Draw Near to God...

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday!  This week's verse is Psalm 73:28, "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."  That first part of the verse is a place we can camp isn't it.  How wonderful it is to not only draw near to God but much more wonderful, mind-boggling, and amazing is that He allows us to draw near to Him.  He *wants* us close!  Wow!  I'm just so thankful that God loves me with all my failures and imperfections.  The rest of the verse is a great testimony, because we have put our trust in the Lord God, we have the ability/knowledge to be able to declare all the wonderful things He has done for us.  This would be a great verse to memorize and keep in the forefront of our minds.

I thought this week's WORDart had a more masculine feel to it so I decided to design a masculine notebook.  One of our generous sponsors this week is The Paper Temptress.  This site has some absolutely amazing papers that are very unique.  The owner sent the design team some papers to use.  While I used 3 of the papers she sent on this notebook project, I couldn't help but play a bit more with some of the others.  You can see what I made by scrolling down one post or clicking here.  I used two leather papers on this notebook.  The outside of the notebook has Navy Blue Leather and the interior is Ivory Leather.  I wish you could feel this paper.  It truly has a leather texture and feel to it.  I paper pierced a border around all four edges.  A plaid ribbon and some metallic brads complete the masculine design.

One thing with using digi stamps that I have missed is heat embossing.  I've always wanted a way to do this that made the heat embossing look like "the real thing."  When I read the description for the Opal Mica/Metallic paper this is what I learned:

TIP: DIGITAL EMBOSSING.....The mica/metallic paperline is perfect for Digital Embossing: print image with an ink jet printer, immediately pour embossing powder over the digital image and heat for an embossed finish.....Works perfectly for sentiments!!

 Now THAT was a paper I had to try.  I hope you can see the dimension in the above picture (click for a larger image) but it truly looks, and feels, like regular heat embossing.  One thing I learned with this paper is that even after zapping it with my heat gun, VersaFine ink smears.  So, I just re-stamped my image and covered it with clear embossing powder.  Perfect!!  I really like this paper and will have to get more for future projects.  Note:  Since I was running this paper thru my ink-jet printer for the digi stamps, I used the text weight paper.

For the inside of the notebook, I used a solid piece of the ivory leather paper.  I wanted to use a solid piece because I was trying a new notebook design.  Some of my repeat notebook customers have requested a notebook that will allow the notepad to be replaced without destroying the cover.  I was able to modify my original design to allow for that.  I cut a 1/4" wide slit in the leather on the right side and punched a hole at either end of the slit to prevent tearing.  When adhering the ivory panel to the base, I made sure to only put Scor-tape to the edges and above the slit.  I still put a pocket on the inside left cover and used scraps of the two leathers to embellish it a little.  Since the notepad is going to be replaced, and since this is for a man, I didn't decorate the top of the notepad.

Here is another look at the beautiful texture of the leather paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Kraft)
Papers from The Paper Temptress:  Navy Blue Leather, Ivory Leather, Opal Mica/Metallic
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 73:28 digi), Flourish (In Nature clear stamp)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (JoAnn's), brads (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small), SU embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Tim Holtz Craft Pick, Workforce 5" x 8" Junior legal pad

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Challenges - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #16 - No Patterned Paper (or make your own)

I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team projects and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll link up your projects so that you have a chance to win one of our sponsors' prizes.  And please do go visit The Paper Temptress, you will find lots of unique papers that have to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your visit is truly appreciated!