I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Count your blessings...

Hello everyone, lovely to have you drop by.  Jeepers, the projects are coming thick and fast here at the moment - I guess I'm making up for it being slow going around here (comparatively) over the last few months.  Now we're on to the third project of the week - count'em - three! And it's only Tuesday... and there are exciting things ahead later in the week.


We've been having a spooky old time of it lately.  If you're a Halloween fan, I'd love you to check out my Victorian candle shrine at A Vintage Journey and my haunted house at Calico Craft Parts.  There's also Nosferatu lurking somewhere - but he's really a bit too scary.



Right now, I'm here with the second of my Numbers projects for Country View Challenges, and it's my first bit of "proper" bookbinding (very minimal, mind).







I've put together small books and albums in all sorts of ways, but it's the first time I've got out the bookbinder's needle and waxed thread.












For this tag book, I've borrowed some ideas from the fantastic Tim Holtz workshop which I was lucky enough to get a place at when he came to the UK a couple of years ago.  (Thank you, Annie, for hanging on the phone when my signal gave out on the train!)










With him we made a tag book which used the Movers and Shapers numbers to create a cut-out feature on each page.  I've been meaning and meaning to do it again since, and the Numbers theme finally gave me the nudge!











I've alternated the die-cut pages with numbers from the Chiselled Industrious Stickers - they have a great metallic look.












The cover is one of the Idea-ology Pocket Cards I keep going on about - this is the large size, and it's perfect for covering the folded over tags as an album cover.

It's already slightly thicker card than the tags, but I stuck another one to the inside, mainly because I wanted to have the maths paper on the flyleaf.  I can't remember what was on the back of the numbers but it clearly wasn't numerical enough!







The backgrounds started with wrinkle-free distress technique in shades of brown and grey - Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke and, I'm pretty sure, some Frayed Burlap.









Then I layered up stencilling - some in white, some in darker ink - and numerical stamping.








One of the tags already had some smears of gesso on so that altered the look.








I added some Idea-ology File Tabs... love the look and weight of these on the pages.









You can see the binding, neatly tied in the centre pages... and the tissue tape adding an extra accent along with the stamping on each page.









On the front, the linen ribbon is tied with a Cash Key - you can just slide the ribbon on and off without having to untie and re-tie it all the time.









I also added a couple of Big Talk words and shaded around them to bed them in.










All in all, it's just a little book for counting your blessings - a gratitude exercise, each night before bed, to turn the page and say out loud something that has gone well, that has been good, that you are thankful for.






You can make a note too, if you like, but that's not the main purpose... it's just to collect a handful of positive thoughts before sleeping.

And since there are six pages, if you like you can use it in the morning too... to believe your six impossible things before breakfast!





Hope you like my little album, and I hope you'll find the time to come and play along in our Numbers theme at Country View Challenges this month.  As always, there's a prize voucher sponsored by Country View Crafts... who knows, Mr Random Generator might just be on your side!

Thanks so much for stopping by, particularly as it's been such a busy few days - and long posts (need to get back to some simple tags!).  Your visits are always so much appreciated, and I'm even managing to keep up a good return visit rate at the moment!

Alice laughed.  "There's no use trying," she said.  "One can't believe impossible things."
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen.  "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day.  Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
From Alice Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

47 comments:

Shirley said...

I am very partial to albums Alison and this little one is gorgeous. Love the pocket cards haven't seen these before ... I can see a shop coming on.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

craftytrog said...

A lovely little vintage tag book Alison! xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is absolutely beautiful, Alison. Well done with the book binding,

Lucy x

hazel said...

A gorgeous little album Alison.
xxx Hazel.

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Stunning album Alison, love the grungy vibe to it and it's brilliant you've been busy so we get to see more eye candy then!
Hugs
Donna xxx

chrissie said...

Terrific ideas for this album Alison and the wax thread method looks really great to join the pages.

I'm with the Queen as far as the quote goes. Must add that as Inhave got older lots more things seem impossible anyway so more to add to the list :)

love Chrissie xx

Marci said...

A wonderful little book!

Candy C said...

Very neat little tag book, Alison. The numbers theme is really played on perfectly throughout. Love all of your Tim elements. I am off to see the candle now! 😊

Meggymay said...

A fantastic set of photos and how you constructed this awesome book. There are some great ideas and a super quote at the end of the piece.
Yvonne xx

Dorthe said...

Your book of tags are so very wonderful, -the soft look in colours with the kind of industrial look from papers and stamps, suits each other well, and the binding looks great with the waxed threads , Alison. Such a beautiful idea, to remember little blessings ,every day !!
Dorthe, xx

Corrie Herriman said...

...and a great little book it is ! Love it !
Corrie x

Hazel Agnew said...

Don't know about making notes of positive thoughts Alison, but I have made notes about this post! You always teach me so much! You cost me a fortune too, but willingly!
It's a fabulous little book with an excellent motive! All for positivity in everything! Particularly like the cut out numbers and the linen bow tucked into the cash key! Off to look for some goodies now! X 😆

Princess Judy Palmer said...

