Sunday 1 March 2015

Anything Goes at Country View Crafts Challenge and Giveaway winner

If this post sounds as though I am super excited, well I am. We have booked a holiday to go back to California and I am sooo looking forward to it. We will be staying with friends in the Los Angeles area and visiting Palm Springs and San Francisco, so being in the desert for a few days means there will be lots of warm sun, oooooh I can't wait and oh yes lots of retail therapy time too and catching up with my friend Terry.

I am heavily into bookbinding at the moment so I have made myself a little travel scrapbook to take with me so I can record my visit rather like a diary with lots of photos and collected ephemera.

This is approximately 16 x 13 1/2 cms and has been made using the brand new Tim Holtz 'Correspondence' paper stash. The colours and designs are just perfect for a red, white and blue theme. (In fact I have rather craftily used the 12 x 12 papers to make two books, the other one will be up on Friday).


This a hard backed book with a soft spine and the style is one I will be teaching at my next Country View Crafts Workshop, the pages are sewn together and I have added in some tags, envelope pockets and smaller plain pages to add interest.



I tore the outside edge of the pages and had a big inking session once they were sewn together to grunge and distress them all.


I used Tim's USA blueprint stamp, his stars and stripes movers and shapers dies and his ephemera packs to create the collage on the front cover.


I also designed my own closure together using one of the Idea-Ology hitch fasteners and some elastic.


Here you can see how I held it together on the back of the book .......


.... and the ends link over the hitch fastener at the front of the book.



I've started to add some little die-cuts like the movers and shapers camera and I will stamp some journalling mats and take some mini tags and a small kit of bits and pieces so I can add everything as I go along. That's the fun of being in a home and living like an American rather than being in a hotel all the time.


Because this is nice and flat it will fit in my case perfectly.

I hope you will join us for our March challenge - don't forget anything goes and there will be a "20 voucher for the winner to buy some lovely crafting goodies from Susan's online shop.


Before I finish I would like to announce the winner of my 5 year blog anniversary and what are now over 1000 posts. I was blown away by the number of you who entered and the most amazing comments you left me, I feel really encouraged by your very positive remarks about my work, it was really wonderful feedback, thank you so much.

I ran the Random Org number generator and the lucky number is -


.... and by my counting that number belongs to Dagmar.

Congratulations Dagmar, if you would like to email me your address I will get the goodies in the post to you. My email address brenda_brown25@hotmail.com

Thanks again to each and everyone who of you who joined in.


Have a wonderful week ahead everyone and hopefully you will have some time to get inky.

Listen to your heArt

hugs Brenda xxxx

21 comments:

Astrid Maclean said...

Wonderful little book Brenda, and yes, just perfect with those correspondence papers! Love all the die cut pieces you added, so suitable for this particular occasion (lucky you!!!).

Big congrats to Dagmar, so pleased for her!

Unknown said...

Wow this is a fabulous book, love everything about it. Liking the new TH stamps and paper. Will look forward to seeing it all filled in after your holiday! Extra large case for all the stash you will buy!
Hugs xx

sally said...

Brilliant book & oh so envious of you going over to the States so soon again - my fingers are firmly crossed that we get there this September ( Bill needs to stay healthy!)

Sally

Jane said...

How exciting to be off to the States again Brenda. Your book is perfect for the trip and you can stash lots of lovely memories in it. Well done to the lucky winner of your giveaway and you deserve every lovely comment as your work really is so inspiring. Happy 1st March my friend xx

Kim said...

What a great book! I love how you used Tim's new papers. Definitely fitting for your upcoming trip.

massofhair said...

congrats to Dagmar on her win! Wonderful Travel journal Brenda, it will be fantastic to see how it has grown on your return from the US :-) xxx

Margreet said...

Congrats on Dagmar!
I'm jealous of you....going to California....gorgeous...have a great time!
Love your traveling scrapbook...cannot wait to see if it is finished!
xxx Margreet

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Brenda,
This will be a wonderful little memory book of your trip;a treasured keepsake.
You of course have embellished and designed it wonderfully; it looks fabulous.
Rob and I were in San Fran and Vegas a couple of years ago, I am sure you will have a great time.
Smiles:)
Sue

crafty creations said...

Wow your book is amazing Brenda and perfect for your holiday

Congrats to Dagmar on winning the wonderful prize

We are all winners really getting to see your work and glean inspiration from it

Dagmar said...

Dear Brenda, I am so happy that mr Random chose me for your great giveaway <3 Many Thanks for al the great thinks.

Your Book is fantastic - great binding and shaping.
I thank you for all the great Inspiratione which I always find here on your blog - I love your creativity.
Hugs, Dagmar

experiments in paper said...

Fantastic book, Brenda! I so wish I could go to your workshop, as I am trying to learn different ways of making books - but that rather a long haul from Connecticut :-) Thank you for your visits - I really appreciate it, especially how busy I know you are! xx Lynn

And PS - have a GREAT time in sunny California!!

Meggymay said...

A fantastic book Brenda, a super place to store memories of your trip.
Yvonne xx

Anonymous said...

Those papers look as though they were made with you in mind because they are perfect in your beautiful little book. A lovely collection of die-cuts on display.
How exciting, knowing that soon you will be on your travels.
Wishes
Lynne

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

This will be so fun to fill! LOVE that paper and all the ephemera!

Juliz Design Post said...

How fabulous to be heading off to the States and I guess with an empty suitcase to bring back lots of craft goodies and so nice to be catching up with Terry. Correspondence papers suit your mini book perfectly.
Hope you had a lovely weekend, Julie x

Deborah said...

What a fabulous book, Brenda. Love the ingenious fastening. I'm quite envious of your trip to CA (and not just for the sunshine - it's a beautiful state).

Nikki Acton said...

WOW WOW! I think this is great - be even better after your trip but wonderful just as it is. Nikki x

Terry said...

Oh and you are so ready for sure! What a great little book and so perfect for your upcoming travels to CA! Love this! I so can't wait to see what trouble we do get into! Hugs!

Deb said...

Wonderful travel book and a brilliant closure idea! Have a wonderful trip Brenda!

pearshapedcrafting said...

A perfect scrapbook to take with you! You are sure to have a great time! Chrisx

Words and Pictures said...

What a perfect travel scrapbook for your USA holiday - how lovely to have that to look forward to. Looks as though some more NYC work is on the cards for me, so I'll get at least the retail therapy bit!!
Alison xx