My Other Creations: Layered Notebooks using Inky Antics' Square Lift-Up Flaps

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is, "Inspired by a Song."  I made some notebooks with lots of flaps and layers after thinking about a song by the Avett Brothers called, "True Sadness."  The lyrics are all about how if you peel back the layers of every person's life, you'll find "true sadness."  That may sound like a downer, but it's actually a very positive song.  It helps me to be more kind when I remember that we've all got something hard we've dealt with, are dealing with, or will be dealing with.

I started with Strathmore Mixed Media paper that I cut into flaps with an Inky Antics die.

I sprinkled some Infusions onto the paper and spritzed it with water.  Then I colored the squares with some Mermaid Markers and painted over everything with white acrylic paint.  I added colored paint here and there.  When the paint was dry, I stamped on some images and text using Kaisercraft's Stargazer stamps and Dina Wakley's Positive Women stamps (polka dots).

I outlined the edges in black using Prima oil crayons and then smudged the black around a bit.  I also outlined a few of the polka dots with a white Signo pen.  I glued my covers to chipboard and cut some paper for the inside of the notebooks.  I assembled them with my Cinch machine.

Here's a side-view that shows the cover flaps opened up a bit.  The cute little house was cut with a die from Neat and Tangled.

Here's the second notebook with the sentiment typed out on my We R Memory Keepers typewriter (intentionally done blurry and wonky):

You may notice that my pages are multi-colored.  To get this look, I held the pages tightly together and dripped and drizzled Jane Davenport ink along the edges.  Warning, though!  This technique did make some of the pages stick together, but I was okay with that.

Here are the supplies I used, which you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

Inky Antics Square Lift Up Flap dies	Neat and Tangled Warm Winter Scene die	Strathmore Mixed Media Paper	Kaisercraft Stargazer Clear Stamps	Dina Wakley Positive Women Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous REMNANTS	Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers	Prima Flowers ARTIST QUALITY OIL PASTEL CRAYONS	Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley Black Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Dina Wakley TURQUOISE Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Dina Wakley LIME Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Prima Impasto Acrylic Paint, Lemon Peel	Prima Impasto paint, Pumpkin	Paper Artsy RUSTY CAR Infusions Colored Stain CS17
Paper Artsy SLIME Infusions Colored Stain	Paper Artsy A BIT JADED Infusions Colored Stain	We R Memory Keepers Mint Typewriter	Sizzix Big Shot	Cinch - We R Memory Keepers
uni-ball signo white gel pen	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad	Jane Davenport Hydrangea Inkredible Scented Ink	Jane Davenport Limeade Inkredible Scented Ink	Jane Davenport Watermelon Inkredible Scented Ink

I love music and am excited to see how it inspires you this week!  Be sure to upload your creations to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store.