Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Gratitude Journal


It is time for the new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Suzz, our hostess for this one is calling it A Time to be Grateful and here is how she describes it:

Around this time of the year when we start to get into the holidays and the rush of everything it is a good time to reflect on what we are grateful for. My challenge to you is to capture that in your art. Show what you are grateful for in any type of project, it could be a journal page, a card, or anything else that expresses your gratitude. You choose how to show your thankfulness and share it with us.

I thought it might be fun to make a little paper bag Gratitude Journal that is part junk journal and part mini album. I started with a kraft lunch size bag and I find that the ones you get from the grocery store, which is where mine came from, are not always the same so I dug through the pack to find the one that was the best of the lot. There are often little tears on the opening but since this was going to be part junk journal, I was OK with that.

To start, I laid the bag as it came out of the package on my craft mat with the opening on the left and the bottom on the right facing up. I opened the bottom to the right and added Scor tape on each side of the narrow section and folded it back to make a little narrow pocket. Next, I folded the whole bottom to the left to create a flip out. Leaving the flip out folded to the left I folded the bag from the opening all the way to the right to make the top cover.

Next I cut a variety of panels of paper from the Stamperia Oriental Garden collection and added them to the front, inside front, middle, flip out inside, flip out outside and back. Each panel was inked with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink before I glued them down.

Next I made pockets for the inside, middle and both sides of the flip out.




The next step was to make the junk journal that was stitched in the fold of the front cover. To make this I cut and folded a variety of single sided papers with a bit of an Oriental look from my stash and inked the edges. I also inked a few pages of copy paper that I had tea dyed some time ago. I also used my computer to print a piece of tracing paper, folded it in half lengthwise and created a tube. Then I used some deckle scissors to cut each end and then folded the two open ends together. All the pages were stacked to make a signature.

I added a variety of tuck spots throughout the junk journal. The tuck spots have images from free online sources, such as the New York Public Library Digital Collection and I printed them, trimmed them and inked them before they were added. Here are a few examples of the pages and a look at the little tracing paper print that becomes a pocket when the signature is sewn into the bag.




The next step was to stitch the signature into the book in the fold between the inside front cover and the middle. Once it was in I realized it was too thick and would not stay closed so that is why I made the vertical belly band.

I wanted to fill the pockets with some Gratitude quote tags and some tags that could be used as journaling spots. The quote tags are computer generated on cream card stock and then hand cut. The hole at the top was punched and a reinforcement was inked with Gathered Twigs DI and added. The journaling spot tags are cut from cream card stock that I printed with an Oriental text pattern on one side. I added some paint and stenciling to the opposite side along with an embellishment - punched butterfly, die cut red sun and die cut fern. The journaling tags have some red raffia added to the top. I decorated the pockets with items cut from the paper collection as well as computer generated images. The number 8 is a die cut and apparently is a special number in Japanese culture.




I also added a couple of simple rectangular journaling spots to the pocket created in the bag opening when the signture was stitched in. Finally I made a belly band to hold the whole journal shut by cutting a strip of paper from the collection and then adding the computer generated text.

I know that the US is celebrating their Thanksgiving tomorrow and that always is a time to express gratitude but those of us who don't live in the US can also use this time to be grateful as well. With the world in such turmoil and the pandemic raging, I am grateful that I have followed the guidelines and I am safe and well. I am also grateful that so many of you are also safe and well.

I hope you will enter the challenge. It runs through 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, December 8th. One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will choose their Top Picks with the overall winner receiving an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list:

Stamperia - Oriental Garden 12x12 Paper Pack SBBL58
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs TIM32823
Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black AIP31468
Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint - Sand - 1oz Bottle
Scor Tape
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Die Set #660056
Tim Holtz Garden Green Die Set #661206
EK Success Circle Punch
Wendy Vecchi Dots and Stripes Border Stencil
Geometric Stencil
Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
Raffia

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Lace Journal Cover


It is time for the new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and Autumn, who is our hostess is calling it Layers of Lace.

Lace, oh so lovely lace! Whether you add delicate layers of fine lace, or tattered and torn crocheted lace, we'd love to see you add dimension and depth to your vintage or shabby chic project with lace. Perhaps you have a favorite lace stamp or will choose to lace something up, we'd love to see your creations inspired by this topic.

