Girl Guide Collage Book Part 2

Hello !   I'm back with Part 2 of the Girl Guide Collage Book.

In Part 1 I had shown you how to assemble a basic three-ringed cardboard book. 

In this post I will show you how I had prepared the pages for the collage process.

If you prefer not to paint your pages then skip this Part 2.  You could opt to cover the pages with scrapbook paper or any other paper ...or leave them as is.  I chose to add paint, pattern, and texture for a nice background to my pages.

To prepare each collage page I had used:

White Gesso 

Acrylic Paint in various colours

Paint brushes

Patterns

Texture Items
Scissors

Glue Sticks

Mod Podge

Gel Printing Plate- Optional

Brayer

What is Gesso? Go here for more information.

Wash your brush before the Gesso dries since it will harden and may ruin it!

I had painted most of my cardboard pages with an Acrylic Gesso.  Gesso is like a white paint that is used to prepare a canvas before painting.  It prepares the surface for the paint and will help block out underneath images/words etc. Without the Gesso the paint will soak into the cardboard...the photo below shows the difference.  The light blue page has Gesso while the dark blue is without Gesso...same blue paint was used on both surfaces.  If you do not have Gesso then just go ahead and paint the pages...it just may take a few extra coats to get the desired look. Paint the pages in whatever colours you like.

This blue acrylic paint from Dollarama works well.

In this next step I had added pattern to the pages.  I am fortunate enough to own a Gelli Plate so that made the process of adding pattern so much more fun!

Add paint to the Gelli plate and roll with a Brayer

Doilies and stencils are great for adding pattern.  Lay a page on the plate and gently rub then lift to see the pattern.  I Love my Gelli Plate!!

These items are excellent for adding Pattern to the pages

A crumpled paper bag leaves a marbled effect on top of paint.  Paper or plastic doilies, cosmetic sponges, plastic mesh, stencils, and bubble wrap are great tools for making pattern. I also used plastic bottle caps to make circles. 

If you do not have access to a Gelli Plate then you can use a styrofoam tray as a palette and cosmetic sponges to apply the paint to whatever pattern pieces you have.

Rubber and foam stampers are great tools for adding background pattern to your pages.

After I had applied the Gesso, paint, and pattern I then added texture to my pages.  To add texture to the pages I had used an array of things...

Paper Doilies, tissue paper, Printed napkins, scrapbook paper, embossed paper, dictionary book pages, phone book pages, stamped pages etc...glue in whatever you like.

Helpful tip:  Using glue can be messy!  I like to use an old phone book or magazine when applying glue to an item...especially when I have lots of pieces to do. When the page gets too sticky then just go to a clean page. This will save your work surface from getting all sticky!   Also, keep wet wipes or baby wipes near by for sticky fingers.

  Using Mod Podge to adhere tissue paper and napkins will give a nice transparent effect when it dries. Just brush it on the page, place the tissue paper down and apply the Mod Podge over top.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of the Girl Guide Collage Book!

In Part 3, I will show the collage images I used and the collage page from start to finish. Thank you for being patient with this project! It is not something that can be done in a hurry.

Happy Easter!

 Lee Ann

Girl Guide Collage Book Part 1

Hello Owl & Toadstool Readers!  

I would like to share with you something that I've been working on the past few 'snowy' days...yes, still lots of snow here. In fact, school was cancelled today due to the snow...lovely.

Since it is Spring Cookie time here in Canada, I thought this would be an appropriate time to post about this craft idea.  I've been storing this idea in my head for a while so time to retrieve it! 

Save your empty GGC Cookie Cases!

...and thin cardboard boxes such as these to make a book.

I cut out the two large sides of the cookie case for the front and back covers...

...to make a simple three ringed book.

Bonus Craft: 

Cut out the trefoil from the discarded cookie case scraps and make it into a brooch.  

Hot glue a brooch pin to the back and seal it with Mod Podge or other varnish.

Decide on how many pages you would like in your book.  My book has twenty-one pages of various sizes.  To make the pages cut out the large sides of thin cardboard boxes. I opted to leave side flaps in tact for most of my pages.  For example, you can see the Catelli box below has the side flap in tact.  The pages will work even if you do not use the side flaps.  Boxes with 'windows' add interest to the pages too.

Next, you will need to punch holes for the binder rings.

1-1/4 inch size worked well for my book but you can judge for yourself.

I reinforced all the hole punched sides with duct tape.  This prevents the holes from ripping. {I did this step after I had punched the holes but then i had to punch over the holes again...In hind sight I would have put the tape on first then punched the holes}.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the 

Girl Guide Collage Book !

In Part 2, I will show you how I had prepared 

the pages for the collage process.

HAPPY CRAFTING!

Spring/Easter Crafts

The first week of Spring has gone by but I think it has forgotten about the Maritime Provinces!  We are still buried deep in snow.  Absolutely no sign of Spring but at least now we are out of the deep freeze.

Here are a few Spring/Easter crafts to remind us that it actually is Spring here in Atlantic Canada.

Chick and Basket....my original creation.

Made from an egg carton, paper straw, pompom, felt, pipe cleaner, feathers, ribbon, google eyes, glue.

I'm not sure where I found this Pompom Bunny idea.  I think it was a kit.

This Clothespin Bunny idea came from a craft magazine years ago.

Again, not sure where I came across this Easter Chick magnet idea 

Back in 2003, the local Pathfinder Guider had asked me to make up a compilation of craft ideas for them to sell at the Provincial Conference Ideas Market.  This Easter Chick was one of the entries. I have the pdf version of this craft as well as the entire booklet if anyone is interested. {The booklet is 15 pages}.

I had made this craft with two different Guide Units that I had been volunteering with. We had given the Chicks to Nursing Homes to add to the meal trays.

I think this idea, quite possibly, may have come from Sydney Mines, NS Guiders back in 1999...but not 100% sure.

Spring Yarn Bug craft idea from the Making Friends site.  

This is the hat that I had created for the Anne Challenge but could easily be made into an Easter Bonnet just by adding some flowers.

This little wooden frog from the Dollarama on a fun foam lily pad is my creation...perhaps a Spring Peeper?

This adorable pair of little bunny slippers is an idea found on the Making Friends website. Go here to see the instructions. So cute!

I sure hope that all of this snow melts soon so that we can get on with Spring!

Happy Easter!