Book Cover Technique...

man you girls are busy...busy...busy creating and I love it! 

So...I have received really good questions about the book binder and the question I have received most is about the technique on the front cover. My answer to that is....take one of my classes and you will find out. Just kidding! 

Below is what we did to get the textured look on the cover of the project:

First let me say that I have loved printing photos on patterned paper for quite some time. I love how a subtle patterned paper can give a photo such a cool look. My all time favorite patterned paper to print on...which sadly has been discontinued is by Daisy D's...you can see it here.

 You may remember this layout:

And why am I showing you this you ask...well because that is what I have done on the cover of the book.

For the Jake book I printed his photo on one of the Prima paintable papers which I am in love with for this technique since it has a white background it is PERFECT for this so check out all the papers that are available in this line.

Can you see the flowers on it? This is just the patterned paper with the photo printed directly onto the 12x12 sheet of paper. I then used a bit of Dimensional Pearls and dotted a few of the center of the flowers and traced a few of the petals...set aside to dry. Once dry, I then stamped "Moments like this" along the right hand edge with black stazon ink. 

Once I was happy with my image I used the gel medium to get our canvas/textured feel on the cover. I use Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium. It can be purchased several different places, art supply stores, JoAnn's just google it and you will get a ton of places come up.

Just brush the gel medium directly over your image, you will want to get an even, thin coat. Basically it will look like there is a piece of vellum over your photo, just a haze but it will dry clear. Then, when you have covered the entire piece, go back and put a pattern or texture onto your image using your foam brush. On Jake's book I did a circular pattern:

 

On my CE project I did a cross hatch pattern. You will just want to have a fairly dry foam brush (I am using a 1" foam brush) to go back over your work so that you are not adding any more gel medium to your cover, only adding texture. Set aside to dry. This should dry in approximately 30-45 minutes depending on the amount of gel medium you have used.

Once your cover is dry you can attach it to your book binder or back it with something sturdier (maybe a playing card, or heavy cardstock) and insert it into your book as a page.

Any questions let me know!

Comments

[miss h]

I would take your class....if you came to Ontario (Canada) :) Thanks for the instructions.

[Linda Beeson]

That layout is just amazing! What a fabulous idea for using a ton of photos of one occasion- I'll be sure to use just that idea plus the amazing look of printing on that patterned paper! LOVE your ideas.

[Vanessa]

Oh my, what a fabulous project!!! Love this :-) Any chance you'll be selling project kits that we can buy to create our own "junked up" altered album???

[sally]

I've been looking online and in stores for the binder mechanism... the place that you listed has really high shipping rates (from canada), so I thought I'd try to find them somewhere closer. Any other suggestions?? Thank you so much, this is such a neat project- I can't wait to get started!!

[Care]

I was wondering, does the ink from the printer smear when you put the gel medium over it? How do you prevent that? Neat project!