Greetings vintage travelers! Welcome back to A Vintage Journey.
It's Candy here and I am pleased to be your Creative Guide as we explore this week's
Destination Inspiration!
Today, our travels will take you into the world of Tim Holtz' Mini Configurations Books.
Like
Tim's other Configurations pieces, the construction of them is fairly
simple. It's after you put them together that the REAL FUN begins as you let your imagination take control and steer you into
a world of endless creative possibilities!
Here is my vintage Mini Configuration book that I have created especially for you.
On
today's journey, I will give you the "road map" (tutorial) for creating
this beautiful piece. Besides the instructions, I will give you
helpful hints along the way.
Remember....it's
not the destination that is the most important thing! It's the
JOURNEY! So, let's set out on this creative adventure and hopefully when
you reach your destination at the end of this piece, you will have
learned some new things that you can use not only to create a Mini
Configuration Book of your own but also ideas or techniques you can use
in all sorts of your future projects.
Ready to go? Okay then! Fasten your seat belts and we're off!
To begin, you will need a Tim Holtz Mini Configuration Book.
The compartments on the inside can be moved around to fit whatever
configuration you prefer. The book is 9" tall and 6" across so it
finishes out into an impressive piece .
Most people use Tim's Tissue Tape
around the perimeter of the book. By this I mean, when the book cover
is closed, you can use tissue tape to cover what would be where the
"pages" are. This is a wonderful use of Tim's Tissue Tape. I have
chosen to do something different ... more dimensional and a whole lot of
fun.
Using Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste, brush it onto the "pages" of your book. Work a section at a time starting
with the top then the side then the bottom. After the embossing paste
is brushed on, use a hotel key, old credit card or something with a
clean, flat edge to create "pages" in the paste. Make chopping motions
up and across each side then let dry.
Here
you can see the "pages" created using the flat edge. I also like to
let the embossing paste leave higher and lower areas to resemble old
worn, dog eared pages.
Create a "wash" with Gathered Twigs Distress Paint
(any medium brown acrylic paint would also work) and water and brush
onto the "pages". Use a paper towel to remove excess paint. This is
meant to tint the white embossing paste to a brownish tone; not to
completely cover it with brown paint. Let dry or heat set.
Because I wanted this piece to look very vintage, I scuffed up my Tim Holtz Cabinet Cards.
These are the coolest things ever! However, they have a bit of a
glossy, slick finish to them. If you sand them down a little bit and
give the surface some "tooth", inks will stick to them much better when
trying to distress them. On the left is a Cabinet Card that I have
sanded. On the right is the one I used on this Mini Configuration
Book. After sanding the card, I distressed it with Gathered Twigs
followed by Walnut Stain toward the edges and then a touch of Black Soot
at the edges. I also used Tim's new Marker Spritzer and a Black Soot Distress Marker to add more of the random black smudges. I love that spritzer and it works with ANY markers! So fun to play with!
Next
I added a couple of pieces of Tim's Tissue Tape to the interior sides
of my Cabinet Card. I am using a vintage photograph from Tim's new Found Relatives
set and the photographs are just a tad smaller than the opening on his
Cabinet Cards. No problem! Add the Tissue Tape. It adds interest and
layers to your project! Then add a little Collage Glue Stick to the center and put your photograph in place.
Since
these three cute little cowboys are the subject of my Cabinet Card, I
decided to fashion a "lariat" out of some string or twine. I added it
directly onto the photograph using Glossy Accents.
Next
step....start layering and collaging on top of your Cabinet Card. I
started with random bits of Tissue Tape. In the lariat photo above, you
can also see some Tissue tape that I began adding. Here, I have added
more Tissue Tape and am coloring in the hands using Tim's Detailer Water Brush and Distress Inks: Tattered Rose and Scattered Straw mixed for a nice flesh tone, Stormy Sky for the suit color and Fired Brick for the shirt cuff.
For even more layers, I added a #5 Manila Tag behind the top of the Cabinet Card. I distressed the edges using a Tim Holtz Tonic Paper Distresser. The tag is distressed with Gathered Twigs and edges with Black Soot. Then I stamped " Life Moments" from Tim's Simple Sayings stamp set using Jet Black Archival Ink. I was too lazy to go upstairs and grab my sewing machine, so I created faux stitches with Tim's Design Ruler.
