Adventure Awaits...

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new week over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. This week our theme is called TAKE NOTE and the team are so excited to see how you'll interpret this fun challenge and what you will be making. We hope you can join us...

For my project, I created a journal that is perfect for anyone who loves to travel but the idea for this piece was actually inspired by a story I created in my head...this would be a gentleman's journal, filled with stories and photos of his travels around the world. So, using Eileen Hull's Journal die, I bought this story to life...

So, let's begin...it's time for the new challenge and here's how I created this piece!

To begin with I used some Sizzix Sizzles mount board and cut my two sections, back and front cover using Eileen's journal die. I then attached the two separate pieces together to create my cover. All the instructions of how to construct this die and how to create the binding for the papers are supplied, so don't worry if you think it looks complicated because it's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

I then applied gesso over the entire cover, front, back and on the inside before painting it using a combination of Walnut Stain, Black Soot and Antiqued Bronze Distress Paints. Heat dry each layer of paint before adding the next, as this will stop the paintwork becoming muddy and murky in colour. Once I was happy with the blend, I heat dried the cover and set it aside.

Using the gorgeous map paper from the Correspondence Paper Stash, I cut pieces to size to cover the front and back. I machine stitched a border around the edge and then adhered the paper using Matte Collage Medium. I even added an Ephemera Snippet piece in the corner on the back cover to make it look as if there is an address label.

Now for those embellishments and as my regular visitors will know, I LOVE dimension and layers so I created those on this particular project using some paper rolls which I made up from the leftover section of the map paper. All you do for this, is cut various sized pieces of the paper and roll them around a pencil. I then tore the edges of the rolls and inked them with Ground Espresso.

To create the frame that you can see behind the paper rolls, I used the smallest Vignette Frame. I then applied a coat of gesso to the frame before painting it with the same colours of Distress Paints that I used on the cover. To complete the frame and accentuate the beading I applied a small amount of Aged Brass Alchemy Wax over the top. Attach the frame to the front cover using Collage Medium, placing and layering some Snippet Ephemera pieces behind the frame. Once everything is dry and the frame is stuck solid, I then ran Black Soot Distress Crayon around the outside of the ephemera pieces to create a shadow effect.

I then attached my paper rolls to the frame, slightly offsetting each one.

For the next layer, I used the fabulous new Rosette die from Tim Holtz to die cut another piece of paper. I made up the rosette and added an Ephemera piece, the clock face to the centre before attaching this section over the top of the paper rolls.

As the finishing touch, I added a Quote Chip to the centre of the clock.

To complete the cover, I added some Nailhead Findings and a star adornment....

...then clipped a hinge clip to the side of my cover which I coloured with Antique Bronze and Tarnished Brass Distress paint and added a swivel clasp complete with a typed token, compass from the Souvenir Adornments set and a rusty gear.

Now for the inside and for this, I covered both sides with some more of the Correspondence papers. I then cut pieces of kraft card to make two pockets, embossed the card with the Tailored Texture Fade before lightly inking over the top of the embossing with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. Attach the pockets onto your covers.

The last thing that you need to do is create the stringing to hold your paper and for this, I used some elastic cord and again followed the instructions with come with the die. I added a button to secure my elastic cord on the outside of the spine of the journal.

To complete the inside I cut and folded some handmade paper, stitched the paper down the centre fold and then threaded this though the cord to create the pages and decorated them with some idea-ology products, including paper dolls, pocket cards and metal embellishments.

So, I hope you love the project I've created this week and it will inspire you to try this wonderful die to make your own journals...it really is so much fun to use and I can already see me using this a lot more in the future.

You can find more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog and don't forget that every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I'll see you very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies and Texture Fade: Journal Die, Rosette, Tailored
Distress Paint: Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Antiqued Bronze, Tarnished Brass
Distress Crayons: Ground Espresso

Idea-ology: Quote Chip, Sprocket Gear, Paper Dolls, Star Adornments, Snippets, Nailhead Findings, Typed Tokens, Vignette Frame, Hinge Clip, Swivel Clasp, Buttons, Souvenir Adornments, Pocket Cards
Prima Marketing Rustic Gears
Mediums: Gesso, Matte Collage Medium, Aged Brass Alchemy Wax
Surfaces: Little Sizzles Mat Board, Correspondence Paper Stash
Ranger Craft Sheet

Big Shot

Heat Gun