by Mischelle Smith

The Bigger the Better is one of our themes for Imagine’s April projects. I began working on this project wondered what would be better than a card? For me, that would be a mini album or a journal. Both are bigger and better in my world! So that’s where this journey took me. I’m not a shabby chic type designer so I welcomed the opportunity to work on my skills and play with products I love such as the Creative Medium Metallic Gold. When Creative Medium dried on my album I was over the moon with delight. I applied it thin the sheer qualities brought out multiple layers of dimension.  It was, without a doubt, my favorite part of this project.  Of course, having a mini album, or perhaps a journal is absolutely the best part of this project.  Just like the theme – this mini really is bigger and better!

Skill: Advanced
Time: 1 day + drying time

Directions

Step 1

Cut album pages to 6-inch x 6-inch squares. Spritz each page with water and crumple into balls. If adding bags or other pages do the same to these.

Step 2

Flatten out pages and sand the front and back of each page to create a distressed look.

Step 3

Mix Walnut Ink Crystals with water and paint both sides of each page as desired. Have a rag handy to wipe away excess water.

Step 4

After pages have dried splatter walnut ink mixture onto pages using a toothbrush.

 

Step 5

Stack pages together. Place them under a stack of books overnight.

Step 6

Order pages and attach wire binding.

Step 7

Stencil on pages as desired using VersaFine and Memento inks.

Step 8

Apply Creative Medium Metallic Gold using a palette knife. Apply to each page as desired.

Step 9

Spatter irRESISTible Wedding Dress Texture Spray on each page. Let each spread of pages dry before moving on to the next spread. TIP: Wipe Vaseline or Aquafor around the neck of the Texture Spray. This will keep the cap easy to screw on and off.

Step 10

While album is drying stain strips of muslin to use as ribbon. Let dry.

Step 11

Cut a house, roof and welcome mat from an old book page. Glue to cover. Cut a door and two windows from stained muslin. Glue to the house. Outline house, door, and windows with Black Memento Marker. Write welcome on the mat. Apply Creative Medium Metallic Gold and Wedding Dress irRESiSTibles to house on the cover. Let dry. Draw shadows under the house roof with a charcoal stick. Tie on dyed muslin strips as desired. Finish with any additional embellishments you with this mini journal because… the Bigger the Better!

Supplies

Imagine

• Creative Medium – Metallic Gold
• irRESISTible Texture Spray – Wedding Dress
• Palette Knife
• VersaFine – Vintage Sepia
• Memento – Tuxedo Black
• Memento Marker – Tuxedo Black
• Stencil brush
• On Point Glue
• Walnut Ink Crystals

 

Other

• DCWV – Fairytale Dreams Paper Collection and Brights Textured Cardstock
• Stencils
• Muslin
• Paint Brush
• Small bowls
• Water
• Scissors
• Wine Bags
• Sanding Block
• Wire
• Paper Trimmer
• Water Spritzer Bottle
• Rags or paper towels
• Old book page
• Toothbrush