Wednesday 5 February 2014

Selfmade Notebook/Art Journal

Hello, dear readers, followers and crafting friends,

another (prepared) post to finally share one of my recent makes as it has been given to its recipient by now. I made this as a birthday present for my mother in law, who loves everything nature and is the most wonderful grandmother for my son you could wish for! So it had to be something really special I wanted to give to her!


Many of you will still remember this make, on which I used the same wonderful background technique taught by lovely Grace Howes on the Soul Food class (and the same range of DecoArt acrylic colours)!
Now I finally made a smaller version of her art journal so my MIL can use it as a notebook and carry it with her.


It's a really useful item, as it has foldable flips on the front and back cover, which can be used to mark special pages in the notebook. It also has a pocket for tickets and such on the front and back cover insides.


The sewn binding is easy to make but also very effective. It does not only hold my two signatures in place but also works as added texture on the spine.


I used my lovely (and rather new) Red Lead feather and fragment word stamps to add more interest to the signatures covers. I really LOVE those stamps and cannot believe I did not use them earlier although I had already bought them some weeks before X-mas! But sometimes my new acquisitions just have to wait until the "perfect" project for using them comes around the corner ;)


 The numbers were stamped using part of a Kaisercraft stamp. The scraps of text are from an old book I bought for 2 Euro.




I also left the perforated edges from the paper pads as they came off the paper pad and used a mix of kraft and white sketch and watercolour papers for the signatures. I love it when you can see what a project is made of and I love when you can touch and feel various textures.



I also love how the acrylic colours blend together when being scraped on- and into the paper. They do it all by themselves - so no hard thinking on any colour tones I might need to use and mix ;)



And I like that the sewn binding is visible on the outside too - so you can see HOW the project is made.



I hope you have enjoyed your visit! Thank you for stopping by my little creative corner ;)




Hugs and happy crafting,
Claudia x

24 comments:

  1. wundervoll--- mehr bleibt da nicht zu schreiben!

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  2. Hi Claudia, Such a beautiful note book, love the colours and text with the feather image. I'm sure your MIL will treasure this.
    Avril xx

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  3. What a gorgeous little notebook, love the colours and love the feather stamp.

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  4. Your little notebook is just beautiful Claudia, I love the neutral colours and the feather image is wonderful. Such a wonderful gift for your mother-in-law.

    Also wanted to say huge congratulations on your first article in Craft Stamper!! Your pieces are very striking in black and white - I love each and every one. Well done you! Hugs, Anne xx

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  5. Such a lovely notebook, done so beautifully!

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  6. I love your little notebook. !

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  7. Das ist ein traumhaftes Notizbuch - wunderschön gestaltet!!!
    Ganz liebe Grüße, Dagmar

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  8. Super creation...Love the colors and stamping !!!

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  9. Fantastic notebook Claudia, who would not want to receive something like this? Your MIL is a very lucky lady! Such great techniques, colours and stamps!!! Love that feather and the fragment one too. Fabulous make all round!!

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  10. A stunning handmade notebook Claudia! What a gorgeous details!

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  11. This is the most wonderful gift. I adore notebooks/journals, always have done since my early childhood so to receive a handmade book would be the most special gift.
    Your MIL will treasure this.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  12. Gorgeous! Love that binding, too.

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  13. OK, it has to be said.. I am jeallous of your MIL just for the simple fact that she now owns this piece of ART! Claudia, I had to see every bit of it, what a beautiful book!

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  14. Stunning notebook Claudia - love the background and the striking feather. Hope your skiing trip is going fabulously! Nicola x

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  15. What a beautiful handmade book, Claudia - a treasure for your MIL!
    Alison xx

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  16. hervorragend! super gemacht mir herrlichen Akzenten! dieses büchlein ist mehr als kreativ -
    es ist genial. und die farbenwahl ist DER hit, liebe Claudia!
    glg
    margit

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  17. Gorgeous notebook for your MIL, love the colours and the feather stamp is beautiful.

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  18. Love your book Claudia! I like the neutral palette you've used and your binding is so brilliant! Hugs!!! BArbarayaya

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  19. Ich hoffe sehr Deine Schwiegermutter hat sich auch gebührend, über ein solches Kunstwerk, gefreut! Diese Farben mag ich sehr gerne in Deiner Zusammenstellung und die Feder passt so gut dazu!
    Alles Liebe, Manuela

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  20. This is so stunning Claudia!! I only recently picked up how to do that kind of book bonding stitch myself.... I cannot wait to try it out. I envy your mother in law though, it's such a beautiful gift
    Sam xx

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  21. Dein Büchkein gefällt mir so gut, liebe Claudia, dass ich sogar (unvorbereitet) aus dem Skiurlaub heraus, auf meinem Handy mit der Miniaturtastatur meinen Lobgesang schreiben muss!!! Bin mal wieder beeindruckt und so inspiriert, dass ich kein Interesse mehr an Skiern oder Kaiserschmarren, sondern an Papier und Farbe habe... Vielen Dank für die wundervolle Inspiration! (Und liebe Grüße auf den Hang! Brich Dir nicht die Hax'n!)

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  22. Absolutely incredible my dear Claudia! I love the color palette and that technique is fabulous. I am sooooooooooo inspired. I've been throwing around some ideas like this for a family gift and I think you've given me the final pieces of the puzzle. Incredible stamping ... perfect for this sort daily diary/journal/keepsake manager. Oh my ... so many ideas whirling around my head. Beautiful gift. I'm sure your MIL loved it. Hugs! Mary Elizabeth

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  23. Mother in law will be super happy with that book...I love stamped images you choose, scraps and colours!

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  24. Hi Claudia, just wanted to say, the book is gorgeous and what a great idea for a gift, Angela x

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