Notice the holes on one side of the ruler? These are perfect for paper
piercing or making faux stitching. I simply used a fine point permanent
black ink pen and made marks going down the side of the tag; mark two
holes, skip a hole, mark two holes, skip a hole, etc. Then I simply
drew a straight line between the two closest black marks. What could be
easier? Next, I simply applied some glue from my glue stick and
attached it to the top left of my Cabinet Card.
As
you are adding elements to your Cabinet Card, you will see little empty
spaces that are screaming for something to be added on. In this case, I
had been adding paper embellishments, now it was time for something
more dimensional and metal. I chose Tim's larger Numeral
"3" because of the three cowboys in the photograph. I began by sanding
a bit of the surface to scuff it up and then I added some Gold Paint Dabber.
To
give a more aged and even patina look, I added some Black Soot Distress
Ink rubbed over the gold followed by tiny amounts of Pitch Black
Distress Paint. Finally, I added small amounts of Juniper Paint Dabber
for the faux patina. Then heat set. What started out as a shiny silver
numeral is now an aged "3".
See
the obvious empty space in the upper left corner? This is where my "3"
will go. I could have just pop dotted it in place but let's have some
fun with this and make it even more interesting! Let's wire wrap it
through the top of the Cabinet Card to hold it in place. Just wind some
wire around the hole in the bottom of the "3". Then run the wire
through the top of the Cabinet Card. Add pop dots under the three.
Then attach the
"3" in place and wrap wire through the hole in the top of the "3".
It's attached and adding more dimension and interest....and it was EASY to do!
Here
is a photograph of the finished Cabinet Card before adding it to the
interior cover of the book. (Sorry for the flash distortion on the
vintage photograph.)
After adding the "3", I added a Mini Paper Clip to the outside side of the Cabinet Card. I added Tim's "EXPEDITION" Word Band
with 1/4" Scor Tape to hold it in place after adding the twine that
wraps around the card. Next I added Tim's Journaling Ticket to the upper
right. It was distressed with Black Soot around the edges. For a
little "pop", I added the largest of Tim's Mirrored Stars
on the lower right. It makes me think of an old time Sheriff's badge.
Not photographed here but on the finished piece, I also added a silver
metallic arrow from Tim's Borders Industrious Stickers to the lower left side of the Cabinet Card. They are fun little doo dads that add a metallic look.
Now
let's get into the actual construction of the Mini Configuration Book!
I need something to put my cute new little collaged Cabinet Card on!
Here is the configuration that I chose to use on my interior. I chose scraps of paper from Tim's French Industrial Paper Stash.
Absolutely any paper will work. Just keep in mind that you are not
actually going to see too much of the design on the paper. It is more
about color than design. They are merely a background. I cut all of my
papers to fit into their compartments and distressed around the edges of
each with Gathered Twigs. Then simply glue them into place in each
compartment.
On
the one bottom left compartment, I decided to do some stamping and
adding a piece of lace trim that would be easier to do BEFORE I glued
the background paper in place. So, in this case, I created my
background first and then glued it into place in the compartment. I
stamped the sentiment from Tim's Classics #5 stamp set using
Jet Black Archival. Then I added the piece of vintage lace using 1/4"
Scor Tape. Next I added the black twine to the Word Key and then glued
the Word Key
in place, Finally, I glued the top of the twine using 1/8" Scor Tape
to the top of the paper. Then I glued the background in place in the
compartment.
This
next step is something that you don't have to do because the focal
point of your compartments will be what is in them, not what the small
sides of your compartments look like. You can cover them with tape or
paper, if you like. But I chose to simply add just a little Gathered
Twigs (with a makeup wedge) to the interior sides of each compartment
before I taped them in place.
Once
all of your compartments are ready and in place, it's time to
permanently fit them together. You do this with Tissue Tape. I usually
like to start working with all of my tape in one direction; like
vertically. When all of those joints are finished, I will do all of the
horizontal ones. But sometimes, you may decide to do that
differently. I always like to work with the least amount of cut edges
showing as possible. Here I began with my smaller horizontal pieces and
then did my long vertical piece. You just need to cut a piece of tape
that is a little longer than the pieces you are taping together. Center
the tape on the joint and then press into place. Where you run into a
corner, simply clip the tape so that you can smooth it down on the
sides. Do this until all of your compartment tops are covered. I also
went around the perimeter of all of the compartments for a nicer
finished edge once you slip it into the book compartment.
