Sunday 17 July 2011

Handmade art journal


I bought this old bird book a little while ago to turn into an art journal. I finally completed it last saturday at the Wight Craft Circles monthly crop.

I removed the pages of the book then made 4 folders, each with 6 pages, to stitch back inside. I used different types of paper, fabric, lace, old text, music sheets, maps, pages from an old stamp collectors book, old patterns, digi download images and stamps to create each page. I used lots of sewing on the pages for more texture.

I aim to paint and draw and write over each of the pre made pages. I don't know yet whether I will have a theme for the book...I am thinking inspirational quotes or just using it to write down day to day stuff.

Here are the photos.


Front and back

(I was going to decorate the outside but have decided I prefer to keep the original look of the book)


The pages


A maya road envelope stuck to the back inside cover


Ledger paper, tissue tape, downloaded images (from Ceremony) and stamps



Downloaded image and TH glassine paper



An old pattern


A pull out section, butterfly printed on tissue paper, string and old music paper



Tabs made with a tab punch from Stampin up (I think!)


Front cover



Thanks for looking,

Sam x













9 comments:

Sarah said...

Wow, VERY nice job! Have fun filling it up!

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful work, Sam, love it! Valerie

Sherry said...

It looks fantastic Sam - I like the book cover left in it's original state too. I don't think I'd have enough patience to remove pages and re-stitch new ones, but I love what you've done and all the detail is brill!

Thanks for your comment on my blog - those Dylusions paints are fab I must agree. Yours is one of the blogs I love looking at to see journal pages - the backgrounds are always fab and inspirational. Maybe now I can achieve something like them xx

Lorraine said...

great looking book sam

Unknown said...

That is beautiful Sam.

Paige said...

It's beautiful Sam. I so enjoyed watching you make it! and can't wait to see it change as you add bits to it each day :)

laurie said...

oh, i love this book, inside and out. i have been thinking about trying to make a book such as this - i have never "stitched" a book before so i am a bit hesitant.

Poppit said...

Totally gorgeous.

Carmen said...

It's stunning, I bet the texture in real life is just gorgeous to run your fingers over.

I like the original covers too and love how you've carried the nature them throughout.