Tuesday 19 July 2011

This Could Be Useful

It's time for a Grungeboard Extravaganza over at Grungy Monday, the brilliant weekly challenge hosted by Linda at Studio L3 and featuring all sorts of fantastic Tim Holtz techniques and ideas.   The design team inspirations are fabulous, and if you haven't already, pop along to see Linda' lovely book and the gorgeous artwork from Brenda and Dawn.
I think it's a first for me this week in that I can't ever remember making something useful before.  Inspired by my Tim Holtz Haberdashery stamps I have made a needle book, so now I'll have no excuse for not sewing on buttons etc, because I should be able to find a needle.


I haven't used Grunge paper for ages, and had quite forgotten that really weird smell it seems to have.  Anyway, my grunge paper ends have been cut with the Scallops Alterations die, and then I have painted one side with Paperartsy Fresco Finish, Baltic Blue, and the other with Ice Blue. This paint gives a fabulous soft chalky finish that I just love.  The edges are coloured with a little Vintage Photo Distress Ink.


Some ric rac is just adding a bit of decoration inside the back cover.  The pages are made from from some scraps of natural linen, as is the cover, which I have stamped with Coffee Archival Ink, and then stitched to some paper. I have added three buttons as an embellishment, and then after sewing my book together, have glued this to the front cover.  I have stamped the pages with various sewing motifs. but they don't seem to show up very well in photos.
Now I'm going on a needle hunt to fill up my new needle book.

11 comments:

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous Sue, a really great useful item. Grungepaper is so versatile isn't it and I love your stitching on the cover and the stamping on fabric. I guess we could expect to see stitching on alot of things in the future eh?
Enjoy the rest of your day.
luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

craftytrog said...

This really is fabulous Sue! Enjoy your needle-hunting! x

Artyjen said...

It's a fabby way to get organised ;) It's my aim in life too....so much time spent looking for stuff instead of doing stuff n'est pas? ;)
xoxo Sioux

Crafting Queen said...

Wonderful project!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Great idea, very creative and love the image at the front. No more hunting for needles lol. Tracy x

Linda Ledbetter said...

What a great idea, Susie! The Haberdashery set is PERECT for this clever needle book, and you did a magnificent job creating it! What a brilliant approach to the Grungeboard challenge-- you're going to inspire a lot of needle artists with this one!!!

Laura said...

Great idea and so useful too! Well played.

Trish said...

Great idea, and beautiful!

Nancy said...

Very pretty!

Terry said...

Beautiful grunge work! Love this design!

Unknown said...

This is lovely and lots of yummy detail and work here thanks for playing with grunge lol Dxx