Winter Wishes Blog Hop

Warm thoughts are unfolding, as we begin to enter a festive time of year. Eileen, Kim and The Teams have created a fun blog hop challenge to kick off the American Thanksgiving and Winter festivities.

I am so excited to be part of this Emerald Creek and Eileen Hull blog hop. Most projects aren't complete without a bit of embossing on them, and this one features lots.

Eileen's journals are so functional yet fun. I love the new Wrap Journal, the size is perfect. 

The Santa suit cover was inspired by the red rubber "HO" stamp from Emerald Creek. 

This quick whimsical project is perfect for holiday journaling or list keeping. 

Begin by blending the front of your Wrap Journal with Barn Door Distress Ink and blending tool. 

Use a heat gun to heat set. 

Working one section at a time apply embossing ink to front cover using an Embossing Dauber. Apply embossing powder and heat set. I did two layers of embossing powder to get a nice even coat. 

Note- don't touch the embossed area until completely cool. Ask me how I learned that one!! 

Cover the inside cover with patterned paper. Double-sided adhesive sheets make this super easy.

Add elastic binding. 

Cut a strip of faux fur to size to cover binding and adhere to journal cover. Be sure you have added your elastic binding before adhering the faux fur as it will cover the holes from the outside of the journal 

Prepare your belt by cutting a strip of fabric 4 inches wide. 

It is hard to see in this picture but fold both outside edges to the middle and iron. Then fold in half and iron again. Top stitch down both sides. 

Add buckle to one end and stitch belt. 

Working in sections apply embossing ink to "HO" stamp and stamp onto the belt. Add embossing powder and heat set. Heat embossing on fabric is fun and a great way to add texture to projects.

To finish off the edges of your journal cover emboss 2 corner charms. Be sure to use tweezers to hold the metal pieces while heat setting. And again do not touch til completely cool. Another lesson learned the hard way more than once. 

Make inserts for your Wrap Journal. Eileen's Passport Journal cuts perfectly sized inserts. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I have inspired you to think of different ways to use embossing powder in your projects. And I hope you make it onto Santa's nice list!!

Don't forget to hop over to the next blog on the list. 

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

To play along all you need to do is follow along and comment on every blog. If you play along and link up your own creation using Eileen and Emerald Creek products, you will get 2 bonus entries for the draw. Contest Closes on Sunday, November 25th, with the Winner announced Cyber Monday!

Prize includes an Eileen Hull Journal Die and a $50.00 gift certificate to the Emerald Creek Shop.

1. Eileen Hull - http://www.eileenhull.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html ‎

2. Kim Evans - https://blog.emeraldcreek.ca/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-with-eileen-hull.html

3. Gwen Lafleur - https://gwenyth.typepad.com/gwen/2018/11/winter-wishes-with-emerald-creek-eileen-hull.html

4. Pam Bray - http://www.pammejoscrapbookflair.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-holiday-spirit.html

5. Ann Barnes - https://aksbarchitectcreates.blogspot.com

6. Lisa Hoel - https://creativejuicefreshsqueezed.blogspot.com/2018/11/eileen-hull-emerald-creek-blog-hop.html

7. Jennalee Anderson -(You are here)  https://thepaperedsoiree.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html

8. Diana Hetherington - http://missusgmoments.com/winter-wishes-blog-hop/

9. Anne Redfern - https://bollyanne.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html

10. Elizabeth Robinson - https://elizabethr-thecraftyrobin.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-with-emerald.html

11. Susana Magenheimer - http://www.randomartist222.com/winter-wishes-blog-hop

12. Julia Aston - https://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-eileen.html

Love Letters

Hello and happy Friday!! I'm here today with a Valentine inspired make. The Flourished Heart Frame made me think of valentines that a couple would have exchanged in the Victorian days. And of course what Valentine's Day is complete without a love letter?

Heat emboss both frame pieces using an embossing dauber and gold embossing powder. 

Create a collage using vintage photos, dictionary pages and postage stamps. Add some detail with mail themed rubber stamps. Adhere collage to back of the  Flourished Heart Frame. Cut out a heart to back your mini collages. This extra backing will help protect against the adhesive used to attach the heart to the envelope from seeping thru. 

For envelope cut a piece of linen, muslin and two-sided interfacing approximately 10 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches. Layer interfacing between the linen and muslin and adhere with iron. 

Cut ribbon and lace to size. Pin the ribbon and layered lace onto linen and top stitch with sewing machine. 

Fold up bottom third of fabric. Place the House Pocket die on top and stabilize with washi. Make sure to put fold above the bottom of the die. If the die does cut thru the fold don't worry it can be stitched together in the next step. 

Top stitch around the edges of the envelope. Make sure to leave the pocket of the envelope unstitched. Adhere heart frame to envelope flap using adhesive of choice. 

This little envelope is the perfect size for gifting a gift card or a love letter to that special someone. I hope you have a month full of love and get showered with lots of chocolate!! Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Open a New Page

Hello!! I'm here with my first post of 2018. I am sure like many of you the New Year is a new slate and offers a blank page for new dreams. And who doesn't love a nice notebook to jot down notes? As you may know, I love using houses in my art and thought of these simple but amazing Simple House Ornaments in my stash and got to thinking about how they would make the perfect covers for a book. This an easy project that is taken up a level with a simple Coptic stitch which was one of my goals to learn and practice in 2018, and believe me I definitely need more practice.

I started by painting both front and back of the Simple House Ornaments pieces with Raw Umber. I did one light coat and it offered a wood-like look to the chipboard pieces. 

On the front of one ornament, I did a simple collage with various pieces of vintage text and sheet music. I applied the collage with Distress Medium. Once dry I used a palette knife to add a few random swipes of Gesso to the collage. To add some interest I stamped this image of a postmark and French postage stamp and then layered a vintage French stamp on top. 

To make the pages I made signatures of 3 pages each folded in half. I then traced around one of the house shapes and cut out. I used 6 signatures in my book. I just searched YouTube for a tutorial on how to do the Coptic stitch. This was my first time trying it. It is a simple technique but one that I need to fine tune just a little more. 

To finish off my cover I heat embossed a key from the Keys and Plates Shape Set with Burnt Copper Leaves and adhered using Distress Collage Medium. 

I will probably use my little book to write quotes in. I can see many more of these in my future though!! I hope I have inspired you to try this simple bookbinding technique. If you do give it a try I would love for you to share. Wishing you a creative and happy new year!! ~Jennalee