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...

Sunday 1 April 2018

Amazing Nature

Hello all!  What a quiet March it was... well, quiet here at Words and Pictures, and anything but quiet in my other life.  Sometimes the words take over, but I'm really happy to be back at the pictures now - starting with my springtime Up at Dawn tag and now, with a new challenge starting over at Mini Album Makers, I'm delighted to be sharing some inspiration for that.


My brilliant teammates have been creating marvels to inspire you, so do take a look over at the Mini Album Makers Challenge blog, and we hope you'll come and play along.  As always, any handmade book is welcome.


I'm still working away from home, so with the limited supplies at hand I decided to go with a simple accordion construction for this month's handmade book.









Owing to a delay in supply lines, I had to go with my second choice of stamps for the inner pages in the end, but I don't mind so much now it's finished.














At least the stamps I'd wanted to use (Tim's new insects) have now arrived, so I'll be able to take them home with me and play with them there....













I started by cutting a page of watercolour paper in half vertically and then pleating both the resulting strips and gluing them together to make a nice long accordion.











I did it by eye rather than measuring it out - I'm not much for measuring!  Each "page" is about an inch and a half wide and the book is about 4.5 inches tall.  (The watercolour paper was 12x9 to start with.)

I used a recycled coffee cup sleeve to cut textured panels to fit the front and back covers...












... and then glued down torn sections of book page text across the inner pages.














Next up were strips of tissue tape, followed by a wash of gesso.















And then some torn fragments of teabag paper over the top of that...













... followed by drips and dribbles of  watercolour paint in a soft turquoise.  I used my fingertips, a water mister, and a brush to spread the colour around in pools across the background layers.














I then did the same with some of my Walnut drawing ink (one of my favourite new purchases here in NYC), with extra splatters too...











... before adding some Small Talk stickers in various places.  They had to be very short phrases as they're such narrow pages.


As I said, I really wanted to use Tim's new insects to add stamped detail to my pages, but the deadline was looming and they still hadn't arrived so I ended up compromising.


Instead, I used the fabulous new Andy Skinner fossils - the only problem was that the images are on a larger scale, so they had to be partial stampings on my tiny pages.  Still, I think it's pretty effective. 








And I did have with me one of Tim's older insects from his Oddities stamp set, so I added that to the mix too.
















The coffee sleeve covers got a rough wash of gesso to highlight the texture.  This is the back cover, left unadorned...
















... and I layered up a book page fragment, a scrap of teabag paper and some frayed muslin onto the front cover...















... topped with a butterfly from the Idea-ology Botanical Layers pack.

Some fine twine, glued beneath the layered cover decoration, forms the fastening for my little accordion album, and that's pretty much that.














Do come and play along at Mini Album Makers this month - there's lots more inspiration for you over there.







Our sponsor for April is Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts (I didn't have any with me, but you can see some of their fabulous chipboards in action here on my January album)...



... so you'll be in with a chance of a great prize package, or you could be selected as one of our highlighted winners and invited to guest design with us in the future. 






Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'll see you again soon, either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland.

Oh, and a very happy Easter to you all, of course, however you may celebrate it, or not!











What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. ... In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportsmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.
John Lubbock

39 comments:

Living to work - working to live said...

I'm such a sucker for a handmade book! And I just love this little gem.

And don't worry - I know how one life can completely overshadow the other. You're like me - two separate lives on the go at once and if one gets full on it rather saps the energy for the other.

Also love the recycled coffee cup cover. I've used those for printing before now. But I've never actually used the texture. Time I made another album or similar.

Redanne said...

Alison, it is so hard to imagine that this book is so small because you have packed so much into it! I adore your partial images, each page is a delight and I love your recycled cover. Oddly enough I wanted to use Andy's new stamps on my project but they did not arrive in time, they are such beautiful images - you have made me want to use them even more now with your inspiring book! Happy Easter to you. Anne xxx

Dortesjs said...

LOVEE your wonderful book great work you did for sure. Happy Easter for you and your family hope you have great days

Helen said...

I love this! Well done for making do (great alternative stamps!) - and it means we will probably get to see something like this with the Tim stamps later on - double win!! Happy Easter

Craftyfield said...

It really looks like an old manuscript battered and weathered... Lovely watercolour splashes and the stamps look perfectly at home on those pages! xx

hazel said...

I love your beautiful accordion book Alison, the pages are lovely. Happy Easter.
xxx Hazel.

Nancy Wethington said...

I love this Allison! Each panel is beautifully designed.

Amanda said...

absolutely beautiful, who would have known you were on limited supplies, fabulous!
Love
Amanda X

Marci said...

This is such a cute tiny book. I love the color and I have always thought those coffee sleeves could be used for something. And here they are. Wonderful.

My name is Erika. said...

Gorgeous nature folder for sure. You are inspired by spring and the good weather that comes with it I can tell. Hugs-Erika

Julie S said...

I am absolutely in awe of your mini. I love the stamps you used and the soft, muted colors. It has an aura of peace, serenity and calm. LOVE!

Dorthe said...

Alison, such a little wonder of a beautiful creation.
I love your book, and can`t imagine it is so small, because of the many details you have added,- gorgeous stamps and color choices , dear.
Happy Easter to you -
Hugs, Dorthe

Neet said...

