Sketch Storage Holder

Hi friends! This month the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team is making storage and organization items, which is something I love to do. 

I used the Journal die for my project, but although this looks like a journal, it is actually a sketching storage holder, and the inside is nothing like a journal. Since I love birds, I was happy to get Tim Holtz's new Aviary Collage Paper, and used it to cover my holder.

This is the inside, with two storage compartments, made with the Stamp & Photo Storage die. It will keep pencils, pens, and paintbrushes safe, and there is also space for paper or for a small sketchbook. You can also use it to store other things and it would be a great gift. The compartments are also perfect for photos (4x6 in), sticker sheets, scrap papers, or anything else that you can think of.

Start by die cutting two journal covers from mat board. This is an XL die, so you need the Extended Cutting Pads, but it still fits perfectly into an ordinary Big Shot or Vagabond.

Coat the journal covers with gesso.

With the Stamp & Photo Storage die, die cut four of these from mat board. Cut off the flaps on the short side on two of them. For photo storage inspiration, check out my Photo Storage post. 

Assemble the holders and glue them together as shown here.

The holders were a little too thick to fit into the journal, so I extended the spine by cutting a piece of mat board 1.5 in wide.

Plan the design and cut the tissue paper. Adhere it with a coat of gloss medium underneath and on top. You can also use matte medium.

I thought my covers were too glossy, and gave them a goat of Dina Wakley's Clear Gesso, which makes them matte, and makes it easier to continue working on them. It also gives a great feel to the covers.

Paint the insides with Antique Linen.

Coat the holder with gesso, and when dry, paint it with various Distress Paints.

Stamp with a sentiment, birds and a crackle stamp for extra texture. I placed an acrylic block inside the holder, to make it easier to stamp on top. 

Use the crackle stamp on the inside too. Glue the covers to the extender piece and place under a heavy book to dry. 

The flaps on the cover meet at the center of the extender piece, so there isn't a gap in the spine. 

For the title, I used Eileen's Homemade Alphabet and die cut it from green and brown paper. Glue the green letters to the brown ones, offsetting them a little.

I also dry brushed some brown paint around the edges and draw a border with a black pen.

Glue the holder inside the covers and fill it with items.

Here's a look at the back of the journal. The journal was tied using an elastic loop, but you can also use other ways of holding it together.

I love the look of these vintage birds.

I stamped the edges of the holder with a long sentiment stamp. 

The inside holder was decorated simply with tissue tape. You can of course change the look of this holder, to make it fit better with your theme.

I cut a whole bunch of sketch papers, which are placed in the front holder, while the back one holds my soft pencil case and pens. That way, my pencils are well protected and the tips and the lead won't break easily. I like being able to use my favourite papers, and to also be able to use a mix of different papers. There are some watercolor papers in the pile too.

Here's my finished sketching storage holder, ready to be taken into the field.

Thank you so much for stopping by here today! Don't miss all the inspiration posted by the team.

Have a lovely rest of the week!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

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