Thursday, June 2, 2011

Sketchbook Project: A Counterfeit Smashbook

A while ago, I signed up for The Sketchbook Project . . . a collaborative art project which sends blank sketchbooks to people who promise to fill them up and send them back.  The returns are cataloged and then sent on tour for people to visit and examine. You have to choose a theme (from their list) when you sign up, and I chose "In 10 minutes" because I wanted to try to complete each page in a relatively short time.  Recently, my sketchbook arrived (along with the t-shirt I ordered).  You can see above it's a plain craft 5x7" booklet.  My original thought was to create backgrounds on each page in the sketchbook and go from there to fill the pages.  
But, then, I saw this really cool post at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog all about
smashbooks . . . a smashbook is a cross between an art journal and an old-fashioned scrapbook (where you store memorabilia and other scraps).  CKCB is running a summer-long challenge and tutorial to create a smashbook.  I decided I could totally do that with my sketchbook! So, I started with this video from Two Peas in a Buket about the K&Co. Smash Journal line, which I decided to counterfeit:

To create my own version of the smashbook, I started with a pile of supplies including journaling blocks, transparencies, tags, file folders, envelope and artists tape.  I also selected two colors of ink:
Next, I selected an assortment of stamps, including some sentiment stamps:
From there, I sat down and began creating the background pages in my sketchbook that I will add to later.  There's over 30 pages in my sketchbook, and I was able to create fun background pages pretty quickly.  Here's a random sampling of ten of them:
You can see I tried to leave enough blank space on each page to create a page, but I wanted the backdrop to give me a sufficient jump start that I could actually create each page "in ten minutes." From there, I went ahead and decorated the cover:
And I'm proud to say that it took me less than ten minutes to do the cover!  I might put together a kit which counterfeits the types of accessories sold by K&Co. to go along with their smashbooks, but I'm still thinking on that.  I can't wait to start filling it.
So, have you  heard about smashbooks? What do you think of the whole idea?  They seem to me to be the latest "everything old is new again" hot-hot trend, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out.

19 comments:

Counterfeit Kit Challenge said...

I LOVE it!!!!! Love the stamps, love the supplies, love that you did it relativly quickly, love it all :) You did a great job. Thank you for sharing!
*meridy*

helena said...

My 1st thought on seeing the smash books was 'I could make one of them' but I haven't done it yet. Having seen yours, it is on my June to create list - love how you approached it

Sian said...

I think making one of your own sounds like a lot more fun than paying for one! It's a lot like the kind of notebook I used to carry round with me when I was a teenager. Which isn't to say I won't be using your inspiration to make a version for today..

A Creative Operation said...

This is GORGEOUS!!! I really love it!

laurie said...

i'm so excited about your sketchbook and can't wait to see more - great concept. i have been looking into getting a smashbook but i really don't need another project - we'll see if i can resist!!!

Anonymous said...

I've read about Smashbooks in a couple of places, but like Laurie don't need another project. I am, however, pretty interested in the concept, so will be back later to watch the video and take a few notes!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

That looks really neat!

You know, this is the second time today I have read about smashbooks & I had never heard of them before today

Carola Bartz said...

I love the idea of a smashbook, am not sure I like that K&Co line. However, your take on it is fabulous! It really seems to be quick and I just love the way you built your backgrounds. Gorgeous!

scrappyjacky said...

Am loving this idea...have followed your links....and think I might try to make a smash book as a summer project....I think it's more 'me' than the art journaling that I'm really not getting to grips with at all!!!

humel said...

Funnily enough, I just posted about my own!! Thanks for this, it's fab and just the extra inspiration I need to create some backgrounds in my book before I start sticking 'stuff' in :)

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Wonderful, as always. xo tam

Cheri said...

I love the idea of the smash books, but didn't buy into the K&Co marketing because I already had one of my own going on... an altered composition notebook called my "Junque Journal" in which I put cards, ticket stubs, expired driver's licenses and other "stuff" that I wouldn't create an entire scrapbook page for along with whatever journaling seems appropriate. It's pretty much just for/about me, so not like the family scrapbook albums and I love that it is one more way to record who I am!

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

I love this kind of art journals and I'm going to work on mine, going to Michael's later today for supplies. I'm working on graduation gifts for my nieces but I'll be working on my journal at the same time.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Jennifer Shaw said...

Your Smash book is beautiful!!! I love all the tags and goodies you pulled and your great use of stamps!! Thanks for the inspiration!! I am starting to pull supplies for mine and am also planning on lots of stamping for the pages. I will have a stash of goodies that I can use as I fill the pages. I LOVE this idea of these books!! They will be so much fun to look back on in years to come! :)

Becky said...

This is great! I made a really quick 'Smash Book' to take away on our vacation last week. When I get time I will take some photos of it and upload to my blog. I have to say yours is so much better!

Julie Ann Rachelle Interior Design said...

This is really inspirational. I love all your stamps. I'd love to see some of the finished pages when they are done!!! xoxo

Tricia said...

Your smash book is awesome! I like your idea of doing pages in 10 minutes. I started my smash book for the CKC challenge and so far have made an entry every day. Mine is much simpler than yours. You've inspired me to spruce it up a bit.

Trece said...

I love how you did this, because your pages actually LOOK like Smash book pages!! Thanks for the tutorial!!

Colleen said...

Awesome and love that it didn't take you long to pull it all together!