Here's
a tip: If you have any little clipped pieces that don't seem to want
to stay stuck down, simply add a dab of Glossy Accents underneath them
and press them into place. Glossy Accents works great for making Tissue
Tape stick even better!
Once
you have added all of your Tissue Tape to cover all of the compartment
tops, your interior will look like this. To add a more distressed look
to the tape, simply rub Gathered Twigs (or whatever color you choose),
using a Blending Tool, over the Tissue Tape.
~ Embellishing the newly constructed Mini Configuration Book ~
Now
the REAL fun begins! It's time to add little bits of this and that to
each of your compartments and to the interior of your book. Since I
have already started my interior cover with my very cute cowboy Cabinet
Card, I decided to finish out my interior cover first. I glued a 9" x
6" striped piece of paper from Tim's French Industrial Paper Stash to
the interior cover. Then I sanded all of the edges and added Gathered
Twigs, Walnut Stain and a touch of Black Soot Distress Inks to the
paper.
I masked off a portion of a stamp from Tim's Way With Words stamp set so that just a portion of the sentiment would fit on a piece of twill ribbon that I wanted to use to make a belt.
I distressed the ribbon with Gathered Twigs and Black Soot and then I attached one of Tim's cute little Buckles to one end of the ribbon.
I added the ribbon to the top of the interior cover using 1/4" Scor Tape and then added the Metal Corner.
Notice that the Metal Corner is silver. The buckle is antique Gold and
the "3" Numeral is a patina goldish color. I like to mix my metals. I
think it adds a more "hodge podge" vintage look rather than having
everything match all the time.
I added a piece of a vintage feed sack behind my collaged Cabinet Card and then I glued it in place.
Underneath
the Cabinet Card, I added a piece of vintage lace using a piece of 1/4"
Scor Tape and then covered the top of the lace with another of Tim's
Tissue Tapes. I love the contrast that the black measuring tape adds.
Here
is the finished interior cover of my Mini Configuration Book. Lots of
different textures, patterns and elements. But they all work together
for a very vintage look.
Now for the compartments ...
I started out with one of Tim's Pocket Watches. The back will pop off pretty easily if you use a Tonic Retractable Craft Pick to
pry in between the back cover and the watch base. If you happen to
have a 1 3/4" circle punch, you're in luck! That is the perfect size
you need to punch a paper background for the base of your watch. If you
don't have one (like I don't) then I found that a Distress Glitter jar
is almost the perfect size. Just trace around the base and cut it out.
Another thing....Tim's Paper Stashes all come with sections that are 2"
square images of the larger papers. These are perfect to use when
cutting out a background for your watch base!
Distress
around the edge of your paper and glue it into the bottom of the watch.
Next add whatever you want to the interior as long as the watch top
will fit over it and click shut. Here I have added some Sprocket Gears, Mini Gears and Game Spinners using Glossy Accents. To the top, I added a clock face from Tim's Numbers Remnant Rubs. When the interior was dry, I clicked the back in place. But, I didn't want a shiny silver pocket watch so I altered it.
Again,
I used the Gold Paint Dabber, a little Black Soot Distress Ink and
added Juniper for a patina look. I also shortened the small Swivel Clasp Chain and added the excess along with an Adornments Star to make another little dangle from the watch top.
(This is not a great picture of the finished pocket watch. There is a better one coming up.)
To make things hang inside of your Mini Configuration book or boxes, simply screw in a Tim Holtz Screw Eye. I added this Screw Eye to the left side of my biggest compartment and then hung the watch from it using a jump ring.
Here
is the pocket watch in place. I also stamped the time sentiment from
Tim's Elements of Time stamp set and added the flourish and numbers at
the top from more of Tim's Remnant Rubs.