I was walking around the dollar store a couple weeks ago and found an inexpensive journal - nothing is ever a dollar anymore so I hesitate to call it cheap.  It is in a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" format and I immediately knew I could make a removable cover for it with lots of lace.


I knew I wanted a sturdy fabric for the actual cover and found some canvas that I had picked up at the local art supply store in my sewing cupboard.  It tears both ways so I tore a piece 4 1/4" wider than my journal when it was opened fully and 3/4" taller.  Then I folded each side in 2" and used gel medium to glue the folded parts down at the top and bottom making sure to stay within 1/4" of the outside edges.  Now I have pockets for the journal cover to slide into and when the journal is full, I can easily replace it with a new one.


I wasn't sure if it would stay closed once it was done so I decided to add some seam binding across the centre of the outside so I would have something to tie it closed.


The next step was to add all the lace to the outside.  I knew I didn't want all white on this cover so I started with some cream laces on the top and bottom that came from my stash and then I added a wide strip of  very fine lace across the middle that came from my late Mother-in-Law's sewing stash.  I had to take it apart because she had started to sew it together in a v-shape perhaps to add to the neckline of a blouse since she made all her own clothes and did so without a pattern.  Then I added strips of different white laces, all of which came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.


Then it was time to embellish the front cover.  I did not add embellishments to the back cover so that it would lie flat on the desk.  The first thing I did was print a vintage image of Lily Elise on the computer and die cut it with a die called Fleur de Lis Squares (Spellbinders).  I inked the edges with Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) and then added it to the cover with dimensional foam.


Another flower was made from card stock.  I die cut a couple of petals from the Shabby Posies die (Tammy Tutterow) and inked it with Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo DI.  Then I shaped it and glued the two petals together with a button for the centre.  I also painted a wee bit of white Gesso on the petals.  When I added it to the cover, I tucked a couple of loops of pearl string underneath.


Next I created a flower from pleated ribbon by gluing it in concentric circles with my glue gun onto a card stock circle.  I found a resin flower in my stash that was perfect for the centre and added it with some dimensional foam.


I always hang on to the tiniest bits of lace so to make this lace flower I just gathered a little strip of lace with a running stitch and glued it to a card stock circle.  Then I snipped the edges away from three pieces of another lace pattern and glued them into the centre.  I added a pearl embellishment to the centre.


I added a bit of crochet ribbon topped with a lace applique and a flower from my stash that was already a nice shade of pink and I just painted it with a wee bit of white Gesso before I dded a button centre.


Under the focal image are a couple more flowers from my stash that were ivory and I inked them with some of the Spun Sugar and Vintge Photo DI before I added the Gesso and buttons.  I also cut a white fabric daisy in half and tucked it under the image.  I made a loopy bow from white twine and tucked that under the ribbon flower.

The crochet flower came from my Mother-in Law's stash and I added a pearl brad for the centre.  Under that I added a strip of burlap and more buttons.

This was a very easy project to make and I think it is very romantic.  I hope you will share a lace project with us.  One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie Boutique - FUN!!  The Design Team will choose their top picks and the overall top pick will have the opportunity to Guest design with us.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Inspiration


It is time for the new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and this time, Nancy is our hostess and is calling it You're My Inspiration.  Here is what she has to say about it:

Find any type of image or photo that inspires you and create a vintage or shabby chic project based on that image or photo (you don't need to actually use it in your project). Please post the image on your blog along with your project, and tell us what it is you love about it.



While I have never entered any of my creations in the mood board challenges at Maja Designs, the mood boards do inspire me and so I thought I would use this one and create something with it in mind.  I thought I would make a little journal that is partly junk journal, partly mini album.  The colours are so soft and calm.

Warning - there are a lot of photos in this post and the quality is not always the best - thanks to the intermittent rain that we have been getting for weeks now.

I found a little 5 1/2" square chipboard album kit in my stash and decided it would be perfect for this project.  Here is how I turned it into a little journal/album:


1. Coated both sides of the chipboard pieces with white Gesso and then covered the front with some stenciling using a Tim Holtz Flourish stencil and texture paste.