What a nifty little book! I think book making can be rather fun with trying to figure out all the different things to put on each page. I never knew what to do with the finished product though--they all seem so personal. I had to chuckle that whatever the backside of that one paper was, it wasn't numerical enough for the project. hee hee!

Julia Aston said...

What a great numbers book -love your decoration and your theory for use of this sweet book! Julia xx

Unknown said...

Such a gorgeous little book! I can imagine all sorts of secrets being kept in there. Just love it!! x

Deborah said...

Quite masculine, so unusual for you, Alison. But I really like it.

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Oh, I'm lovin' this mini album! Delicious vintage layers - fabulous! xx

Unknown said...

Always amazed when I look at an album someone has made! Yours is really wonderful to see Alison. I actually enjoy the neutral tones of it and all the unique ways you added just the right items to make it unique. Really super. j.

Helen said...

Love your tag book, Alison!!

Margik said...

A wonderful tag book, Alison! I really like the mini books. Love the fabulous cover and the different numbers you've used, including the number stamps. A great design!
Mar xx

Jackie PN said...

I love mini books and yours is awesome!Is there any project you couldn't do? ") Well done Alison! xo

Brenda Brown said...

Beautifully put together and such great ideas for it xxx

Mona Pendleton said...

Fantastic mini album! Love all the numbers and distressed detail!

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous little mini album, love the neutral shades. Great job with the book binding.
Avril xx

Pawsitively Creative said...

So many wonderful items and details to take in. Wowzers! I can't even begin to image the time this took. Awesome sauce and stunning all rolled into one. Each time I look, I see some other amazing detail. TFS dearie! Hugz ~Niki

SewPaperPaint said...

What an awesome tag book! Love the number cut outs on each page! Very cool indeed!

Deborah Wainwright said...

Great tag book Alison love the colours you have used. The number cut outs add a really touch to the book. Ive never bound my own book nor do i know how to start so well done. I might have to have a go one day.

You just keep the posts rolling because they are so inspirational lol. Hugs Debs xx

sam21ski said...

Oh wow Alison, this is stunning xx

Paper Profusion said...

This is beautifully clever Alison and very deftly done indeed. Love the suggestions of how it might be used. Your photos are super, I've had awful probs photographing recently with grey skies and seeing your pics I reckon I should have taken everything outdoors. Will check out other posts, Nicola x

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Alison, I am in awe of your productivity, it is inspirational!
Beautiful books and I am sure you will be creating many more along similar lines.
Wishes
Lynne

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Alison. I do love a good mini book. Love the idea of die cutting the numbers out. Well done!!
xx

Meihsia Liu said...

Such a beautiful tag book, Alison. Love every pretty details. :)

Astrid Maclean said...

Well, you know how I love little books, this one looks super!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

A perfect thanksgiving gift me thinks!!! This couldn't be more perfect!!! I LOVE the little size and the die cut numbers. Pinning this one to Thanksgiving!!!

Kirsten said...

That is so cute & an excellent gift idea.

Etsuko said...

I love mini book, this is wonderful!! Beautiful typeface of each different numbers and fabulous details. I want one for me!!. xx

Michelle Webb said...

I think I need that number die! You've convinced me! Lovely book. Michelle xxx

Michelle Webb said...

I think I need that number die! You've convinced me! Lovely book. Michelle xxx

sarascloset said...

Well done, Alison! I love how you've incorporated all those numbers, but mostly I love the thought of using it as a positive thoughts, thankful/blessings counter. I have a thankfulness notebook my sister gave me years ago, and I treasure it. I like the idea of not writing your Blessings down necessarily, but to dwell on them both at night and in the morning. This is just beautiful; especially love the grungy look you have given it, and the numbers cut outs is just a stroke of genius!

I will have to be back to finish my journey through your recent posts...I've much catching up to do! Hugs!

Julie Lee said...

I love your foray into book-binding, Alison. The numbers look great and every page is a lovely surprise. It's one of those creations that you just feel you want to touch and hold. I adore real books and handmade books for this reason! Fabulous texture. xx

2amscrapper said...

a wonderful project!

experiments in paper said...

Wonderful venture into book binding, and I love everything about what you have created! And especially the notion of a daily gratitude reminder.....I will definitely be copying this idea, as the flurry of the daytime busyness often obscures the reflective piece for me, and then I wonder why I feel low, lol! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration! xxx Lynn

Ana K. said...

Love your mini book with all those numbers…I am in love with numbers and I have no idea why…I didn’t like them in school, when I should! Thank you for the idea how to use stencil numbers dies...hugs

A Pink said...

Such a wonderful idea created so beautifully .Having a little book like this to gather thankful blessings and positive thoughts in is imho an essential in life. I thank you Alison for sharing your outstanding , inspirational creativity .
Your little book has stole my heart x

Cocofolies said...

I love the way you have played with the Movers and shapers Numbers on this lovely mini book.. and its shape is great too, I should have a go on your technique! Thank you Alison for all the set of very beautiful new makes I have seen tonight.
Have a lovely week ahead, hugs.
Coco xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

A fabulous little blessings book! A brilliant make - I'd love to use this idea some time if I may! BTW - where did those two years go to?! Chrisx

Kasia said...

What a fabulous mini-book, Alison!