Faded layers...naturally.

I've made it...and in good time! I've been disappointed not to be able to join in with the last few CC3 challenges, (so little time, so much to do), but I have a few days off at present so I am happily 'creating'. We are on numero 8 now and it's the faded layers technique (page 58). This time The Funkie Junkie boutique are sponsoring the challenge and the lucky winner will receive a $25 shopping spree. Here's my entry for Challenge 8. I've altered a notebook.

Front..

...and back.

This technique really surprised me, I absolutely love the effect it creates. You have to see it in real life, it really has a wow factor....well I think so anyway. Why two tone?

Well, I originally thought I'd do blues or a bright colour but as I was also wondering what to do for Hels Sheridan's The Sunday Stamper challenge which this week has a natural theme.....I thought why not? Always one for experimenting, though this may have all been done before? I set off down the natural route. Now some may think there is a brown theme developing with my CC3C entries, I do other colours, honest, it's just the way it's worked out (there has been one greeny blue entry so far).

So without giving the technique away, I started with a £1 notebook from a sale. I took the covers off.

I'd had an idea about light stone colours, patchworking them and white embossing, so I tried a few colours and used the technique. The colours I've used were the same for both ( brown, orange, yellow) but I used some gold metallic mixatives on the dark and snowcap white on the light. I used the stencils below.

I couldn't choose between the pieces so decided to use both.  The one on the left has been sectioned but I kept the page pattern as it was. The one on the right I chose to mix up the sections. I've also punched the holes for the spine and the elastic that closes the book. Before stitching with a wonky zigzag I stuck the pieces onto a piece of photocopy paper.

I did think about mixing them together (below) but preferred the above arrangement.

I wanted to keep the stamping and additions simple so the technique/ background could be seen....(learned my lesson from the previous post!)

Stamp sets I've used are Bird Feather, Mercantile and I think it's Haberdashery? I stamped the images in white before sewing as I knew the feather would cross the cut areas. The black stamping was done after sewing and I've used some remnant rubs. Then attached the pages to the covers with matt multi medium and I've just used a couple of idea-ology pieces to finish and attached them with a swivel clasp. I tinted the pieces with antique linen distress paint. I didn't add too many pieces as I want to be able to slip it my bag and use it to make notes or journal on the go.

Update, couple of close ups, I meant to add..

So this is my entry for CC3C and The Sunday Stamper, both links above. Hope you enjoyed it and thanks so much for stopping by.