2. Painted the chipboard with Bleached Sand acrylic paint from DecoArt and sprayed with Gathered Twigs Distress Spray Stain and Lindy's Starburst Saxifrage Olive Copper.


3. Altered the book rings with some Copper Mixative Alcohol Ink.
4. Embellished the front with the following elements:
  • burlap panel
  • tea-dyed venise lace
  • paper doll from Tim Holtz inked with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink
  • flower made from corrugated cardboard using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, inked it with Vintage Photo DI and a carved coconut shell button for the centre
  • bow from copper crochet ribbon with a little clock charm from xx
  • Idea-ology pen nib altered with Copper Mixative Alcohol Ink
  • copper button from the dollar store
5. Made some inserts from a variety of elements in my studio or that I found online and printed, inking edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I really wanted to embellish each page more but since I was running out of time, I had to suppress the urge so I would have a little something, something to show on the inside.


Left - Inside of Front Cover
Right - Front of page 1, which is a folded piece of paper topped by a vintage journaling card


Left - Back of Page 1 with a handmade coin envelope
Right - Front of Page 2, which is a vintage ledger card from The Graphics Fairy and a little ephemera tuck spot


Left - Back of page 2, which has been inked with Vintage Photo and Weathered Wood DI, stamped with a flourish from Wendy Vecchi using Tree Branch Archival Ink and another ephemera tuck spot added
Right - Front of Page 3, which is some old school lined paper


Left - Back of Page 3
Right - Front of Page 4, which is a folded envelope topped by some ephemera


Left - Back of Page 4, which is the fold on the enveloped topped with some venise lace and includes a vintage journaling card
Right - Front of Page 5, which is another folded paper from my stash topped with some Tim Holtz washi tape, a tattered floral cut from corrugated cardboard that was inked with Weathered Wood DI and a faux pearl cluster added to the centre


Left - Back of Page 5 topped with a vintage journaling card
Right - Front of Page 6, which is some old music paper folded and includes a vintage journaling card


Left - Back of Page 6 with a little ephemera added with a mini clothespin
Right - Front of Page 7, which is some old map paper from Far Far Hill with a doily tuck spot inked with Shaded Lilac and Vintage Photo DI and includes a tag made from Maja Designs paper and seam binding dyed with Tea Dye DI


Left - Back of Page 7, which has been inked with Weathered Wood DI and has an added pocket made from Maja Designs paper decorated with some Tim Holtz washi tape
Right - Front of Page 8, which is another vintage ledger page with an ephemera tuck spot


Left - Back of Page 8, which had some Maja Designs paper added along with an ephemera tuck spot
Right - Front of Page 9, more school lined paper


Left - Bank of Page 9
Right - Front of Page 10, which is vintage music paper, cut down with extra used to make a pocket


Left - Back of Page 10, which has some Graphic 45 paper added and a vintage note for a tuck spot
Right - Front of Page 11, which is more old music paper with a tiny journaling card added


Left - Back of Page 11, which has been folded to create a pocket and has a journaling card inserted in the pocket
Right - Front of Page 12, which is a sheet of Maja Design paper with an inked doily added as a tuck spot


Left - Back of Page 12 with a little piece of ephemera from Tim Holtz added as a tuck spot
Right - Front of Page 13, which is another folded piece of paper with a vintage journaling card added


Left - Back of Page 13 with a handmade coin envelope added
Right - Front of Page 14, which is another folded envelope with a strip of Maja Designs paper for a border and a stamped tag inserted


Left - Back of Page 14 with a vintage journaling card added
Right - Front of Page 15 - more school lined paper


Left - Back of Page 15
Right - Inside Back Cover


Back Cover

That was long - are you still with me?  If so, thanks for sticking around to see my little journal.  I know some of the colours from the mood board only appear on the inside but I tried to incorporate as many of the mood board ideas as possible.  This journal still has lots of room for pages but I ran out of time and I am sure you are happy that I did or you might have to grab another glass of wine. :)

I hope that you can find a photo that inspires you and you will share your creation with us.  The challenge at Frilly and Funkie runs until 11:55 pm EST on June 20th and you have the opportunity to win a Guest Designer spot or to be the random winner of a gift certificate from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Private Journal


It is time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and this time Kathy is our hostess.  She is calling it Put On Your Inking Cap and here is what she has to say about it:

Create a vintage or shabby chic mixed media project without using patterned paper of any kind. You may use Distress Inks, Sprays, Paints, Stencils, Stamps, Embossing powders or any medium you choose but NO patterned paper allowed!

