Friday 22 February 2013

H is for Homme


Hello friends...


I mentioned in my last post that I was planning on joining in with the Alpha/Dictionary Challenge over at The Craft Barn (details here). The idea behind the challenge is to alter a dictionary, in whatever style you prefer, but following the fortnightly prompts from The Craft Barn DT.




I am already three letters behind and will have to play catch up at some point! The current prompt is the letter H and as the dictionary I am using is my old French - English dictionary from my A Level days my H is for Homme - which fits in very nicely with the Sunday Stampers Challenge #245 which is "Man of the World" - lucky eh?

So here is my  first finished altered dictionary page...




I began by using a  tiny frame stamp to highlight my word (as per the challenge remit) then used an ink blending tool to apply a light coat of Antique Linen DI over both pages (leaving the definition un-inked).



  


Next I built up layers of subtle colour and interest in the background using stamped images in Scattered Straw and Tea Dye DIs and Jet Black Ranger Archival. The rather dapper gentleman is stamped directly on to the page using Jet Black Archival - I love the look of stamping faces on text paper (you might remember my mixed media angel here).

Despite the background stamping the page still looked a bit flat and uninspiring but the problem with altering a book - unless you gut some of the pages, is that you can't go for  full on chunky embellies and texture as it will be impossible to close the book or work on future pages very easily. So - I had to find something with as little dimension as possible to add interest. A quick sortie round the boxes, drawers and cubbies in my craft room produced some washi tape and American Crafts embellishments that started me off in the right direction...









The details

Stamps

Background - IndigoBlu - Crackle Glaze Background; Crafty Individuals (freebies) - Crown and flourish; Tiny harlequin stamp - unknown

Tiny frame - Studio G
Dapper Chap - Inkylicious - Mr Blaketon
Pointing left finger - Pink Paislee - Phantom
Pointing right finger. clock and pen - Pink Paislee - Daily Junque

Inks

Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye
Ranger Archival: Jet Black

Other

Washi Tape - Cavallini and Co - Numbers
Leather Fleur de Lys - American Crafts - Townhouse
Red embroidery floss - Anchor
Postage stamp

This was a fun project, challenging in both finding a french word to fit in with the prompt and in keeping the page flat, but I really enjoyed it - ready for the next one now...

Thanks for stopping by

17 comments:

  1. Your page looks fab! I can imagine it can be quite frustrating not being able to do anything too chunky in a book! Looks like a really fun challenge though.

    Lauren x

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  2. Great page! The embellishments are a great touch!

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  3. Totes-amazebobs, love everything, the colour, the composition and most of all, the genius in altering a dictionary this way! Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x

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  4. Masculine pages and cards are always difficult to do, you have created a wonderful page to depict man kind. Love those pointy finger stamps

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  5. Brilliant dictionary pages - great use of all the images!!

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  6. LOVE the idea of using a French/English dictionary and I adore the way you've completed this. Looking forward to seeing the other letters. Hugs, Jenny x

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  7. This is a very beautiful dictionary (French LOl!) page Maisie, love your page on the left and your group of embellishments !... and thank you for your visit and comment on my own page, it's very kind to you :) Have a lovely we, Coco x

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  8. This is lovely, really like the way you've managed to let all the words show through but still managed to highlight your chosen word. Your images are lovely, especially the pointing hand.

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  9. Great pages lovely images to go with your chosen word

    MaggieH

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  10. It is challenging to keep everything flat, I agree! Good word choice and wonderfully illustrated.

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  11. Great page, like how you have added the embellishments too

    Joan

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  12. Just fabulous the word and the oages!
    Suzi B x

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  13. Fabulous page, love the stamps and all the embellishments.

    Sylv xx

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  14. Great job highlighting your word and adding texture without bulk!

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  15. Glad you are joining us. Love the page, the cluster bottom left, the hand on the right going from the word to the other page. Very clever
    Thanks for playing with us at the Craft Barn
    Izzy

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Thanks for sharing your happy thoughts. Maisie Moonshine x

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