Wednesday 15 October 2014

CC3 CHALLENGE #13

Well 13 may be unlucky for some but I have had a ball completing this challenge. All the details can be found on Linda's blog or just click HERE. As in all the previous challenges, the lucky overall winner will receive a massive bundle of goodies supplied by Tim and Mario. Being an uneven numbered challenge, the generous Inspiration Emporium are giving away a $50 voucher which will buy someone another lovely lot of crafty goodies. So, you need to turn to page 35 of your Compendium to see all about 'Worn Covers'. My friend Sonia gave me a worn cover binder at Xmas full of plain pages but also lots more made from Timmy papers. I adore this binder and made it into a garden record for the perennial border I planted this year. The cover I just happened to have in my cupboard is going to be binder #2 and I will use it to record the flower progress of the border throughout next year. I therefore decided to make all four sides relate to each of the seasons. Let the fun begin....
I made a conscious decision to leave the spine untouched just to remind me of what the binder looked like because I wanted to go overboard with decorating it. I began with a touch of Distress stain to both outsides and a touch of paint to the insides.
My favourite season of all is Spring quickly followed by Summer so these were the 2 I made on the outsides.
I used as many dies as I could associate with each season cutting papers, Core 'dinations card and vellum. Each word is taken from Alpha Parts and coloured with Distress Paints and I've tried in incorporate rub ons on each side too. My least favourite months fall in Autumn and Winter so these two sides are literally on the inside of the binder.
Whilst I really don't care for Autumn at all, I do adore the colours it brings. I made my own card stock for the leaves using as many Autumn browns, oranges and my most favourite colour of Distress, Seedless Preserve. I'm really happy with the hessian background which, being natural, makes it all look very earthy indeed.
Then there's Winter... I used the last of my Picket Fence crackle paint on this side. Once it had dried and cracked I covered it with Tumbled Glass Distress Stain. Those crackles are to die for, so pleased with them. I expect my perennial border to be quite bare during the winter months but life will be cheered by the return of Mr & Mrs Blackie. Whether the same pair of Blackbirds returns is unknown, but we get some every year and feeding throughout the cold, dark months is quite a task but one my hubby and I get great pleasure from. So, to finish off I decided to use hessian ribbon to tie my binder rings to the spine keeping the natural look. I added embellishments including a little glass bottle with some black pepper seeds in to anticipate the growing season beginning again next spring.
Thank you Linda for such a fun project for this challenge. I really have enjoyed the last couple of days and to think I have something I can use for ever is an added bonus.

10 comments:

Artyjen said...

Wow! FAB-U-LOUS :)
I can tell you had a ball making this.
I'm finding it interesting that nearly everyone who does something with a worn cover ends up using a cord to tie in the binder.....'cos those flippin brads that come with them are useless!!! LOL I found that out with the ones I did for the wedding.
xoxo Sioux
xoxo Sioux

Cheryl Grigsby said...

I LOVE you binder! Great idea to carry through each side with a season theme. Peppercorns in a vial charm?? That's awesome! I love how you used lots and lots of dies and layers and built up so much texture and interest. LOVE!!

Candy C said...

Joanne...Your worn covers binder is gorgeous! I so love your idea of doing a different season on each side of the covers. I absolutely adore Spring and Summer...but I think that is because I love all of the foliage, flowers and birds that you have so perfectly added to those covers. Simply gorgeous! But, I also love the textures and beautifully done scenes that you've done to depict the fall and winter. Great job! Thanks for sharing your worn covers with us at CC3C. <3 Candy

Marjie Kemper said...

What a clever theme! Love how you've created four distinct scenes. Spring is my fave.... so lush with all the layering. Thanks for joining us at CC3C, Joanne!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

How COOL that you are doing the 4 seasons...LOVE that idea! Each page is a wonderful trove of goodies and things to see and love. Thanks so much for joining us on the Worn Cover Challenge at CC3Challenge!!!

Yvonne said...

What a fun clever thing to do...all four seasons...fabulous! You have altered it and used all those dies to create your seasonal covers...So many fun little things to see at enjoy! Thanks for playing along with us at CC3C!

crafty creations said...

wow Joanne every side of your cover is amazing so much to see and all so well coordinated

Redanne said...

Wow Joanne, what a fabulous idea to use all of the four seasons - your binder is stunning! Anne x

Belinda Basson said...

This is something that would have to be out on display permanently. Pity you could not turn the cover inside out and change it according to the current season. This is truly a masterpiece inside and out. What a great cover you have made. Now I want to see what you are going to do inside, cos it has to be something really special to go with the outside!

rachel said...

this is wonderful - so very clever - love it xx