New Darkroom Door Checkered & Honeycomb Stencils!

 

Hi everyone!  I'm back today to share a few projects I've been working on in collaboration with Darkroom Door.  This release is all about stencils and postcards.  First, I've used the AMAZING Mr. Bright Idea stamp with the new Large Checkered Stencil.  I deconstructed the stamp and used the various collage elements to recreate the design, with an embossed Cog stamp in the background. 

 

To make the inky background panel, I first did a good old dipping into watered Distress Inks to get down some base color.  Then I wiped the pads directly onto the stencil and spritzed with water.  I used a couple or three colors for a variegated look.   I lifted the stencil and placed it on a piece of paper, then pressed the inky paper onto it with another piece of paper and let it sit for several minutes.  This technique is called stencil monoprinting and the trick is to let the paper sit on the ink long enough.  You can use ink pads, or spray inks in the same manner.  Since this is the Large Checkered Stencil, it was big enough that I could rotate my panels and get a "diamond" look rather than a square print.  That means more bang for your buck, with more versatility!  :)

My next card features one of the Small Stencils, Honeycomb.  I love it so much and will be using this one lots so look out!  :)  It coordinates beautifully with the Buzzing Bees stamp set. 

I started with a watercolor panel and washes of ink, then did some stenciling with ink, then added texture paste through the stencil for dimension.  When this was dry, I went back over the paste with more lime green watercolor ink.  I stamped with the Number Medley set in green along the edges. 

I finished by dying a pair of hexagon dies, cutting one in half and mounting the focal bee image over them.  I love this bee so much and wish there was an XL version!  The sentiment is from the same set.  I finished with splashes of gesso.  

For my last card I used the Tall Flowers small stencil.  I made an inky background with Seedless Preserves and Pumice Stone Distress Inks, then used the Ranger embossing ink dauber and Ranger Mixed Media EP in Copper.  I finished by stamping a sentiment from the Christmas Bush stamp set into one of the Lots of Labels stamps.  I like the contrast of the copper/grape, do you?  I hope these cards have inspired you today and you'll check out the new Darkroom Door stencil release on the Darkroom Door blog.  Hugs, Autumn

Darkroom Door Enchanted Doors Postcard Altered Book Cover

 

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to be sharing my finished altered address book cover with you today!  I've been working on this journal for a couple of years, just taking my time and enjoying the process, and have finally altered the book cover.  I used chipboard to make the pages, replacing the old paper.  You can see all of the pages thus far HERE.  I have one more spread left to do.  It was complete serendipity when Darkroom Door released their new line of postcards, because the Enchanted Doors were meant to be my focal point for this book and I'm so glad I waited!

These postcards make great ephemera for your journals and mixed media. I gave mine a good sanding and distressed the edges, then dipped it in Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Weathered Wood, stitching along the edges.  I layered over torn lace and made a faux closure with some tattered ribbon and one of my Grandfather's old keys. 

I chose a pair of paper dolls to coordinate, because I had used a lot of paper dolls throughout my book and they work so well with the doors.  They were also sanded and tinted with Peacock Feathers and VP Distress Inks.  I used gesso and Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays to tint the linen cover of my book, then made faux stepping stones with crackle paste through the Arty Circles stencil.  I sanded it some once it was dry to create highlights.

I used the word blocks from the You Are Everything stamp set and added handwriting around the postcard with a white Posca.  I added a cancellation from the Global Postmarks stamp set to further grunge up the door panel.  The brass medallion was a gift all the way from India, sent along with a handmade journal by my friend Remya.  It's a treasure to me!

I really hope this project has given you some ideas for using your new Darkroom Door postcards.  I know you will love them as much as I do!  xx, Autumn

Find more inspiration on the Darkroom Door blog!

I'm sharing with:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Add a Sentiment!

Let's Craft and Create: Polka Dots and/or Stripes

Country View Challenges: Monochromatic 

How to Make a Junk Journal from Digital Paper Prints

 

Hi everyone!  I'm excited to share a new type of tutorial with you today on using printed papers to make a junk journal.  I know many of us have seen beautiful printable JJ kits on the market, but don't know exactly how to transform the prints into a completed journal.  I hope this tutorial will help give you that confidence!  Please Pin this post and share to help support me making future videos. 

The joy of making your own journal in your own style with all of your favorite elements is immense, and if I may say it is quite addictive.  In this video you will see how easy it is to transform printed copy paper pages into a beautiful, vintage style book, which you can use as a journal, a photo album or simply admire as an art book. A few added pieces of authentic ephemera, such as feathers, wine labels, postage and vintage cards really elevate the printed book. 

I've used various free printables from my library of resources on my Pinterest board HERE, along with a couple of purchased items from Etsy.  The owls are mostly from PrintablesByMartiJo and can be purchased HERE.  They were my big splurge for a whopping $1.99.  My other main purchase was the handmade paper, which was $19.99 on Amazon, and I only used four sheets out of 50, leaving plenty for other books. 

 

I've included a photo of every page at the end of the video, but here are a few favorites.

And here is the video with all of the details on assembly, staining and a flip through of each spread.  I hope you enjoy it!  Hugs, Autumn

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