Tom Sawyer Autumn Journal Cover

I am truly on top of the world today!  I am joining the frilly side of the Frilly and Funkie Design Team as a guest for their Author Author challenge.  Sue Czosek is our host.  Here is how she describes the challenge:  "There are so many wonderful books that inspire the mind to imagine the worlds created within them.  Think fairy tales, mysteries, romances or even science fiction and use that to inspire your art.  Provide an explanation of how the book and author inspired your project.”

I chose to do a tribute to Mark Twain because of my love for his books Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  As a child, I truly wanted to be just like Tom Sawyer and was always scheming up a runaway plan that involved living off the river!  Oh boy, my poor mama!  I found this image from a movie through Wikipedia.

I have a few purchased journals that were in desperate need for a facelift.  I started by covering the cover with book pages, a tribute to the theme.  While my adhesive was drying, I added some IndigoBlu Megaflake in chocolate box randomly.  Next, I used Tim's layering stencil with Prima's Art Basics Modeling Paste over the pages.

After my background was dry, I sprayed a variety of Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays and let them muddle.

I used Rusty Hinge, Dried Marigold, and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to color my die cut leaves.  The Fall Foliage Thinlet Dies work perfectly with manilla card to create sturdy dies.  I usually ink my paper first then sponge additional ink if necessary after they are cut.

I built up a group of torn book pages and layered my image bundle over some broken twigs.  I decided to add the leaves as though they had just fallen on the page, rather than in an arrangement.  I curled each one and used hot glue to adhere.

I added some at the opposite corner and adhered burlap ribbon to create a closure.

I just love those pooling inks peeking out!

I adhered one of the dies from the Friendship Words thinlet set.  We can't always be perfect, but we can try our best, live our our grand dreams, and most importantly be genuine and transparent.

As you can see this cover is quite bulky, but I think it will work well as a journal because of the spiral binding and hard covers.  I can still open it and let the pages lay flat.

Prima Art Basics Mixed Media Essentials 6-tube Sample Kit 63262 (March Pre-Order)	SSizzix® Thinlits™ Die Set 16PK - Friendship Words: Script by Tim Holtz®	Sizzix® Thinlits Die Set 14PK - Fall Foliage by Tim Holtz	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Dried Marigold
Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Rusty Hinge

I used these LSG sprays:

Go Greased Lightening Flat Fabio Set 

(Sandra Dee Sepia, Tears on My Pillow Tangerine)

Tres Chic Flat Fabio Set

(Cafe au Lait)

I'm also sharing with:

Lindy's Stamp Gang October Challenge

Altered Eclectics: Anything Goes Mixed Media/Altered

STAMPlorations: Anything Goes Mixed Media w/Stencil

Emerald Creek Dares: Fall into Celebration (Celebrating American Authors)
Digi Choosday: Anything Goes
Craft-Dee Bowz: Anything Goes w/Handmade Bow