Monday, May 19, 2014

Summertime Configurations Book

Hello everyone! It's Monday and a new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is up, and a favourite theme of mine this month - Botanical Bliss. I just got a Tim Holtz Mini Configurations Book, which I was really looking forward to altering.
 
I love Tim Holtz new botanical papers, stamps and embellishments and since they fit really well together with memories from childhood summers at my grandmother's, I decided to use that as the theme for my book. She loved birds, flowers and plants, and had a shop and a post office, - all of these aspects are present in these papers. Lots of details in this project, and I have many close-ups to share.
 
As my main photo, I used a photo from a Midsummer's Eve celebration, which is why we are wearing flower wreaths. Since I wanted the two birds to show, I planned the design according to the paper. The 8 x 8 papers are a little too short to cover the whole cover, so I added a strip from another paper at the top. There is also a Trellis Frameworks, with the frame die cut from grungeboard and painted with Victorian Velvet. The inside parts were die cut from mirrored sheet, cork and patterned papers.
 
I stamped the patterned paper with different text and image stamps, picking stamps that fit with my theme. There are also die cut Butterfly Frenzy butterflies here and there.
 
If you plan the placement carefully, you can add dimensional items to the inside cover and still be able to close the book. Just make sure that there is space inside of one of the boxes for the item. I made roses with the Tattered Pinecone die, inked the and smeared some Antique Linen Distress Stickles on top and there are some mica flakes in the centre.
 
You can move the boxes around to fit your project. I had such fun filling these boxes with meaningful items and memories. Every time I work on something like this, I am amazed at the amount of memories that appear, things I thought I had forgotten brought to life by the process of creating. I painted all the boxes and edges with Victorian Velvet, and when dry, sanded them slightly and inked with Gathered Twigs.
 
I measured patterned papers to fit into each box, stamped the papers and then glued them down with matte multi-medium. I planned the placement of everything so that I wouldn't cover up parts of the patterned papers that I wanted to be able to see. In this first box I placed an 'f' letterpress letter (for 'farmor' which means paternal grandmother). I painted it pink. There is also a Tattered Pinecone rose, Mirrored Star and gold mica flakes.
 
These new monocles are such fun to work with. I placed a photo of my grandmother and an uncle behind it and added a rub-on to the front. I used a ring fastener to hang it and removed the jump ring that comes with the monocle, in order for it to fit into the box. There is a strip of tissue tape in the background.
 
One of my strongest memories from summertime at my grandmothers was walking in the forest (and sometimes encountering angry cows). The tree was coloured with Distress Paint. There is also a mini gear in the background and the paper with all the vintage adds fit well because of the shop they used to have. I am lucky to have some of the stamps from the shop, and they still stamp perfectly. You can spot one of them in the background here.
 
While I was working on the project I typed a list of words describing my memories, in no particular order. I needed a place for them, and die cut a matchbox. The cover was made from thin chipboard and the inside drawer from patterned paper. It was painted brown and a Ephemera piece, rub-ons and a pen nib was added on top. At the sides, there is tissue tape. The box can be removed.
 
Inside the matchbox there is a mini ticket booklet, with my journaling words.
 
There are journaling strips on both sides. I bound the tickets together with a strip of tissue tape.
 
Next to the box there is another rose and a Corked Vial filled with gold mica flakes and with a rub-on on top. All the leaves on the project were die cut with the Spring Greenery die.
 
There is more stamping and rub-on sentiments on the background.
 
There was a really old homemade swing hanging from a branch in the garden and I wanted to include that memory somehow. This swing was made from grungeboard, painted, sanded and inked and tied with two pieces of wire.
 
In the largest box there is a photo of me taken in her garden. Just like my grandmother, I like birds, and this metallic one is so pretty. I coloured it with Distress Paints.
 
I really love these letterpress letters, and would need a whole box with just 'A's (it is probably my most used letter, not only do I have three in my own name, my son's name also starts with an 'A' and he likes to collect them from my stash).
 
In this box there are also more frameworks pieces, a little bow and a tiny piece of ruler fabric that was a leftover from another project.

This is the front cover of the Configurations Book, with a really pretty paper as my base, again stamped here and there. At the top, I added a strip from another patterned paper.

The bird is another ephemera piece, with a rub-on and mirror stars added to it. I also used another piece of trellis frameworks.
 
This metallic rose was coloured with Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage.
 
This is the back cover, consisting of another pattered paper, with an additional strip at the top.

I covered the side pieces with patterned papers too. On the spine, 'memories' was stamped with Archival Ink. The shiny piece is a mirror piece, which is hard to photograph. 

At the base of the spine is this little dog, cut from one of the patterned papers. 

On the other long side I used one of the papers with vintage adds and at the top and bottom there are strips from the pictorial alphabet paper.

