIONS is cut out from a strip of inked, woodgrain cardstock using alphanumeric thinlits. A piece of lightly sanded gold metallic kraft is positioned and attached below the cutouts section. The center portions of the O's are glued into place. This title strip is stitched onto the base paper layer of the cover and the entire composition is attached to the journal cover with Scor-Tape. 
 
The inside covers of the journal are covered with a tweed design paper in keeping with the theme. Before attaching these papers, I cover the inside spine with linen hinging tape (colored black) to reinforce the binding. A "measuring tape" strip of paper is incorporated along the center of the inside spine. Although it is not necessary, I like to reinforce the holes where the elastic is strung. To do this, I set 1/8" eyelets at the hole locations. I feel it gives the journal a finished look. 
Two signatures are covered with coordinating "textile" patterned papers. Black kraft die cut labels are added to each leaving a spot to note what the signature will pertain to.
The final touch to completing my journal was to add the word SEW along the outside spine. I die cut the letters from medium weight chipboard with the Tim Holtz/Sizzix billboard alphabet die. The letters are covered with gold leaf and then adhered to the spine with collage medium.
I have so much admiration for projects where sewing is incorporated into the design, it really adds another dimension to everything. One of my goals for the upcoming year is to incorporate more stitching into my paper crafting. I hope that I can make it happen.

Thank you so much for visiting. I hope that you are able to enjoy these last precious weeks of 2018, and maybe even squeeze in a bit of creative time.
~Ann
 xxx


Perhaps you have been inspired to create something for this week's challenge. We love seeing your take on the themes when you join in the fun. There is a $50 gift voucher to SIMON Says Stamp for one lucky participant, but you can only win it if you are in it!
Thanks again for visiting my blog today. I love reading your comments or answering questions, it's always a treat when you share your thoughts with me. I have included a list below with all of the supplies I used to create my journal. Any of the products that are available from Simon Says Stamp are listed with links. 
Supplies used:
Distress collage medium: matte
 black soot, gathered twigs, ground expresso, vintage photo, walnut stain
Distress paint: black soot
Eileen Hull / Sizzix Scoreboard Journal XL die 
Tim Holtz ideaology:
Tim Holtz / Sizzix dies:
Tim Holtz / Sizzix texture fades: wings

8 comments:

Lorraine A said...

Oh Ann!! I have spent ages admiring this journal! what a wonderful idea to keep all of your sewing notes!! Absolutely GORGEOUS! the sewing themed details are perfect and I love that you did some real sewing to hold the 'notions' in place. Perfect! :-)

Hope you have a great week!
luv
Lols x x x

Edzellinni aka Linda Edkins Wyatt said...

This might be my favorite project ever! I love everything about it. And now I want call in sick to my job and stay home to make one similar for ME!

eileen hull said...

Ann this is a work of art- and also practical- my favorite kind of project! Thanks so much for sharing

bkazoo said...

Love this. I just received that die in the mail a few minutes ago. It was a gift to myself, lol. Can’t wait to play with it

Maura said...

What a great idea to make a sewing book! I often wish I did more sewing (I used to). Love the winged dress form with Paris on her!, and the big SEW on the side!! Merry Christmas!! Maura

Kath Stewart said...

What a fabulous idea Ann and sew, excuse the pun, beautifully decorated too. Merry Christmas my friend, love kath xxx

Sandra said...

Gorgeous piece, Ann! The cover is amazing and is perfect for your sewing notes. It's fabulous! Hugs, Sandra

sarascloset said...

Sorry to be late to this amazing party, Ann! What a wonderful journal filled with amazing and well thought out details! I love the way you made the mannequin and the notions panel. Altogether a fabulously made project! SSS was so fortunate to have you as guest designer this month--one of the busiest, so you are a real trouper! Hopefully you are taking some well deserved time to relax! Wishing you abundant blessings in the New Year! Hugs!