Textured Notebook Tutorial

Hi friends! Today I have a notebook/sketchbook tutorial to share with you, but you could also turn the cover into a card instead, or use the techniques for art journaling.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

My favorite part of this notebook/sketchbook is that you can almost not see which elements are stamped and which were a part of the patterned paper. Most are stamped and I had fun using the Simon Says Stamp Document It stamp set, which is one of the  Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember® release sets that I designed. 

For the covers I used Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board and wanted texture. Texture paste was applied with a palette knife through the Simon Says Stamp Mermaid Scales stencil.

When dry, paint with gesso.

Paint with Distress Paint. I used Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers. Mist with water. The water will make some of the gesso texture more apparent and will make the paint darker in between the scales.

Dry brush a little bit of white paint on the background. Round the outer corners and punch holes with a Crop-a-Dile.

Apply Sizzix Rose Gold Luster Wax with your finger around the edges. 

The 'Record of book used' stamp from Simon Says Stamp Document It was stamped on one of Tim Holtz Backdrops Vol 1 papers. I really like these papers. The paper I used was mainly neutral, but had some writing and the word 'book' on it already. I placed the stamp so that the words would line up with the lines on the stamp.

Stamp words from Document It and a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Foxglove.

I wanted more of that old blue stamping ink look, similar to the writing on the paper. Archival Ink Cobalt was the perfect shade. Trees from Simon Says Stamp All Seasons Tree and stars from Mix and Match Circles were stamped with the blue ink. This ink pad is one of my oldest ink pads and still works perfectly.

Fold, crumble and sand the paper lightly and then ink with brown ink.

I had a scrap from another Backdrops paper on my desk and placed it underneath the main panel. 

I really like the look of the stamping on that particular Backdrops paper and together with the bits of hand-writing.

I also added a couple of Tim Holtz Clippings Stickers, a Thought Token and two Field Notes Snippets ephemera pieces.

The back was left plain and feels great to the touch. I used my favorite sketching paper for the inside pages.

The stenciled paste, gesso paint brush marks, Distress Paint and Luster Wax gives a great textured look to the cover, with just a little bit of shine.

STAMPtember® is almost over. Don't miss all inspiration, surprises and exclusive products. There has also been a huge Simon Says Stamp release for STAMPtember®, with stamps, dies, stencils, inks and paper products.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by here today! 

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.