Here you can see the base of the book too. I love that this project can both be displayed open and that you can close it up as a book.
 
Join us this week in our great challenge and it might be you who wins a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp.

http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/
 

Thank you so much for looking!!

Happy crafting!!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:
Surfaces: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Mini Configurations book, Menagerie 8 x 8 paper stash, Mini Collage Paper stash, Mirrored Sheet, Grungeboard, French Industrial Paper Stash
Dies: Sizzix: Matchbox, Trellis Frameworks, Bow-Tied, Tattered Curvy Banners, Butterfly Frenzy, Spring Greenery, Tattered Pinecone, Tickets
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz: Tiny Things, Postcards, Worn Text; Stampers Anonymous: Classics #5, Classics #17
Ink: Distress Ink: Gathered Twigs, Victorian Velvet; Archival Ink: Jet Black
Paint: Distress Paint: Gathered Twigs, Victorian Velvet, Bundled Sage, Broken China, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Forest Moss
Glitter: Distress Stickles: Antique Linen
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Game Pieces, Words Remnant Rubs, Letterpress, Alpha ChipsWoodlands Trees, Mini Sprocket Gears, Monocles, Mirrored Stars, Nature AdornmentsElements Tissue Tape, Symphony Tissue Tape, Arrows Adornments, Thrift Shop Ephemera pack, Expedition Ephemera Pack, Ring Fasteners, Corked Vials, Pen Nibs, Life Quotes Remnant Rubs; Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements Fabric; Stampendous Gilded Mica Flakes

24 comments:

  1. Such beautiful memories Anna

    Sally

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  2. Each n everything in this project is AWESOME !!

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  3. This is an absolutely stunning creation and so full of wonderful memories for you!

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  4. Stunning. You can feel the love and memories in each little nook. What a beautiful memento!

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  5. so very beautiful Anna karin - gorgeous make - so much detail - fabulous xx

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  6. Love your book. All those embellishments are fantastic.

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  7. Wow.. there are so many gorgeous details on this project. All the embellishments are so beautiful. Love them! :)

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  8. Anna-Karin...I am always mesmerized by your art. This mini configuration book is such a family heirloom and work of art! I love each little compartment...filled wiht litte treasures that tell a story. I love your choice of colors and all of the Tim elements you've used on it. Beautifully done! What a treat to see! <3 Candy

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  9. Wow Anna-Karing! This is stunning! Love every bit of it. Such a pretty keepsake! Hugs, Sandra

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  10. What a marvelous box of memories Anna Karin! so lovingly made - each section is a view into a wonderful memory - a great project!

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  11. What a treasure this is! LOVE it!
    Especially the swing! A beautiful creation - full of thought and loving care!

    Claudia x

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  12. Anna-Karin, this is nothing but stunning! Wow! Ingrid x

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  13. Oh my Anna-Karin! What a project full of treasures! So many details to take in ~ pure eye candy! Fantastic project full of botanical bliss!

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  14. What a beautiful piece! So many beautiful, beautiful details!
    I loved reading about it too. Seeing the swing actually made me sigh. And the little matchbox is darling...as are all of the little details! This piece is an heirloom. Thank you for sharing it.

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  15. This is really fantastic! I love it.

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  16. This is just a beautiful, beautiful piece with so many precious memories to treasure forever! I absolutely love every single detail Anna-Karin...it's stunning work, as always! :)

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  17. There are so many magical parts to this it's difficult to know even where to begin! Every element works so well and coordinates to perfection. You are one clever lady. Jenny x

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  18. I do not know which part of this work to choose as my favorite! all this shadow box is a wonder, every little detail is perfect! Wonderful is the only word I can say! BArbarayaya

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  19. Gorgeous!!! I love so many things about your beautiful shadow box. I have to say I think my favourite besides the adorable photo in the watch case is the precious little swing. Some of my best summer days were spent on an old fashioned swing hanging from a huge spruce tree in our back yard.
    Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of artwork. Love it!!!

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  20. Absolutely wonderful! I enjoyed all the beautiful detail you captured in each little window!

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  21. This piece is INCREDIBLE! Holy cow! I don't know which part of it inspired me more: the artistry or the family heritage and love it conveyed. I adore the way that you've paid tribute to your memories here and each little vignette is a treasure. I love so many things about it and could look at it for way too long, but I think my favorite parts were the Bingo chip hovering over the swing and the Words of Wisdom matchbook. Thanks for not only the art, but the emotion that this piece conveyed. It really made me want to capture some memories myself!

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  22. WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! I have no other words.. this is just incredible!

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  23. WOW! This is such an amazing and beautiful piece, Anna, and it's sure to become a loving family heirloom. Blessings!

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!