Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  A special thank you too to whoever left a chocolate bar on my front door yesterday.  While working on my 24 cards in 24 hours challenge I’d mentioned my need for chocolate, and it appears someone responded.  I was shattered by the end of it and slept like a log last night.  Which leads me nicely into this week’s What Will You Stamp? design challenge, WWYS189 Still Night.

MORE CRAFTING

Oh yes, having finished my 24 cards I realised I hadn’t made my Design Team Project for WWYS189 Still Night.  I must be honest I couldn’t face making another card but thought the images would make a lovely notebook cover.

The notebook itself was purchased in Walmart and is 3-1/4″ x 4-1/2″ with a not very attractive front and back cover.

I decided to start by adding a page marker using some Tear & Tape Adhesive to secure some Gold 3/8″ Metallic Edge Ribbon to the outside of the back cover.  I could then bring the ribbon over the top of the book and down into the pages.

With the ribbon in place I could then add Designer Series Paper (DSP) to the front and back covers.  To my surprise I found the perfect subtle brown design in the Tranquil Textures 12″ x 12″ DSP pack.  I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to fix the DSP to the covers then trimmed it to shape with Paper Snips.

STILL NIGHT

With the book already looking a lot better it was time for the Still Night Stamp Set.

I started with the gorgeous owl image stamped onto some Thick Whisper White Card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Then I needed my die-cutting machine and magnetic plate.  Using the coordinating Night Owl Thinlits Dies I cut out the owl.  Next I cut some Thick Whisper White Card using the delicate branch die from the same set.

To colour the branch I used Sponge Daubers with a tapping motion to add Crumb Cake and then Soft Suede inks.  These colours would blend nicely with the background, but not overpower it.  Once done I added the branch to the front of the notebook using a Fine-Tip Glue Pen

THE OWL

There’s so much detail on the stamped owl image that I didn’t feel I needed to do much else.  So I simply painted over it with Frost White Shimmer Paint.  As I worked I noticed that the paint picked up a little of the stamped black ink giving it a soft grey look.  Not exactly what I had planned but I love the result.

With the rest of the owl a pearly grey I decided not to paint the area around his eyes.  I wanted the area to stand out, but not appear spooky.  So I simply used a Dark Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker to colour the eyes.

Once that was done all that was left was to add the owl to the branch on the notebook cover with liquid glue.  I was really pleased to find that there’s a ‘sweet spot’ where the owl’s feet really look as if they are on the branch.  This doesn’t always happen with bird images so I took it as a good omen.

Just one final touch was needed.

I added a spot of glue from the Fine-Tip Glue Pen to the owl’s eyes and set the book aside to dry flat overnight.  Job done.

As I look at the finished notebook I find myself wanting to stroke it.  The combination of the DSP and the inking on the branch makes me think of fabric.  When the light catches it it’s almost looks like the branch has been embroidered on.  Maybe my brain is still tired, but I’m very happy with how this boring notebook turned out.

WHAT WILL YOU STAMP? CHALLENGE

I created this altered notebook project as part of the What Will You Stamp? Challenge Design Team.  On our blog today you’ll find projects from other members of the team using the same Still Night Stamp Set.

Although we’re part of a team, we never know everyone else is making, but we never seem to have the same idea and someone else.  That’s what I love about stamping, there’s so many possibilities for each stamp set.

If you have the Still Night Stamp Set we’d love to see your ideas.  To join the challenge simply create a new project using at least one image from the set.  Then upload it to the challenge gallery for WWYS189 Still Night.  At the end of the challenge we’ll randomly choose one person to be our winner.  The winner will receive an invitation to be our Guest Design two weeks later and a badge for their social media.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Well that’s it from me for today, I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for another papercrafting project.

PRODUCT LIST

UPDATED 2020: Sadly the following products have retired and are no longer available from Stampin’ Up!

• Tranquil Textures Designer Series Paper
• Still Night Stamp Set
• Night Owl Thinlits Dies