Hemingway and the Sea Altered Tim Holtz Journal

 

Hello friends!  I'm back with my final project as April guest designer for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  This week I am sharing my favorite project, one that really means a lot to me, an altered journal with a quote by Ernest Hemingway from The Old Man and the Sea.  The theme for this week's challenge is Add a Quote and this is one that I love...

I was super excited to see the release of Tim Holtz's new Ideaology Backdrops.  I don't know about you, but I wish Tim would release paper regularly.  I miss getting new 12x12 packs!  I was excited that these sheets were just long enough that I could use them to alter a composition notebook.  I use these notebooks regularly for jotting down sketches of stamp projects and home decor and even for brush lettering practice.  So I always enjoy creating my next altered cover, since I go through them so quickly.  If you haven't read The Old Man and the Sea, you can grab it by clicking the photo below.  It is a story of persistence and a man's purpose and one I read during the early days of Covid.  I used tiny alphabet stamps for the quote and lots of layers that reminded me of the story.

I chose a set of the new Paper Doll Groups, boys who reminded me of dock workers from the book.  I then stamped fish from Tim's Sea Life stamp set onto scrap inky paper.  I added detail with a white paint pen, then gave them a brush of mica powder for an authentic fish scale look. 

I crafted a fish hook from jewelry wire and painted it with black gesso.  The boys were sanded and tinted lightly with Distress Inks.  I splashed everything with watery gesso to add a sea spray feel.

I used a piece of braided jute from some packaging and attached it with Tim's Fastener brads on each side.  I layered a piece of vintage holey paper and a boy's clothing label from the Field Notes Ephemera.

I finished the back of the journal with more sheets from the Backdrops and I love the contrast!  I hope you've enjoyed this project and are inspired to put a quote you love onto paper for this week's challenge. 

One lucky winner will receive a $25 voucher to Simon Says Stamp, so come play along!  Have a great week, Autumn