I had fun doing this one on many levels.  First, all the Design Team members were given journal covers and accessories from Eileen Hull's fantastic new HeARTfelt journal die for Sizzix to work with.  Secondly, I decided to turn it into a private journal for my pre-teen Granddaughter.

The colour palette of this journal matches the colours she chose for her new bedroom when they moved last spring.  The room now has had some finishing touches and is definitely a room for a girl who is going to be a teenager in a couple years and it looks so good - she and her Mommy did a wonderful job.  She is a super kid - smart, pretty, funny and a talented synchronized swimmer (we are convinced that she inherited a fish gene like her Mommy).  She has a wonderful brother as well so we are blessed.

Now on to my project and here are the instructions for creating it along with a few photos that I actually remembered to stop and take since I was having so much fun:


1. Assemble the journal covers according to the instructions provided and then cover both inside and out with crumpled up tissue paper using matte medium.


2. Add a narrow strip of burlap to the front cover.
3. Cut a small hole in the back cover at the mid point vertically and about ½” in from the outside edge.


4. Coat the tissue paper and burlap with white gesso followed by a coat of Craftsmart Silver Gray acrylic paint.


5. Using a natural sea sponge add DecoArt Purple Pearl Metallic paint in random areas, dry brush white gesso randomly over the sponged paint and then add Hickory Smoke distress ink randomly.
6. Thread the covers with three lengths of round elastic to hold the inserts.
7. Thread a ponytail elastic through the hole in the back cover and back through itself to act as a closure around the shank button on the front.


 8. Alter the lock and key with a combination of Silver Mixative alcohol ink and blending solution.
 9. Alter the metal leaf, medallion and frame with a combination of Purple Twilight alcohol ink and blending solution.
10. Paint the wooden embellishments with DecArt Purple Pearl Metallic paint.


11. Die cut multiples of flowers from crinoline using the Shabby Posies die by Tammy Tutterow and colour with Shaded Lilac and Picked Raspberry distress inks. Crumple up each flower and allow to dry before opening up and layering.  Use as many layers as desired (In the end I used two of each of the largest size) and add a button for the centre.
12. Create the word “Private” on the computer, print on a piece of white card and cut to fit the frame. Ink the card with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and adhere to the back of the frame with Glossy Accents.
13. Glue all the embellishments to the front of the cover with heavy gel medium. Glue a large shank button to the front at the mid point vertically and about ½” in from the outside edge.  If the shank is not big enough to glue evenly or to allow the elastic to loop around it, just cut the shank off and replace it with something to act as a spacer, such as wood, chipboard or mat board layering until you get the required thickness.


14. Create a number of bead dangles and add them along with charms to a length of silver chain using jump rings. Add the completed chain to the outside on the spine by attaching it to the middle elastic.


15. Create signature inserts on the computer and sew to gray card that has been painted in the same manner as the journal covers.

This photo shows just three of the inserts I made but there are a couple more with blank paper. I made pages where she could document her thoughts and feelings, do a little drawing or doodling, and practice cursive writing, which is not taught in the schools anymore and is something she is interested in.

So that is what I did with my first Sizzix Eileen Hull Journal and it was so much fun that I plan to make more journals.  There are so many possibilities and they can be personalized in so many ways and for so many purposes - planners, bullet journals, travel journals, junk journals, special occasion albums, just to name a few.

I hope you are inspired to make a journal but for this challenge it is not a requirement - just make sure you follow Kathy's theme.  You have the chance to be the Design Team's top pick and join us as a Guest Designer at a future date or you could be a random winner and receive a $25 gift certificate to The Funkie Junkie Boutique.