Tim's
new Letter Press! Oh my gosh! Don't get me started on these little
gems! I love them! They look like old time printers' blocks. They are so
stinkin' cute and so dimensional. I added a bit of Gold and Silver
Paint Dabber to the tops of the letters and then decided I'd rather have
them colored more like ages and ages of ink that had been ground into
them over the years. So, I used Mustard Seed on the "P", Rusty Hinge on the "a", Barn Door on the "S" and Broken China
on the "T". I tapped the letters onto the ink pads to transfer the
colors. It's subtle color but they look amazing in the compartment!
I
added a piece of vintage lace under the Letter Press blocks and then
glued them in place using Glossy Accents. Aren't they cool?
Underneath
the pocket watch section, I added the little bird's nest and eggs. Very
simple....just create a little nest using Spanish moss, excelsior or
some other nesting type of material. Glue it in place with Glossy
Accents. The eggs are some little ivory plastic eggs that are brown
speckled. I added Peacock Feathers Distress Ink
to them using an Ink Blending Tool. I glued them in place with Glossy
Accents. I also added the Metal Corners to the outside corners of the
right side of the interior. I slid them in between the outer casing of
the Configuration Book and the inner combined compartments and added
Glossy Accents to the tabs before sliding them into place.
On
the left side there are three smaller stacked compartments. The bottom
one is filled with a thin piece of styrofoam that is covered with a
scrap of brown distressed burlap on top and cardstock on the front. The
burlap was glued on with Glossy Accents. I then altered a silver Pen Nib
with a Gold Paint Dabber and Pitch Black at the tip (to represent ink).
I made a slit in the burlap and stuck the Pen Nib (with a bit of Glossy
Accents dabbed on the base) down into the styrofoam to hold it
upright. Next I glued the styrofoam base in place. I added a Monocle
that has "Explore Life" from Tim's Remnant Rubs transferred to the
lens. I glued it in place using Glossy Accents. Finally, using Glossy
Accents, I glued another altered Pen Nib onto the cardstock front of the
styrofoam block. (You will see all of the compartments in a future
picture).
I love Tim's Filmstrip Ribbon.
It is a blank little filmstrip that is easily alterable to add
miniature photos. Simply find the images on the computer and using a
photo editing program, size them to just a tad under 1/2" wide and 3/4"
long. Cut them out. Leave the top and bottom frames blank. There are 9
frames in all. Apply a little Glossy Accents onto the second blank
frame and add a photograph. Gently move the photo back and forth to let
it "grab" to the filmstrip surface and also to smear the Glossy Accents
so that it will dry clear. Continue this procedure until all of the
photos are added. Bend the top and bottom blank frames to the inside.
Apply a couple of 1/4" Scor Tape strips. Remove the strips and place
the top blank frame of the filmstrip against the top back wall of the
small compartment. Remove the adhesive backing to the strips and place
the bottom blank frame against the back wall of the second compartment.
In the photograph below, you will see the placement of the filmstrip in
the compartments.
To finish out the top and middle small compartments, I added a Bingo Number from Maya Road in the top compartment and a Corked Vial turned
on it's side with a small piece of the vintage feed sack tucked inside
so it is easily visible. In the second compartment, I added another
little piece of feed sack on the bottom of the compartment. Tim's "Time" Chit Chat was
glued onto the front of the Vial. I added some micro beads and a
little vintage Glitter Glass to the interior of the bottle. Again, this
was done primarily to make the bottle more visible and also add a
little more color to the compartments.
In the upper right corner of the compartment section of my book, I added a Long Fastener
(with a little Glossy Accents on the tips) between the outer book cover
and the combined compartments, just like I added the Metal Corner.
Using a Mini Paper Clip, I attached a Tag Label that has the word "FOUND" in it so that it can dangle freely from the Fastener.
Finally, I decided to add an Alpha Chips "C" in front of the Word Key as my "signature" on this piece.
I
painted the exterior of the book with a Burnt Umber Acrylic paint. I
can always go back and add paper to the exterior but for now I am happy
with the way my little book turned out. I totally love it and would
probably never close it anyway.
Thank
you for taking this tutorial trip with me today at Destination
Inspiration. I hope that you enjoyed the journey and learned a few new
techniques or tips along the way. If you did, I'd love to hear from you!
All of the items used in creating this vintage Mini Configurations Book are available at
Have a wonderfully imaginative and playful week! I hope you have time to explore, discover and enjoy YOUR creative journey!
