Mystery Project - Distress Crackle Artbook

Happy Monday Everyone!

I hope you all had a great weekend. We finished moving our business and chilled the rest of the time. I got a darn URI back from my Dad that I originally had in April so that's not so good but that's life I guess...

Today I want to reveal the Mystery Project I posted an image of last week.

It's my Distressed Crackle Artbook!

It's a really fun project that can be personalized for anyone on your potential gift list! You can alter the look and feel by changing up the color scheme, stamps, etc. It's a nice quick gift you can make in a matter of hours (plus a bit more for dry time).

Supplies:

Chipboard

Distress Crackle Paints - Ranger

Distress Inks - Ranger

Adirondack Acrylic Paint - Ranger

Archival Ink - Ranger

Glossy Accents - Ranger

Ink Blending Tool & Foam - Ranger

Rubber Stamps - Queen's Dresser Drawers, Lost Coast Designs

Embellishments - Various

(optional) Binding Wire & Cutter - Zutter Bind-It-All

Inside Pages (and ephemera if desired)

Instructions:

1. Cut 12 - 1 1/2" Squares from chipboard. Cut 1 - 7" x 1" strip of chipboard. Cut 2 - 7" x 7 1/2" pieces of chipboard for the covers. Cut the inside pages.

2. Paint the squares and strip of chipboard with desired color(s) of Distress Crackle Paint and let dry. Dry time will vary depending on temperature & humidity.

3. Paint the covers with black acrylic paint.

4. (optional) After the squares have dried, distress further by flaking off some of the paint as shown in the photo...

5. Apply Distress Inks to the squares with the IBT. You can use the same color of Distress Ink to match the paint or a totally different color. Totally up to you.

6. Stamp desired images on several of the squares using Archival Ink.

7. Affix desired embellishments to a few of the squares.

8. Attach the painted & embellished squares with your favorite strong adhesive to the front cover. Add the long strip of chipboard along the left edge ~ this will add extra reinforcement for the binding.

9. Punch holes for desired type of binding in the front & back covers. I like to use my Bind-It All. It is quick and very easy to use.

10. Arrange your inside pages & ephemera in desired order, punch holes and layer into covers. I used plain copy paper for most of the pages but I also threw in bits of other fun stuff here and there....A time card, music sheets, giant playing cards & a vintage bingo card. You could of course use any paper ephemera you have on hand. You could also add envelopes or tags as well!

11. Finish binding as desired. I used the large wire so there would be room to expand by adding bits of ephemera and ideas to the book.

Fun huh?

Would you like to win this fun Artbook for yourself or a friend?

All you have to do is post a comment to be entered to win!!

You will have until 5-26 to enter!!

Good Luck Friends!!!