ID: Aluminum Metal covered Journal Covers - Bloom
closed: 5.5"w x 4"h

Created: June 27, 2011
Modified:

For this journal I used Alcan heavy duty aluminum foil. It's a little thicker than the no name brand.

I used a Zig Writer bullet tip to do my words, then scanned it and cut them out with my Cricut. Die cut the flourish (Boss Kut "Leaf Flourish" #0388). They were all cut from 65# white cardstock and double layered using white glue and then glued onto the chipboard. The aluminum was adhered with Golden's Matte Medium (I prefer using Golden's Soft Gel medium instead), a thin coat on the aluminum and a thin coat on the chipboard, paying attention not to get an excess of medium in the crevices. I massaged the aluminum over the chipboard working into the lettering and flourish and pressing down all over for good adhesion. I then trimmed down the ends, mitred the corners and adhered everything to the back of the cover. Then working with a very large balled stylus,  lightly worked the aluminum into the letters and around all the crevices, then applied more pressure until everything was embossed. I then worked with the large balled stylus and a smaller one to add all the detail marks.

On the cover I applied my various colors of alcohol inks (raisin, pool, stream) using a felt. I then applied the black pouncing into the crevices of the de-bossing. Rubbed off the top area, then reapplied my colors where needed.

On the back cover I painted black acrylic paint (Delta Ceramcoat) all over, waited a few minutes for the black to set, then wiped off the high points with a paper towel. Then inked up my felt with the above colors.

I also sanded down some of the  high points and distress the edges using very fine sandpaper. I then gave a coating of Dorland wax and a good buffing.

I used Tim's On the Edge Tab die to make some file folder inserts. This journal has a section of white 110# cardstock, black Full Spectrum cardstock and Arches 90# watercolor paper.