Mixed Media Art Journal Covers Guest Design for Happy Little Stampers

Welcome! Today I am designing as a Guest for Happy Little Stampers where the Mixed Media challenge is 'Books'. I have altered my art journal covers in some of my favorite colors with lots of texture. When you are done having a look, I hope you will hop over to Happy Little Stampers to see all the amazing projects the Design Team have created to inspire you!

I started by removing the book cover and back and giving both sides of the cover and backing 2 coats of gesso. I added the clock image in ink using a Tim Holtz stencil (Clockwork) using the monoprint technique I describe here. 

Next, I added DecoArt Crackle Paint through the same stencil on the cover and another Tim Holtz stencil  (Splotches) for the back cover and allowed that to dry overnight.

I made a puddle of  brown Distress paints and a little water on my craft mat and laid my cover in the diluted paint, removing and drying with my heat tool. I repeated this until I was happy with the result. I did the same thing with the back cover, but with blue paints. Some of the crackle popped off, and it really didn't look good on the back, so I added some Distress Crackle paint in Picket Fence to those areas, and allowed that to dry.

Not shown in photos in process, I went back in with Distress stains in blues and browns to achieve the final outcome on the front and back covers, and on the inside of the covers.  

I did some random stamping on the back cover using Distress Archival ink in Ground Espresso and Vintage Photo using portions of a Rubberstamps stamp and Tim Holtz Flights of Fancy and The Impossible sets. I also used my new  Prima Royal Menagerie clock stamp on a few of the crackled circles. 

I gave the front and back panels a coat of DecoArt Utra Matte varnish to seal, as these covers will be getting a lot of handling. I like the look of the chipping crackle, but I didn't want it to chip further.

Here are the inside panels. Please see my post here for steps on how I created these panels. On this book I've substituted designer paper for the manila folder I used on my card in my previous post, and you can see the faint print in the background. I've added some Distress Crazing Medium randomly around the edges and highlighted the cracks with Distress Crayons. There is some random stamping done with a Stampendous stamp and Archival ink.

For my collage on the front, I started with some vintage book pages  and a stamped image from Stampington and Company which I colored with Distress inks and stains. I distressed and splattered them with Distress paint in Black Soot. In between the layers I added Tim Holtz Mixed Media die cuts, painted to look like rusted iron.

I topped it with this metal frame which I also altered to look like rusted iron. This is from Prima's Junkyard Findings, a (new) gift I received from my uber talented and sweet and generous friend Autumn of Sew Paper Paint. I used an old 7 Gypsies rub on from my stash for the title, choosing just the right part of "The Juicy Part".

A Tim Holtz Gearhead Thinlit gets some rust using my yet unused Prima Artisan Powder--LOVE at first use! I guess I won't have to raid my spice cabinet for cinnamon any more!

Last, but not least, a little pocket watch I picked up at Hobby Lobby especially for this book. I rusted it as I did with the frame, and gave the face the crackle treatment.

It is Time to Make Art!

I wanted to thank Melissa and the entire Design Team at Happy Little Stampers for inviting me to create with them today! It was so much fun putting this little book together, and now it's ready to fill with art!

These are the fine challenges I'm entering:

Sandee and amelie's Steampunk March 2017 Challenge-Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial

Mixed Media World MMW#22-Anything Goes

Country View Challenges March 2017-Inspired By Tim Holtz I used lots of Tim's techniques and products, following in his grungy style.

Scrapy Land-Challenge #61-Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #272-273-Anything Goes

Love to Create Challenge #5-Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes

Creative Artiste Challenge #24-Anything Mixed Media Goes

Penny Black-March-Anything Goes

Dies R Us Challenge #68-Something New I've used my new Prima Junkyard Findings, stamps and Artisan Powder.
Simon Says Stamp-Monday Challenge-Make Your Own Background

Stamplorations Stencil Sunday #86 + Mixed Media Challenge

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your lovely comments!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily