THE LAZY HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER....

Hello everyone!  Happy Monday!!  

Memorial Day is fast approaching.  That means summer  vacations will soon begin!  Simon Says Stamp and Show's challenge this week is all about Summer Holidays.  The Design Team has posted some really wonderful works of art for your viewing pleasure.  Check them out over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

 

I have created a journal using that wonderful  
Graphic 45 On The Boardwalk paper. 

I started off with a plain 9 3/4 x 7 1/2" composition notebook.  I covered both the inside and outside covers of the notebook with great background papers.  Then I finished off the insides of the covers first; followed by the back and then finally the front.

The inside of the front cover features a really cute vintage advertisement mounted onto a pocket.  

Tim Holtz' Trimmings gathered elastic ribbon was sprayed with my own concoction of Broken China Reinker, Kiwi Perfect Pearls and water in a Mini Mister.  It was then taped across the front of the pocket using 1/8" Wonder Tape.  I added extra ribbon onto both sides so that I could tuck it under the folded edge of the pocket before gluing the pocket in place using 1/4" Wonder Tape.  Then I just taped the "On The Boardwalk" piece on top.

I sprayed a Honey Stain from Design Masters on several of the first and last pages of the journal, to give it even more of a vintage feeling.

The embellishment running across the top and bottom of the inside cover was created using a Martha Stewart Floral Lace Edge Puncher.  I distressed the edges and put them in place using Wonder Tape.  Next, I added the little tickets, also using Wonder Tape.  All of the images I've used to embellish this journal are included in this wonderful 12 x 12 paper pack!!

In the pocket, I've stuck a couple of vintage postcards I created from still more of the images included in this paper pack.

The back interior cover features a long pocket on the side so you can slip notes, pictures or other memories in it.  The postcards laying on the left side of the book can easily be tucked into the pocket on the right.  All of the vintage photos and post card images were taken from the paper pack.  I have distressed the edges of all of the photos and other cut pieces with a Chestnut Roan and Black Cats Eye ink pads.

The back cover again features more of those wonderful vintages images from the On The Boardwalk collection.  I added some ribbon trim under the accent stripe that looks like bottle caps on the left side.  

I also smashed a couple of bottle caps and added them to coordinate with the bottle cap images on the accent stripe.

The front cover is my favorite.  It features a beautiful "bathing beauty" with a small group of lovely ladies.  Paper Artsy's Hot Picks 1201 stamp set provides the wonderful vintage anchor at the top and the lovely seashell at the bottom.  

The anchor was stamped using Coffee Archival Ink.  I punched a hole in the top and ran a hemp type cording through it and down the anchor; following the cording on the stamped image.  I then continued the hemp cording down the side of the cover to add interest and dimension.  I popped the anchor in place using small pop dots.   These cute little tags are part of the paper pack.  I added them to the hemp twine and tied them with ribbon. 

At the bottom of the twine, I added an airy Tattered Floral was made from Tim Holtz' Terminology Tissue Wrap.  The flowers have been colorized first with Picket Fence Distress Stain followed by Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Stains.  Another smashed bottle cap was added for the center.

The seashell was colored right onto the stamp using Tim Holtz' Distress Marker Colors: Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Barn Door and Dried Marigold.  I stamped the shell on Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper.  After I dried it, I added some Tumbled Glass and Broken China highlights to the shell using Tim Holtz' Detailer Brush.  I popped the shell in place using small pop dots.  I couldn't get a good picture of the shell...but the Distress Markers really did a nice job of blending and shading the shell colors.

Now, I'm set to journal about my summer holiday and beyond!  Time to start planning YOUR summer Holiday!  Post your creation to our blog and you could be the winner of our generous sponsor's weekly prize of a .... 

You could also be selected as one of the TOP THREE entries for the week.  That is quite a compliment, judging from the amazing entries we have each week!  So, enter today for your chance to win!!!  I can't wait to see your creations!