Thursday, May 27, 2010

A Grungy Book and Ribbons Tamed

Over at ATT, there’s a swap going on (that of course I had to join), where an experienced user of all things Tim (that would be me) is paired up with a newbie.  I’m to create something using my Tim stuff for my partner, and she will do the same for me.  I wanted to use a lot of techniques but also make something that could be done even more simply, should my partner want to give it a try.
So, I decided on a little notebook.
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The covers are made of grungeboard, which was inked with wild honey distress ink, embossed with a cuttlebug folder, and reinked with forest moss distress ink to highlight the embossing.  On the side near the coils, two of Tim’s on the edge border dies.  The brown one was inked with walnut stain distress ink and embossed with the same color of distress embossing powder.  The green border was inked with peeled paint distress ink, over stamped with a flourish then embossed with clear embossing powder.
The little bird is from Tim’s caged bird die, and it was inked and embossed, though I can’t remember what color I used.  I added some peeled paint stickles to its wings.  His crown of feathers is a piece of foliage idealogy that I cut up and rearranged, and attached with a brad (which cleverly forms the eye).
The charm hanging off the book is one of Tim’s, and I inked it and embossed it with peeled paint.
Inside the book are pages cut from Tim’s retro grunge paper stack:
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And the back cover:
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I’ve been working on a project to bring some order to my ribbon collection.  They were all on their original rolls, took up a lot of space, and were also scattered all over the studio.  They are going from this:
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to this:
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I’m making my own little bobbins from cardboard from cereal boxes, tissue boxes, even some random playing cards.  I’m not finished, but I’m getting there.  Now all my ribbon, fibers and threads fit in one drawer:
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By the way, the plastic containers the various color groups are in are also something recycled.  My beloved  biscotti come in them, and I’ve been saving them not knowing what I’d use them for.
Speaking of bobbins, many of my ribbons had this plastic at the core.  It is two parts that snap together.  I saved them because they look like something I can use, but I have no idea for what.  If any of you have any thoughts on this, please let me know:
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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh I love, love, love that little grungy book.

Tina Tolliver said...

Awesome, Eileen!!

Dorothy said...

Great book and the ribbons are nicely done!

Elaine A said...

Hi Eileen -

I love your clever idea for the bird's head feathers. He is just so cute! Great book, love all the detail.

Elaine Allen

katknit said...

I love the book and your idea on how to organize the ribbon. I'm going to steal that one!!! Thanks.
Charlene

Shannon - Desert Designs said...

Fantastic book! I have been eying the new edge dies, but hadn't made the plunge yet - do you love them? I can identify with the ribbon chaos too - perhaps a trick like yours is in order.

Lori said...

Fabby book, I'm sure the Tim newbie will love it! Love the ribbon storage, so you're addicted to biscotti, eh? Good dunked in coffee...as for the ribbon spools, I'm sure you'll think of something, how bout an altered bird perch?

patricia smith said...

As always, your work blows me away! Good to see you are going green, too! Love the idea of the cereal boxes for the ribbon. Great idea! I love the colors in your piece.
Hugs,
Pat smith

Anonymous said...

Very nice notebook. I love it....

Anonymous said...

Eileen I love your grunge project and don't you just love having your ribbons organized that way!!!! SO much easier to find something!!!!

Angie Hall Haviland said...

FABULOUS BOOK, Eileen!!!! Great job on your ribbon.....looks GREAT!

Nancy Lynn said...

Sounds like a fun swap. It is a real nice book. She will love it and learn lots from the expert.

I love how you organized your ribbons. It is nice to have them so you can use them.

Tammy D said...

Awesome!

Kerry said...

Love the colors! The bird is cute, I just bought the die and can't wait to use it! I love the ribbon project too - I really need to follow your lead on that also! Love the book - great project! Thanks for sharing. Kerry P

My name is Cindy said...

Lovely little book - and loving those dies too!! The ribbon chaos strikes a chord here too, I have two boxes nice and orderly on their own cards I did it about a year ago and now I've got a box of all the bits too small to behave and stay on the card without pins.

WendyP said...

your grungy book looks amazing and i am sure the recipient will love it too !!

Cheryl said...

What a terrific grunge book. I'm sure your partner will love it. I have been slowly adding my Tim stuff and now I need to use it more. I love the way you did the crown for the bird.

Sandi M said...

Cute little book. Your recycling of boxes to ribbon holders is clever. Maybe you can AI those little spools and make a bud vase for grunge roses :)

patricia smith said...

I am leaving a 2nd message, as I rechecked your blog this morning & really looked at the artwork! I wish I had signed up for the ATT newbie swap, I could have learned so much from you guys.
I love the colors you used, & saw where you colored, embossed THEN recolored! Also, love the birds eye!
You Rock, gal
Hugs,
Pat Smtih

Lillian M said...

great work Eileen
love the grungy book~~
Lill

Jana said...

Your partner is one lucky person. This book is fabulous. LOVE the head feather/eye combo. Too clever. Good job on the ribbons.
I just found you and am signing on as a follower. I love your style. Is that a Cosmo your having?