Cuttlebug Challenge #97-Book It!

Good Morning!!!!  Today's challenge at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is to create something with, about, or from a book.  How fun!  I have been wanting to alter a child's board book ever since I saw one in a Somerset magazine a while back.  I found a book among all the books and toys, that some little sweet grand-baby hand had scribbled all over with an ink pen.  And so, that was the perfect start to my project.

 

I painted the whole thing with gesso and once that dried real good (about 24 hours or so), I painted it again with some pink acrylic paint.  That doesn't take too long to dry so I could start right away.  I printed some of my favorite photos I have taken recently, gathered up some of my favorite Our Daily Bread designs scripture stamps, kissed my sweet little green Cuttlebug (LOL!) and was ready to go!

One thing I have found over the years, the easiest way to create a scrapbook, is to use papers from the same paper pack and then to use the same supplies and similar embellishments throughout the book.  That keeps me from having to think too hard!  I used Mod Podge to glue the papers down.  (And here is a little secret.  After I had put the front cover on, I decided I didn't like it!  What to do?  Well, I just glued down another front cover and hid my edges with velvet ribbon!!!)  Some of the papers are embossed and some are not.  I then added a few more swipes of paint and also sponged with Tim Holtz ink to distress it. 

This was also a great way to use up some ribbon and lace scraps that I can't seem to throw away.  Another thing I learned along the way, is that all this painting caused the inside part of the binding to be very unattractive.  I added the butterflies which helped a lot but then they split in half when I opened the book!  Well then, I sponged more ink and glued ribbon down the middle of each page with Beacon 3-1 glue, winding the ribbon up and down each page leaving me with two tails at the top.  I tied those in a knot at the top and added a pearl bead to each end.  Hope that makes sense!  

That hid the ugly inseams though, thank goodness! 

I consider myself so blessed to have been able to take the photo of the deer!  She was standing right outside my aunt and uncle's garden as we were leaving my parents house a few weeks ago!  Wow, what a moment! 

Another thing to note is that the book will warp a little but to me that just adds to the vintage feel.  I also noticed that when I stamped the scriptures directly to the painted and mod podged page, it seemed to try to stick.  Not sure if it was the type of ink I used or because I was stamping onto the mod podge layer.  

But my stamps are all fine, so all is good.

Here are the supplies I used:

Various Our Daily Bread designs stamp sets

Gesso, Acrylic Paint, and Mod Podge

K & Co Designer Paper Pack

Ribbons, Lace, Buttons and Pearls

Cameo Hat Pin and a piece of crocheted doily

Various Spellbinders Dies

SU! Border Punch

Memento Black Ink and Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Cropadile and large eyelet

Provocraft Cuttlebug Victoria Embossing folder #37-1916

Provocraft Cuttlebug Butterfly Die 37-1651

Provocraft Cuttlebug Floral Borders Dies

Beacon 3-1 and Zip Dry glues

Thank you so much for visiting with me today!  

To see more inspiration for this challenge, check out the Cuttlebug Challenge blog!  

The design team has lots of great ideas to share!

Have a wonderful day!