'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday 14 February 2021

 I've been making minibooks again, playing around with different ways of adding pages, with mixed results. These are two 'empty' books, made to add pages to. I used this Aall and Create stamp on the smooshed die cut cover, stamping and cutting out the bottles and the flower heads twice, to make them stand out. The one on the right is the back cover. Sometimes it's just a shame to add anything to a smooshed Oxide background because the ink effects are so beautiful 😊 

 

Inside cover - smooshed and stencilled piece added to the inside. I rounded the page corners to match the cover, but I think they need to be rounded on all sides for it to work perfectly as a concertina - or cut slightly smaller 😉 
For this one, I glued all the pages back to back, so it opens out into a long concertina. The above first page will be glued to the cover before I use it. The inside back cover is more or less the same. That one will be left visible. Lots of pages to go at here - 20 if I use both sides - and it will end up thicker when they're added, so even though the spine is quite deep, I decided not to add more pages in order to leave space for the layers, because it's already quite deep when folded. When I started this, I was making it as a gift, but I'm so messy, I got PVA on a couple of the pages, so I wouldn't dream of giving it to anyone 😂 I'll just have to keep it and use it myself.

I used Aall and Create stamps on this one, too. I thought it was a die cut cover, but now realise it wasn't. It's just a folded piece of card.
Inside cover - yes, the inks on my attached inner cover were still damp when I clamped it shut to make sure the glue dried properly - duh! I used the reverse of hammer card for the cover, so I had to cover it up with another piece.
I stitched this one, so I only added 6 signatures. I think it would've been better with paper, but it's okay. I used waxed thread, which is a bit thicker than normal threads. Simple to make, though.
I like the idea of having smaller canvasses to work with for a change. I think I'll enjoy working on page inserts.

Linking to
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Everything, just no hearts
Mix-it-Up - Anything Goes, Fancy Folds
Alphabet Challenge - W is for Woodland Flora or Fauna

Thanks for visiting today
Stay safe and well!
Back soon
Cath
xxx

7 very kind comments from lovely people:

Neet said...

Once more you have wowed me with your backgrounds. I just love the pink on the first piece - don't tell me it is that Kitsch Flamingo that I decided I didn't want to use? It is a lovely background but the next one really is beautiful and almost too lovely to stamp on. It's like one of those papers you take out stroke and put back.
Well, that book sounds interesting - BIG - and a lot of work. Look forward to seeing it when completed - please do treat us to some photographs.
Love the green too but that pink background is still in my head.
Hugs Neet xx

Doris P. said...

Wow the background is super beautiful! Thanks for joining us at S+F=C.

crafty-stamper said...

Love both the books the green one is beautiful but WOW the pink one is my favourite and love the stamps
Carol x

Melanie Hungerford said...

What unique and lovely projects, the green smooshed ink is a perfect background for the leaves. Thank you for sharing with us at the Alphabet Challenge!

My name is Erika. said...

Oh I love your mini-book so far. That vase image is one of my all time favorites. You used it so well to make a super cover page Cath! I've been into mini-books myself lately. I can't wait to see more of yours. Happy new week! Hugs-Erika

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Cath! These are both fabulous! I have been enjoying making little books lately - not that I need more! I love the vibrant pink and the contrast with the white vase and flowers! I think a concertina book could well be my next make! Hugs, Chrisx

Ann Chuang Crafts said...

This is so beautiful. Love the backgrounds. Thank you for your lovely entry at Mix It Up Challenge Blog! Hope to see you again soon!! HUGS!
Ann DT