Wave Journal

Hey, Crafty Friends!! I'm back with the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team today and this month's theme is the Gret Outdoors!

I'm not a "woodsy" or "camping" type of person. Growing up on an island, my idea of the outdoors was the beach and the ocean. So today I created a simple Wave Journal. There is something so calming and relaxing about the sound of the ocean and waves crashing on the shore. It's one of the many things about home.

Supplies Used

Eileen Hull Journal Die (Sizzix)

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Mat Board (Sizzix)

Creative Station(Xyron)

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks- Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch (Ranger Ink)

Blending Tool (Ranger Ink)

Wave Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop)

VersaMark (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Clear Embossing Powder (Judikins)

Cardstock- Assorted Blues (Core'dinations)

Ideaology- Hitch Fasteners (Tim Holtz )

Heat Tool

Piercing Tool (aka- pokey tool)

Paper Trimmer (Swingline)

Bonefolder 

Long Reach Stapler

Clear Drying Liquid Glue

Clothespins- OPTIONAL

Elastic Cord

Charm

I started by cutting two panels from Mat Board using Eileen Hull's Journal Die. Then, I attached them together using a clear drying liquid glue to attach the spine together making sure to align the holes in the cutouts. I also used clothespins to pinch the pieces together until the glue set. The clothespins are completely optional but it helps to save time by freeing up your hands.

Once the glue was set, I placed the Wave Stencil over the cover (laying it open and flat) and inked VersaMark directly onto the entire surface of the mat board. I wanted one continuous to stretch out over both the back and front covers.

Then, I pour clear embossing powder over the entire stenciled image, dusted off the excess, and heat embossed it with a heat tool.

I applied a series of Distress Oxide Inks over the embossd image.  Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feathers (for the sky), and Mermaid Lagoon, Salty Ocean, and Blueprint Sketch (for the waves).

The waves look absolutely amazing!! I love it already!

Next, I die cut two more cover panels. This time, instead of Mat Board, I used blue cardstock. I then trimmed off the spines into segments and ran all my pieces through my Xyron Creative Station and attached them to the inside of the cover.

I did this after stenciling because I knew I was going to ink up the cover and didn't want to accidentally get them inked or smudged.

Then, I used my piercing tool to poke a hole through the front cover and screwed in a Hitch Fastener.

I threaded elastic cording through the hole located in the center of the spine, threaded through my charm, then looped around the front to create a closure for my journal. Then just hooked it onto the hitch.

For inserts, I cut sheets of graphing paper down to measure 8" x 8.5". I folded them in half so that they were 4" x 8.5" - folded then inserted the papers into a sleeve made from blue cardstock of the same size. And then I stapled the group together using a long reach stapler.

I threaded more elastic cording onto the spines. Nothing fancy here. Just single strands, knotted. Then I slid each book/ insert under the elastic to hold them in place.

And here is the finished journal. It's super simple. Very modern and zen... just like the ocean itself.

 

I love this charm I found. I cant remember who made it but I do kniw i found it at a Hobby Lobby a while back and it had been sitting in my stash ever since. It has a quote from Alice in Wonderland's Through the looking glass... somewhat Alice's character said her father would always say. 

Love it!!

Then, of course, the continuous waves that wrap around the back, around the spine, and then around front...

There you have it... 

my Great Outdoors... a trip to the sea on the cover of a journal.

Hope you enjoyed today's tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana 

Quick & Easy Mermaid Decor

Hi, Crafty Peeps!!
And HELLLLLO, SUMMER!!

Yup, the summer heat is here and it's time to hit the water! You could say I take to it like a fish in water... but I'd say, you're WRONG!! I'm not a fish in water... I'm a MERMAID!

And if you're a mermaid or LOVE everything mermaid, you'll love this quick and easy "Mer"-decor! Yes, Mer-decor is a thing!! Which is why it's a good thing that I am here today with Team Xyron and this week's amazing partner, my good friends from DCWV!! Because I'll be playing with their new Ocean Wonder Stack and it's gonna help take my home decor from awesome to "MERMAZING"!!



Supplies Used
Ocean Wonder (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Glitzy (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Stacked Love with Mermaid SVG File (Kolette Hall Studio)
Creative Station w/ 9" Permanent Cartridge (Xyron)
White Cardstock
Craft Foam
Picture Frame

When I saw this paper I immediately thought of Mermaids! And I found the super cool SVG file by Kolette Hall that was absolutely perfect!



I downloaded it onto my computer and loaded it into my ecal software.

When loaded into my software, the default size was too big for what I had in mind. So I resized it.

I simply adjust the sizing in the panel to the right of the screen. I used the drop-down arrow in the width section (which is simply labeled with a "w") and clicked it from it's 8.563" default sizing till it got to, what I thought was just right, at 7.060".

These pieces are also attached together (by default) and I want to cut multiples to stack them for a thicker three-dimensional look so I right-clicked, then clicked on "Ungroup" to separate them.

I knew I was going to be working with lots of colors and patterns and didn't want them to get lost or distracting. So, I broke it up by adding a .015" border around my "LOVE" word.

Simply, right click on the word, go to "Appearance", then "Add Shadow Layer...".

Then, set the sizing box to 0.15".

You can set what color you want your border to be, and in this case, I wanted it white. But that color blends into my virtual cutting mat. So I simply adjusted the outline to black. Go to the paint palette icon on the right of the screen, Go to "Stroke" box, then click in the color box and choose black.

Now, I can see that awesome border around my words!

I did those same steps to fill in color to my shapes too. but in those cases, I entered my selections in the "fill" box.

Both of these steps are optional, they just help me see what I'm doing better and help me get a better visual of what I am creating.

I separated my shadow onto another cutting mat. Remember, I wanted to create a stacked/ thick chipboard type of look. I only need to stack the shadow to achieve that look. So I duplicated 3 more and spread them over an entire mat.

Cutting multiple images is easier when you group like colors together and cut them all at once.

For the shadow, I cut in plain white cardstock. But for the main LOVE stacked word, I used this AMAZING or should I say MERMAZING fish scaled paper with a beautiful gradient and gold foil outlines and for my mermaid silhouette, I used this gorgeous pink glitter paper (also from DCWV).

I ran all my die cut pieces through the Xyron Creative Station, then layered all the LOVE stacks together.

I wanted the mermaid to have dimension but it seemed pointless to cover a bunch of glitter paper. So instead, I ran a piece of craft foam through the creative station and made my own foam adhesive to prop up my mermaid.

I attached the foam to the back of her head and torso only since her fins will be attached to the LOVE stack.

For my background, I used this deep purple paper with dotted waves. I think it looks a lot like deep sea currents. But it could just be me... HA!

I cut it down to fit inside my 7"x 10" frame... I know... what an awkward size! But use whatever size frame you can find and adjust accordingly.

 I took my stacked LOVE... look how nice and thick this piece is... and attached it to the center of my background paper, then inserted it into my frame and closed it up.

And there ya have it, EASY-PEASY!!



These papers are absolutely GORGEOUS and when the light hits it... Oh my gosh... STUNNING!!

This is clean and simple!

Aaaaaand...

 makes for perfect decor or gift for all those mermaid lovers out there!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

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