Lace Journal Cover

It is time for the new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and Autumn, who is our hostess is calling it Layers of Lace.

Lace, oh so lovely lace! Whether you add delicate layers of fine lace, or tattered and torn crocheted lace, we'd love to see you add dimension and depth to your vintage or shabby chic project with lace. Perhaps you have a favorite lace stamp or will choose to lace something up, we'd love to see your creations inspired by this topic.

I was walking around the dollar store a couple weeks ago and found an inexpensive journal - nothing is ever a dollar anymore so I hesitate to call it cheap.  It is in a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" format and I immediately knew I could make a removable cover for it with lots of lace.

I knew I wanted a sturdy fabric for the actual cover and found some canvas that I had picked up at the local art supply store in my sewing cupboard.  It tears both ways so I tore a piece 4 1/4" wider than my journal when it was opened fully and 3/4" taller.  Then I folded each side in 2" and used gel medium to glue the folded parts down at the top and bottom making sure to stay within 1/4" of the outside edges.  Now I have pockets for the journal cover to slide into and when the journal is full, I can easily replace it with a new one.

I wasn't sure if it would stay closed once it was done so I decided to add some seam binding across the centre of the outside so I would have something to tie it closed.

The next step was to add all the lace to the outside.  I knew I didn't want all white on this cover so I started with some cream laces on the top and bottom that came from my stash and then I added a wide strip of  very fine lace across the middle that came from my late Mother-in-Law's sewing stash.  I had to take it apart because she had started to sew it together in a v-shape perhaps to add to the neckline of a blouse since she made all her own clothes and did so without a pattern.  Then I added strips of different white laces, all of which came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Then it was time to embellish the front cover.  I did not add embellishments to the back cover so that it would lie flat on the desk.  The first thing I did was print a vintage image of Lily Elise on the computer and die cut it with a die called Fleur de Lis Squares (Spellbinders).  I inked the edges with Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) and then added it to the cover with dimensional foam.

Another flower was made from card stock.  I die cut a couple of petals from the Shabby Posies die (Tammy Tutterow) and inked it with Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo DI.  Then I shaped it and glued the two petals together with a button for the centre.  I also painted a wee bit of white Gesso on the petals.  When I added it to the cover, I tucked a couple of loops of pearl string underneath.

Next I created a flower from pleated ribbon by gluing it in concentric circles with my glue gun onto a card stock circle.  I found a resin flower in my stash that was perfect for the centre and added it with some dimensional foam.

I always hang on to the tiniest bits of lace so to make this lace flower I just gathered a little strip of lace with a running stitch and glued it to a card stock circle.  Then I snipped the edges away from three pieces of another lace pattern and glued them into the centre.  I added a pearl embellishment to the centre.

I added a bit of crochet ribbon topped with a lace applique and a flower from my stash that was already a nice shade of pink and I just painted it with a wee bit of white Gesso before I dded a button centre.

Under the focal image are a couple more flowers from my stash that were ivory and I inked them with some of the Spun Sugar and Vintge Photo DI before I added the Gesso and buttons.  I also cut a white fabric daisy in half and tucked it under the image.  I made a loopy bow from white twine and tucked that under the ribbon flower.

The crochet flower came from my Mother-in Law's stash and I added a pearl brad for the centre.  Under that I added a strip of burlap and more buttons.

This was a very easy project to make and I think it is very romantic.  I hope you will share a lace project with us.  One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie Boutique - FUN!!  The Design Team will choose their top picks and the overall top pick will have the opportunity to Guest design with us.