Too Early for LOVE???

Hello crafters..

Welcome to my page today…I have a ”New Technique” to share with you and am really excited about it  …well, when am I not???

Before that, I would like to thank you all for the lovely comments you all left on my altered Iron! That was so encouraging. So after a creative exhaust I thought I will try a new technique which I accidentally hit upon on You Tube!

It may a little too early for valentine projects, but somehow I thought a bold, romantic theme would suit this “Faux Leather Technique” that I am totally addicted to. I tried one and then the second and then ended up doing 6 projects with this technique!!

I am going to share 2 with you today…thank your stars for that now, Lol!

I have always loved vintage stuff and faux leather looks good on Kraft Card stock and I was more than happy to cut my CS to small pieces to suit my project.

I had a lot of coffee stained papers from my earlier project, another addiction and thought I needed to do something to preserve this beautiful papers and give them a grand cover…and so I made “faux leather junk journal” !

It is amazing how the Kraft CS takes a good amount of “treatment” to look like leather. sprit zing with water and glycerin about 3 times, squeezing and scrunching to break the fibers, drying it and then running it thru en embossing folder!

Yes, once the wet CS is out of the folder, it has to be dried and then starts the layers and layers of inking! I have experimented with different colors of DI and for this I have tried Fired brick and black soot (valentine, you see) !

For the journal cover, I used a damask embossing folder and once I achieved the desired color, I sealed it with 2 layers of spray varnish. This is what finally gives it the shine and sheen of leather! It is unbelievable how after the entire process, a crisp Kraft CS becomes so flexible and pliable like leather and most importantly, tough!

Do you see a faint image of a vintage romantic couple on the cover???I experimented with printing on tissue paper at home! Another new technique that I learnt!

For the closure, I have used some stretch lace and used Velcro to fasten it. To cover the joint, I made a romantic badge! I have Paper Artsy mini stamps here. Stamped it on CS, colored it and sealed it with 3 coating of Clear UTEE. Pierce a hole and have a little hearty cherub in metal hanging! LOVE….

I have stitched the coffee stained signature to the cover and have attached a beaded dangle with some glass beads and baubles and hold it…a lovely metal cupid charm, all of this hanging from the spine!

The extra twine that hangs after stitching, I brought it to the book center and have looped a small book mark to it!  This time it’s a die cut with the same PP and layers of UTEE…a glitter heart!

You have to touch the faux leather to believe it! I will be back a tutorial on this soon. Bless your souls for a short post from me! Lol…

Next I did a romantic mini using a single piece of 12 X 12 PP from DCWV ,French  Country stack and did a cover for it using the same technique but using another embossing folder.

 I reversed the colors this time, black being more dominant, then red and finally rubbed on some  Inka Gold with my fingers and then sealing it. 

This mini can hold up to 15 pics and also has pockets, tags and inserts.

For the closure here, I have used some silk threads in black and red and the spine here too has some glass baubles and a metal charm..a love letter in an envelope! How romantic is that???

To make it even more romantic, I took this cute Pooh quote from 613 Avenue Create and have made it the focal point in the album cover.

I thought I will make a set for the “romantic hearts” and so the coffee journal and the mini. I think they make a cute pair, what say?

Would love to hear your feedback on this and for those of you who want see my addiction with this technique here are the other 4 journals in different colors.

Have a good look and tell me which color looks the best. I am really looking forward to hearing from you on this.

I would like to enter this twin project in the following challenges…

DreamValley Challenges – Anything Goes

LTSCB – Anything Goes

Loves toCreate Challenge Challenge – Color inspired ( red, browns and black)

Craft Yourpassion – Anything Goes

That CraftPlace – Love / Valentine

613 AvenueCreate – Anything Goes with the option of Winnie quote

We LoveVintage Challenge – Embossing

CraftingMusketeers- Valentine

WinterWonderland- show us your metal

FrostedDesigns – A New… technique( have tried 2)

Until my next creative journey,

Happy Crafting and Re cycling.

Big hugs.