Rusty Journal Cover

Morning Friends and Crafters, A few days ago I shared a rusty project with you. Having experimented on the paper towel and creating a really nice piece I decided to take it a step further and make a cover for my Pink Pig journal. After discovering how well the rust works with stencils, it's opened up a whole new use for them. One tip for using them is to soak them overnight when using them in this way, just to make sure it all comes off.

You will Need:

Craftascope A5 Media Stencil 'Trent'

Craftascope A5 Media Stamp Set 1 'Dolphins'

Craftascope A5 Media Stamp Set 2 'Profile'

Clarity Mask 'Chain Link'

Black Texture Paste

Powertex Rusty Powder

Inventors Asylum Rust Spray** or 50/50 Vinegar and Water

Black Friendly Plastic

Boiling Water

Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax 

Scrap Denim (Old Jeans)

Black Gesso

White Gel Pen

**The Rust dye formula, will give you the choice of colour either bright or dark, bright giving the typical rusty look or dark giving a grayer shade. 

Step 1: The texture paste will need to dry so I recommend leaving this overnight, the details is excellent on the stencil and well worth the time. Spread the texture past through the stencil in various places, not to worry if you get smudges. Next add some Gesso here and there to creak a broken fame around the journal. The journal over has it's own texture as well so work keeping some of it clear.

Step 2: Once the cover is dry you can add some highlights with the gilding wax.

Step 3: Dip some friendly plastic in boiling water and stamp your words into it. Once cool highlight these with the silver wax also.

Step 4: Paint a selection of cogs with black Gesso, Then using the acrylics add a rusty look to them.

Step 5: Take your denim and spray with the vinegar mix or rust dye spray. Sprinkle the rust powder through the stencil. Repeat with sections of the chain link fence. Leave overnight, the denim holds the liquid well so you shouldn't need to re wet the fabric. Once dry brush off the excess, then use a needle to add the frayed details around the edges.

Step 6:Use Collall Tacky glue to secure the denim onto your journal.

Step 8: Use Glue Gel to arrange and secure your other elements to complete the project.

Thank you for joining me today, I really hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished piece. Please come by again to see what else there is to share with you. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

A Valentine For Him

Leonie will be on Hochanda tomorrow evening at 8 pm to launch a brand new collection. I have to say that I am extremely excited about this launch. I love all of Leonie's products but this has been especially wonderful to craft with, please tune in as I have a feeling these are not going to hang around. I thought it might be nice to make a man's card to share for a change, I know how a lot of people say we are difficult to make for. 

The idea started when I was sorting out some fabrics and I came across some lovely black leather. I cut out the hearts from the 'Lots of Love' set.

Next I took a zip and cut a section of some denim. I wanted the sentiment to be appearing through the open zip.

As I had some denim left over, I decided to cut the hearts from this as well.

For the sentiment, I measured a piece of board which I had covered with white super smooth paper and cut it to 13 1/2 x 7 1/2 cm.

Next I stitched the zip to both sides of the denim making sure it would position over the board okay.

With Archival Black ink, I stamped the handwritten 'Love' stamp.

I blended across this with Shaded Lilac, Faded Jeans and Peacock Feathers. Then I rolled it up to form creases all the way across. I then highlighted the creases with the ink that was left on my blending tool.

To make the corner sentiments, I worked out the size of card I needed and cut the card using a basic square die. I also used one of the accent stamps in the corner. The nice thing about using a strip stamp is that you never end up with any of the words being upside down.

I opened the zip, positioned it over my sentiment and secured in place using Cosmic Shimmer glue.

I blended the same distress inks around the corner sentiments once I had cut out the required centre square die and cut them in two.

I took the leather hearts and splattered the with Red Daler Rowney paint for added interest and texture.

For the background, I took a sheet of tissue paper an inch or so larger than my finished project. I placed this onto my glass mat and spritzed with water until it was totally saturated. I then sprinkled on some Royal Blood Infusions from Paperartsy. I continued spraying with water which made the paper crinkle and the colour puddle into the beautiful pattern. I left this to dry in full sun, which intensifies the effect. When totally dry I carefully peeled it away from the matt.

I used Crafters Companion Stick n Stay to secure it to my card to keep the pattern I had created and to minimise additional wrinkles. I turned the excess to the back and secured with Cosmic Shimmer glue. This gives a much neater edge than using scissors to trim.

I then assemble my card as shown in the finished photo. With the exception of the 'Love Sentiment' everything was secured with Cosmic Shimmer glue. For the sentiment I used 3D glue gel.

I hope you have enjoyed the step by step and the card I have shared with you today. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and for the lovely comments you leave both on here and on Facebook. I really hop that you will come by again soon.Take care xxx