Hi Everyone,
Welcome to my stop on the blog hop with StencilGirl and USArtQuest! I'm so excited that I got to participate in the hop... so many fun products to play with!
I'll get right to the project and then show you a brief step by step of how it evolved. A little background on how this came about - I love to make books, and I LOVE to travel! So naturally, I make books to use as travel journals. Usually I do a 3-ring book and don't actually bind it, but for my trip to Bali this month I decided to try something a little different, and I thought that using StencilGirl stencils and products from USArtQuest would be perfect!
Here's my finished book (pre-trip, of course!)
And now for a little how-to... I started with the covers. I picked out some 8x10 canvas panels to use for those and started decorating. First, I did the back cover. I took a beautiful half-sheet of USArtQuest Art Papers and decided that I would add a little copper Perfect Pigment Fluid Acrylic paint to the background to make the flowers stand out. I won't lie... this took a while, but I find it pretty relaxing, so I didn't mind.
Next I started working on the front cover. I used more Perfect Pigment paints to cover the background, then stenciled the main image using the Bloom True stencil by Flora Bowley.
If you look closely, you'll see that this stencil comes in two parts - the outline, and then the actual flower mask. I left the pieces together for this part so that I could add an outline later. I used the Perfect Pigments paints again - I mixed Magenta and Wheat to get the lighter color for the flower.
I knew I wanted the cover to be inspired by batik fabric designs, so for the outline (you can see above that I removed the mask) I used Duo Gilding Adhesive to put down a layer of glue so I could go back through and gild the outline. Once the adhesive was tacky (follow the directions - "when it's white it's not right, when it's clear it adheres!) I put down the Gildenglitz Leafing and then buffed off the excess.
I used the Spring Fling stencil by Flora Bowley and repeated this process so that I had some leaves. Then I added a few other details and a title. I glazed both the front and back covers to they'll stand up to travel and handling. While that dried, I assembled my inside signatures. I separated the trip into travel time and then actual days in Bali and set up a signature for each day there and then one at the beginning and end for the travel (it's almost 2 days each way!) I bound it all together, and there you go!
For the inside, I used more of those beautiful half-sheets of artist papers to make the end papers of the book. Here's the inside of the front:
and the back - this paper is really iridescent - so cool!
I also went through with stencils and Perfect Pigment paints and stenciled designs on some of the blank pages. I liked the transparency of some of the paints, because it makes good backgrounds for writing or other things I might add during the trip.
Above, I used the Going Global stencil by Mary Nasser along with the beautiful pearlescent green paint.
On the next ones, you can see where I bound this gorgeous textured artist paper into the book, and then added some stenciling next to it:
I used the Floral 1 stencil by Traci Bautista and the Flower and Leaf stencil by Daniella Woolf for these.
And last but not least, the finished and bound back cover:
I hope you enjoyed today's project!
No blog hop is complete without a giveaway... one lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to StencilGirl as well as some of the USArtQuest Decorative Papers and Perfect Pigment Acrylics that you're seen us use in this week's hop!
Make sure you visit all of the stops on this fun, 2-day blog hop and leave a comment on each to increase your chances to win! (One comment per person, per blog please.) The giveaway closes on Sunday, Sept. 19th at 11:59pm Central.
Today's blog hop participants:
Your journal is gorgeous, Gwen. I love how you juxtaposed the stenciled pages with the textured papers.
Posted by: Grace | September 16, 2015 at 12:54 AM
Gwen, what a beautiful book you have. The colors and design are perfect for Bali. Hope you have a wonderful time"
Posted by: Denise Spillane | September 16, 2015 at 01:34 AM
This is so lovely! I especially love the back cover and the time you took to make it special. Every page is do interesting.
Posted by: Susan Pickering Rothamel | September 16, 2015 at 05:23 AM
love the book, beautiful!
Posted by: Margaret Griffiths | September 16, 2015 at 07:35 AM
Wonderful! Love how you decorated many of the pages.
Posted by: Trisha | September 16, 2015 at 07:41 AM
LOVE your book! I am inspired!
Posted by: TX Creatrix | September 16, 2015 at 08:02 AM
Gwen, this journal is just wonderful! I love all the textures and colors! I love altered book journals, which this looks similar to however you just trumped it with yours! Just lovely! :)
Posted by: Felicia Aaron | September 16, 2015 at 08:10 AM
Wow, you did a great job on this. I love all the colors you have chosen here and I love the gilded bits too!
Posted by: Joe Morgan | September 16, 2015 at 08:22 AM
GORGEOUS!
Posted by: Marilyn H | September 16, 2015 at 08:31 AM
WOWIE
Posted by: Cindy Dunn | September 16, 2015 at 08:38 AM
Wowir
Posted by: Cindy Dunn | September 16, 2015 at 08:39 AM
This book is such a lovely keepsake, and makes keeping a travel journal even more interesting! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Posted by: kp | September 16, 2015 at 09:09 AM
great project - love the idea of a separate signature for each day of the trip
Posted by: Sue | September 16, 2015 at 09:11 AM
Thank you for choosing this project to post today. My friend is teaching me different ways to repurpose existing books as well as different techniques of making then. Your project is just what I was looking for.
