Simon Says Stamp and Show Us... Anything!

Hello Mr. Monday!!!
 We crafted, blinked and another week is done...unbelievable. But a new week means a great new Challenge over at Simon says Stamp & Show where we say "Anything Goes" so that's your cue to don your creative capes and dazzle us with your artfulness...To help your mojo into action here is my Design Piece. I decided I could be both Girly and Grungy and created this ring binder book. I really wanted to try out some crinoline Rosettes, make something usable (how many hangings can my house take?) and took some inspiration from a lovely gift from my friend Franka.
I started by painting some scrap cardboard, inking the edges with Vintage Photo. Then I cut five Rosettes from Crinoline and edged them with Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. I saw them by the oh so talented Tammy Tutterow and wanted to try my own take on them. Fancy trying it out, my team mate Linda sells Crinolone in her fabby Etsy store! I added a metal washer to each centre which I grunged up with a good dose of Distress Embossing Powder.

I mounted them onto the cardboard and added metal stems which are coloured with a touch of Alcohol Ink. Glueing them on was a fiddle but all helped by using the wonder stuff known as Matt Medium. Stamped and cut out two leafy sets from Wendy Vecchi from dictionary papers...boy was that some snipping.

Really had fun doing this bit. Covered some old Thicker letters with two coats from my Snow-Cap Dabber adding texture with the sponge top. Whilst wet I threw on some Distress Powder and heated it. I used a scrap of chicken wire as a background which I grunged up with Embossing ink, Distress Powder and a mighty long blast with the heat gun to get a rusty effect. Note to self, stop when you see smoke! And remember LET IT COOL OFF!!! Otherwise one: it will not be set and rub off and two: it will burn your hand and stick to your skin - an extreme fashion statement even by Vivienne Westwood's standards! Again all glued with Matt Medium. Takes a while to dry but leaves no trace.
Also added an inky metal corner.

I mounted the front onto a hardback cover. Both front and back covers are lightly inked, lined on the inside and randomly stamped with the leaf design again. Then I played around to create a  selection of pages using papers from Graphic 45, Bazzill and Cosmo Cricket. Loving the colours here...

A stitched pocket and stamped tags...

Punched flowers and contrasting wrap arounds...

Another little pocket and mini tag with a few words...

Another distressed pocket, on the other side a glimpse of one of the ribbon holders. You can also just see the back inside cover with sanded edges and a little stamping. Everything is held together with two binding rings embellished with ribbons and string.

A close-up of that lovely crinoline, all thanks to my fab DT friend Linda.



So there you go...girly and grungy, fiddly and funky. So it's over to you folks...what's cooking at your house? Remember you could win a brilliant $50 shopping spree and we're looking for those special creations to make the Top Three! Head over to the blog now to see more from the Design Team and details.

I hope you like my book and feel inspired to play along. Thanks very mucho for calling by and spending some time here, do let me know you came by...and if you have any questions, I'd be pleased to try and help out. Now off you go and have some FUN!

Sarah.