Halloween Book Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Today is my second Halloween post for the Tim Holtz Halloween Inspiration Series.  If you are looking for some great Halloween inspiration, you have to check out all his team's projects, you    are going love all the fantastic ideas.

My Halloween project is a mini album ( approx. 9 x 6.5) and the front cover is the main tutorial here today.

I originally was going to do a monochromatic metal looking colour scheme, but I couldn't resist using this new Tim Holtz Wilted Violet Distress Color of the month set.  Love this purple!

I've had this Tim Holtz Chronicle Worn Cover book cover for awhile and I decided to use this in my project.  These covers are perfect for mini albums, just add in binder rings or even create your own binding with ribbon or twine, your inside pages and decorate.  I used the Tim Holtz large Binder Ring(TH92914) inside but instead of the included brads, I used these Clock Keys (TH93014), perfect for hanging charms.

My cover started out with embossing a piece of silver Kraft-Core Metallic paper and Tim's new ZigZag embossing folder (Sizzix 660972). My piece was large enough to emboss the folder twice, side by side.  It is cut to fit inside the border line on the book cover.

This metallic paper is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.  It handles embossing, different mediums, and love how it looks when distressed.  Once I had my paper embossed, I applied Ground Espresso paint first, let dry a few minutes, and then wiped the paint off, leaving it in the recessed areas.  Next, I applied Picket Fence Distress paint (not as much as the brown), wiping off the excess.  If it's too white, just repeat, applying a bit more brown.  Let this dry.

I decided to add more dimension to my embossed paper.  I made up a mixture of Ranger's Matte Transparent Texture Paste with a bit of Wilted Violet Distress Spray, small amount of Wilted Violet and Ground Espresso paint.  With the spray, you still retain a bit of that transparent look from the paste, but it is more liquid so your paste will be thinner the more you use. I applied this coloured texture paste randomly with my Tim Holtz (THS046) Batground Stencil. After this has dried, apply Ground Espresso paint on the bats and wipe off the excess so there's just some remaining in the recessed areas.   Adhere to the front cover of your book.  I applied a thin strip of Tim Holtz  Regions Beyond Design Tape (TH93228) around the edges of the embossed sheet for a finished border.

Now onto this awesome skull! This is Tim's new Skull Bigz die.  I applied a piece of Ranger's Metal Foil Tape Sheets to chipboard and die-cut my skull.  I applied Distress paint in the same way as my embossed sheet.  First applying a bit of violet, wiping off excess, then applying the Ground Espresso, wiping again.  I also distress my die-cut with Tim's Tonic Craft Scratcher before painting.  This is a wire brush tool that when you pounce it or scratch, it creates an aged or weathered look.

I traced the skull shape onto a piece of  a Tim Holtz Deco Sheet (antique Silver).  This adhesive backed sticker was adhered to a piece of cardstock before cutting out.  It was coloured with Tim Holtz Plum Alcohol ink.

The glittered sheet was pop-dotted underneath the  chipboard skull die-cut.

 Before adhering my skull, I die-cut two bats from Sizzix Tim Holtz Hocus Pocus 660962 and metal foil covered chipboard. These were embossed with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Formulas Embossing Folder (659451)and painted with Wilted Violet paint the same method as the other foil papers. I also die cut two splats from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Scribbles and Splat Thinlits Set (660222) and purple Core-dinations Distress cardstock.  These were painted on the edge with Wilted Violet paint, then Crackle Glossy Accents applied over top.  Ground Espresso ink was applied in the cracks after this had dried.

The labels were cut out from the Tim Holtz Regions Beyond Mini Stash paper pad(TH93226).  These were inked with Wilted Violet markers, then a water brush pen applied to give them a water-colour look. Curiosities Remnant Rub-ons were applied.  A chain strip from the Gothic Industrious stickers (TH93236) was adhered on top.  Adhere these and the die-cut splats  and bats to the album front.  Then adhere the skull.

My flowers were made with Sizzix Tiny Tattered Florals Thinlits dies and Kraft Core Metallic Paper.  I coloured the metallic paper with Plum and Espresso Alcohol ink before die-cutting the flowers.  Build your flowers.  I also die-cut three layers of petals for one slightly larger flower from the Bigz Tattered Flower die. This flower was held together with one brad from Regions Beyond Fastener Package.

Adhere the flowers beneath the skull and adhere one of the bats on top of the large flower.  

The word Halloween and a small bat from the Wicked Alpha Parts (TH93233) set were sanded and Wilted Violet paint applied lightly on top.  These were adhered to the album.

Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon was dyed with Wilted Violet and Brush Pewter Distress Spray Stain and tied onto the Clock Key.  Ribbon from Halloween Trimmings (TH92328) was also added.  Charms from Oddities Adornments (TH93230) were hung on the clock key with a Loop Pin (TH93200).

For the Inside of my book, I kept it fairly simple.  I used a few of the Large Page Pockets that work with the Worn Covers.  The other pages are chipboard cut to size.  The paper used is the Tim Holtz Regions Beyond 8x8 Paper Pad, along with the Frightful Ephemera Pack, Metallic Kraft Core Paper, Curiosities Rub-ons, Gothic Industrious Stickers and bits and pieces from my stash of Idea-ology products. One of the pages was a Frost Film Sheet with an embossed Cobweb texture fade on Ranger's Metal Foil Sheets, also painted.  Here's a sampling of some of the pages:

A die cut from the ephemera package inside a Mini Cabinet Card.  A bat from the Wicked Alpha Parts is at the bottom.  Another embossed sheet of metallic Kraft Core Paper.

A paper mat accented with photo corners from the Industrious Frames & Trims stickers.

A Frosted Film sheet as the main page is accented with a torn piece of Adhesive backed Metal Foil that was embossed withthe Cobweb Texture Fade embossing folder.  This was also painted in the same way as the other embossed pieces.  The inside piece was a metallic kraft core piece of paper folded, distressed and die cut along the edge with the Tim Holtz On the Edge Torn Notebook (658555) die.

A page pocket filled with pieces from the Ephemera Pack.

A large pocket was made from a patterned piece of paper and adhered to the bottom of the page.  A border strip  from the Industrious stickers is adhered to the edge. The three pocket edges were slightly larger than the page, these were scored, adhesive tape applied and turned inside, then adhered to the page.  This can hold notes, additional photos, etc.

Another pocket page filled with papers and ephemera.

A pocket page filled with papers and ephemera.  I also had some leftover pieces of metallic embossed paper (with the texture paste bats) that I did while experimenting with different colours.  Keeping these scraps come in handy, when you need small accent pieces.

A spider web sticker from the Industrious set with Idea-ology spinners and a spider sticker held with a brad in the center.

A mini album or book is a great way to document an occasion, trip, or one subject.  It's also a good way to use up those bits and pieces left over from past projects.  I chose a neutral colour as my main colour throughout the book, adding in a few accents colours, making it easier to find or alter embellishments and photos to match.   Even inking, dry embossing, or using markers can change the look and colour of embellishments or your paper to give your project an unique look.

Here's another look at my finished album.  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  Don't forget to visit Tim's blog to find more  Halloween inspiration!

I also wanted to thank everyone for visiting here and all the kind comments on my posts, they are much appreciated!

Have a great day,

Jan