Posted by: Joanne Wiggins | September 16, 2015 at 09:26 AM
I learned a lot of new techniques. Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Leslie Cernocky | September 16, 2015 at 09:30 AM
I have never seen all those different technics. Now I want to try them! Thanks
Posted by: HelenRae | September 16, 2015 at 10:17 AM
nice project, thanks for sharing
Posted by: Terri Lynn Sproul | September 16, 2015 at 10:45 AM
Love your art journal. Thanks for sharing. BTW--Joe sent me.
Posted by: Carole Lassak | September 16, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Totally awesome! Love, love, love this journal! Thanks for showing how.
Posted by: Linda | September 16, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Gorgeous journal! I love your use of all the papers and beautiful stencils.
Posted by: Rae Lynn Reffruschinni | September 16, 2015 at 11:43 AM
This is such a beautiful journal! I'm doing a trendwatch article for Scrap n' Art online magazine about handmade journals and I'm going to include this in my article for October. I'll include a link to this blog post also.
Posted by: Kathy Adams | September 16, 2015 at 01:02 PM
what a beautiful book.
It would be a conversation starter during the trip.
Everybody would be wondering how it was done, if you did it,
and want to look at all the pages.
It's also a good way to keep track of where/when/how of the trip.
It might have been labor-intensive but it was worth it.
thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Mary Holshouser | September 16, 2015 at 01:08 PM
I love the look of this project! Loving all the textured paper inside the book too. One of my favorite crafts to do is bookmaking art.
Posted by: Tamera Rutledge | September 16, 2015 at 01:48 PM
Wow- this is just amazing! I love how you used the canvas paper! Love the texture throughout!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | September 16, 2015 at 02:01 PM
Love your Journal, but then I have a soft spot for Journals.
You did a wonderful job and have a wonderful memory to keep another wonderful memory.
Joe sent me!
Posted by: Sheree' Neumann | September 16, 2015 at 02:11 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Andrea Harris | September 16, 2015 at 03:07 PM
Beautiful. Awesome techniques.
Posted by: McStamper (Gilda) | September 16, 2015 at 03:10 PM
So many gorgeous ideas in one place! I always love your creations Gwen. great job!
Posted by: Kirsten Reed | September 16, 2015 at 03:36 PM
What a beautiful journal, the colors are so gorgeous. I am sure you will enjoy it a lot. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: judi abbey | September 16, 2015 at 03:37 PM
Beautiful! Have a great trip....
Posted by: Joy Taves | September 16, 2015 at 04:52 PM
beautiful work!
Posted by: Cecilia Swatton | September 16, 2015 at 05:14 PM
Such a lovely book!
Posted by: Cheryl Donohew | September 16, 2015 at 06:04 PM
The papers are beautiful and the journal is just lovely! I would love to see it after your trip to Bali!
Posted by: Catherine Lenoci | September 16, 2015 at 06:16 PM
Hope you're having an amazing time in Bali, Gwen!
This journal is absolutely GORGEOUS!!
Thank you for including one of my stencils!!
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | September 16, 2015 at 06:43 PM
what a great way to use a variety of fun products!
Posted by: Rhonda Peterson | September 16, 2015 at 07:21 PM
Did you use Coptic binding? I read over it twice, but didn't find it.
Posted by: Vicki ross | September 16, 2015 at 07:27 PM
I love books too. Gorgeous...b
Posted by: bea savellano | September 16, 2015 at 08:00 PM
Beautiful book! Rich in colors and textures. I want to see it again when it is filled with all your travels. One, two, pick-up a shoe...
Posted by: Annie Choate | September 16, 2015 at 08:05 PM
What a gorgeous book! Love the colors.
Posted by: Colleen Halpern | September 16, 2015 at 08:45 PM
Oh books and journals are my fav's and yours is fabulous!!So creative. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Bbruder | September 16, 2015 at 09:02 PM
Absolutely gorgeous. The colors, the textures, everything!
Posted by: Rosina Ervin | September 16, 2015 at 10:18 PM
Thankyou for sharing all the details, I love it.
Posted by: Jinx Engstrom | September 17, 2015 at 12:18 AM
Absolutely stunning Gwen!!! The leafing adds the perfect touch! And I love that you took the time (and had the patience) to paint around those flowers- beautiful!
Jackie ")
http://www.creatingwithoutcrayons-jackiepneal.com/
Posted by: JackieP Neal | September 17, 2015 at 05:16 AM
I like the combinations of elements, stenciling, embossed papers, gold leaf, over the top glam, beautifully neat and clean work. Your personality is revealed in your work you are romantic by nature aren't you?
Posted by: Mary Hockett Thoma | September 17, 2015 at 05:33 AM
A treasure to use on your trip. Hope you have a great time!
Posted by: Sue Bowen | September 17, 2015 at 06:32 AM
I bet this did take a very long time.I love the gilded effects.Beautiful☺
Posted by: Valchic | September 17, 2015 at 06:50 AM
Your journal is beautiful!
Posted by: Connie Campbell | September 17, 2015 at 07:09 AM
I love this. And the cover knocks my sox off.
Posted by: Marti Grace Ashby | September 17, 2015 at 09:31 AM
Love your book, and would love to hear how you did your binding.
Enjoy Bali.
Posted by: Victoria S | September 17, 2015 at 11:24 AM
Awesome job on your journal. Love the design and the colors used.
Posted by: Natalie Godfrey | September 17, 2015 at 12:51 PM