Dusty Attic

Altered Journal 

By Sue Smyth

Today I am sharing an altered journal, made with a Dusty Attic notebook and chipboard. This is one of my favourite projects to do, and with chipboard it is very easy to achieve texture an dimension. I love the colours and gentle curves of peacock feathers. So I just had to create a journal featuring The Dusty Attic peacock chip feathers.

I have used Liquid pearls to colour the feathers as I like the raised surface they give.

There is an illusion of curves to the surface just like the real feathers. 

The iridescence is awesome. You could also use lumiere paints and Dimensional Magic.

Around the golden frame I have clustered assorted buttons, resin shapes and metal trinkets.

You can raid your stash to see what you have.

Anything that has a flat backed is suitable to be adhered to the front

with a thick wad of Gel medium, use it like you would icing.

Some nice close ups of the Gold frame, I have embossed the oval frame with Stampendous Aged Gold embossing powder. 

To speed up drying time use your heat gun, this will even dry gel medium.

May be not thoroughly, but enough to handle the book while working on the 

next step. 

When you have painted the peacock feathers flip them over and spray with black Dylusions to cover the whit gesso that shows on the sides. 

Take one Dusty Attic Journal 

To prepare the journal, I have used Gel medium to adhere assorted paper towels to the cover. Each brand has a different texture and pattern. so I like to mix it up. Adding masking tape to the edges gives it extra strength. I have also added plasterers tape and of course some Dusty attic chipboard. 

Once the gel medium is touch dry coat the whole book randomly with gesso.

Dry with heat gun.

Spray randomly with glimmer mists as desired.

Step 1

Coat feather in white gesso and allow to dry. Start with peacock liquid pearls and cover some of the fronds of the feather

Step 2

Add other colours to the feather, majestic purple and royal blue liquid pearls.

Keep the nozzle clean and unclogged, and

 add layers of colours until you build up a thick surface. Don't be afraid of 

adding more colours over the top of the previous.

Materials 

assorted paper hand towel

Gel Medium

brushes

mesh tape

masking tape

white and black gesso 

heat gun

fully purple, mallard and olive glimmer mist

Assorted metal trinkets, buttons and resin shapes

Peacock, Majestic purple and Royal Blue Liquid pearls

metallic gold and purple paint

pearl strip

Black dylusions( to spray the back of peacock feathers)

Gunmetal stickles

Stampendous Aged Gold embossing powder

Dusty Attic chipboard

peacock feathers 

oval frame

border and corner 

lock

chip flowers

wish