Beautiful, I just love the delicate colouring you do, especially these colours. A great idea; lots of ideas for decoration/embellishment and such a wonderful step by step process to follow. I can see this being useful for adapting for all kinds of things.
Hugs, Neet xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome album, Alison!

Sue said...

This is so beautiful Alison, I'm amazed at the amount of detail you are able to get onto these tiny pages. Have a very happy Easter, Sue xx

Evelyn Walter said...

Oh Alison, your little accordeon book is adorable! I´m impressed, how gorgeous your work turns out with your limited supplies.
I hope you had a wonderful Easter there far away from home. Greetings to NY, which I´ll visit with my daughter this year for the very first time - I´m so excited! It would be so wonderful, if we could meet there =)
Hugs Evelyn

Deb said...

So gorgeous Alison, adore that wonderful turquoise and walnut ink drips and drops and using the coffee sleeve for the cover was a touch of genius! Wonderful textures with the gesso, tea bags and book pages and while the stamps may have not been your first choice, they look fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

Kate Yetter said...

Oh, I love each and every page, Alison! Especially the cover. The colors and textures on this piece are amazing.
Kate

sally said...

This reminds me very much of a couple of Moo sized booklets I made a few years ago, so much so that I am tempted to see if I can join in the fun again !

Sallyxx

chrissie said...

Great to see this post Alison.

Such a beautiful little book and I think I could easily master those folds and make something similar. Wonderful and inspiring ideas for the pages as well.


The words are great today-thank you for those.

Take care

Love Chrissie xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Wrapped up perfection Alison, always love these concertina books as they give the eye so much to see when opened up. A beautiful display of delightful layers and stamping, thank you for sharing those wonderful pictures and tutorial with us all.
Creative wishes Tracey xx

Unknown said...

So beautiful, I liked the idea of old book papers in it.Thanks for sharing the tutorial

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE these types of mini albums...so artsy and fun and original!

Hazel Agnew said...

Alison, you drip and dribble like no-one else. Great idea for the textured cover and beautiful finished piece. Very satisfying! Xx

Julia said...

Your book is gorgeous, I would love to have a go at making a book like this. I've added mini book to my very long list of projects to try. The list is in my head, maybe I should make a list book!
I ordered the Andy Skinner fossil stamps this morning, a must-have for me as I was a Geologist once-upon-a-time.
Great project Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is such a beautiful little book! Love the stamp set you used, although if I do succumb I will have to give away the frog skeleton stamp - bad memories!!! Hope that you had a Happy Easter too! Chrisx

SewPaperPaint said...

Dear Alison, even with best laid plans gone south, you manage to make a masterpiece of everything you touch my dear! These stamps couldn't be more perfect over your yummy layering!!! I simply adore the way you used the coffee sleeve. Absolutely brilliant and oh so beautiful with your butterfly collage. This is amazing and I truly appreciate your dedication! Hugs, Autumn

Paper Profusion said...

This is so very lovely Alison! Thank-you for sharing your step by step. Great credit to you for continuing to craft so far away from most of your craft supplies. Glad that the postman showed up with your stamps. Gorgeous make as always. Nicola x

sarascloset said...

Yes, Alison, I AM amazed! This is one of those fool the eye albums that looks so much larger than it really is. I am so impressed with your creativity with your lack of supplies; you've pulled this baby out of nowhere, like a magician pulls a rabbit from a hat. Stunning pages, great album design and that cover just melts my heart--genius to recycle those coffee sleeves for that wonderful texture. Brilliant album, Alison! I hope you are having some fun while you are in New York! Sending hugs!

Cocofolies said...

Simply a gorgeous accordion book Alison, thank you for the process, still so much appreciated. This one was made with not many materials indeed as not at home, but with love and sense. And I love these new stamps by Andy Skinner.
Fantastic stamping and cover, the texture of your coffee sleeves is fabulous after treatment and upcycling!!!
Take care.
Hugs xx

froebelsternchen said...

I am in love with this one Alison! Just wonderful! You have always the best ideas and the best techniques!
Hugs, Susi

Annie said...

You might have limited supplies Alison but you have used them well and I just love the details both inside and out in your fabulous mini album xx

Hope you are managing to get some R&R as well as working hard

Best wishes
Annie xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous little book Alison, you at have limited supplies but you have worked wonders here. There's so many details and I love the recycled cover.
Avril xx

Fliss said...

Absolutely beautiful and love the soft colours and the shabby chic gorgeousness here.
Fliss xx

Gloria Stengel said...

Adore the watercolor feel of this one, plus all the great images! What a fun mini. I am sure you had a blast making it!!!

Inna Bronnikova said...

Alison, this is such a pretty little book! Wonderful textures. I really liked the stamps! I love them!))) Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial!

Maggie said...

Love your mini book Alison and your use of limited supplies is inspiring as always, haven’t had much time myself for crafting in the last few months, now inspired to make a summer mini ........watch this space lol.

MaggieH

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Love it! Love it! must pop over to see what the others have made. Sorry I've not been around much, other stuff has occupied me but I'm here now. Happy crafty week, Angela xXx

Brenda Brown said...

Stunning, I love this so much xxx