Eileen Hull Embossed Notebook by Karen Bearse Designs

Hello Blogland, today I am making an embossed notebook for my Eileen Hull Inspiration Team post. This book was so much fun to make, when I finished it I just wanted to turn around & make another. I will keep you posted if I do!!! 

This project showcases Clearsnap Ink, the company that makes Colorboxblends original & 2 for Eileen. Let's get started!!

Start by cutting an Eileen Hull notebook by Sizzix out of mat board. Run it through an embossing folder. 

Using Colorblends2, color the cover & back of the notebook. Just put a smallish drop on your craft mat & dab it on. You can add a bit of water if you like, to help the colors blend where they meet. The beauty of Colorblends, it is easy to control the depth of color. If a pastel is what you like do a light coat. If you like bold as in my sample, simply use more ink or do an extra coat of color.

Put a dab (lima bean size, a little goes a long way) & using a piece of stiff foam (like kids fun foam) put a small amount on the foam & run it lightly across the top of the raised areas hitting the high points. I like using a metallic for this like Copper in the Colorblends 2. I have been on an embossing kick & lucky for me Eileen has embossing powders with Emerald Creek now....very convenient & also fun!!!

Heat set the ink. This may take a bit of time,  one of the bonuses of this ink is the open dry time but that makes it more of a challenge to get it to set. If you emboss directly on the ink, the emboss seals it in, which means it does not set properly & the emboss can chip off. Heat setting solves this issue. Simply add Colorblend 2 Clear on top of the high points the same way. Then pour the Glistening Glass on top, tap off excess & put back in the bottle. Heat set until the crystals are all melted using an embossing heat gun.

I love the the look, the emboss makes the flowers have this shiny, wet or Glistening look.

Cut a piece of sticky back canvas that is about 1/2" wider than the spine. Cover it with Clear ColorBlends 2 using a piece of foam. Pour on Aqua Splash & tap off excess, heat set. Once that has cooled I distressed the edges using Navy. Adhere the canvas onto the book spine.

Stamp carefully using a permanent ink, the surface is slippery. Let ink dry well. Sponge on Clear Colorblends2 carefully, try not to smudge stamping. Add  a layer of Glistening Glass, heat set, while embossing sprinkle Golden Rod, heat setting as you sprinkle.

I decided I wanted beads & on my spine. Punch holes using a cropodile about 1/2" from the top & bottom. You can decide to make 1 or 2 signatures. I am using elastic so I can easily pull my pages out to work on them. Once my pages are complete I may change the elastic to wax linen thread to make the pages sturdier. 

Lastly I added a closure. using different color cords and stringing different beads & charms on the cords. They were attached through a brad on the back of the book with a simple knot, leaving room to expand my closure if needed. 

The closure on the front is a ring and the hummingbird charm goes through the ring to close the book (toggle clasp style). My signatures are made from scrapbook paper. I originally wanted to add ephemera & flowers to the cover but it is so pretty I just decided to leave it plain for now. Thanks for taking the time to read this post, I hope you get a chance to make an embossed notebook soon! Cheers!