Tag Archives: journal

Feb 28

Never Say No To A Challenge, or a giveaway!

I love shopping on Etsy. One of my favorites in Saturday Morning Vintage. I just love suspending time “hanging around” looking at the pretty goodies and dreaming. I buy things from the shop now and then, but I admit to being a hoarder….I’m afraid to use things for fear I’ll need it for something special later! But, I’ve been kicking around some ideas lately for a journal; I’m into journals more that layouts, lately, and I’m going through some personal stuff right now and I thought a hand-made journal would be nice to document this journey I’m on. And who would happen to contact me about a scrap challenge right at the perfect time? That Goddess of all that is vintage and beautiful, the lovely Xenia, owner of SaurdayAMVintage! (Yes, Jennifer, there really are fairy godmothers!). Xenia has done this before on her blog in the past where she has fun challenges for her readers. She sends them a package of left-over scraps, and let’s them create whatever they want. I say, bring it on!
Heres the package I received:

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I love the way she packages everything! I have an idea for a journal I’d like to make, and I have a handmade plexiglass clipboard that I’ve been wanting to use. The board measures 6×8″‘ and I put a two-ring binder mechanism on it to me different. I the to my brother Rob’s permission to use his photos because I didn’t have anything appropriate that would fit what I wanted to do, whereas Rob has a wonderful way of projecting symbolism and feelings just emanate from the photos. That’s what I wanted. So I went to work and quickly discovered how fragile vintage papers really are! Thank goodness for washi tape and staples. Some pages became collages as portions of the pages fell apart! Not a problem for me, it simply amped up my challenge mode! I sewed, stitched, colored, taped, punched, and hand typed on the papers, having a great time all the while. The final product (with the disappointing title that is not easy to see…)

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The entire journal may be seen here

Thanks for this challenge! And to anyone out there, do have piles of left-over scraps taking up space in your craft area? Grab them, find some photos, and see what you can do! I invite anyone to bring your photos in the comments, and I will reward you with a free fiveaway!
Thanks for visiting!

Jun 27

I love to Smash!

When I first discovered the Smash book by EK Success in April, I couldn’t wait for it to come out in stores so I could order one. Crazy? Yes, I know. I followed the latest fad and purchased something I could make at home myself. It has a cover I have not been able to replicate yet; nice pages I wouldn’t have; journaling prompts I wouldn’t have thought of, and a handy pen that also doubles as a glue stick attached to the book (clever!). Plus, I always like what other people do, better! And, it’s just so dang cute! I got mine just shy of a month ago, and it’s already 2/3 filled. Good thing I have another one (the Retro style) waiting in the wings!

My Smash book, and samples of the inside pages

Really, this is the original form of scrapbooking, and I love it. What I have in my albums is like an art piece with photos. The Smash book is perfect for hoarders like me (although I’m not bad enough to be on any show…): I have a tendency to keep little sentimental things like napkins, receipts, tickets, etc. to remember an experience by, but those little things don’t often make it into my scrapbook album. They get piled in nooks and crannies around my desk until they eventually get thrown away. Three years later, or so. Now, I literally “smash” it into this journal, scribble some notes about it, and suddenly the nooks and crannies are cleaned out! No fancy art necessary, nothing frivolous or time-consuming. Just an awesome way to keep the little things I hold near and dear to me in one cool, little place. After the next one is used, I’m making my own….and selling them on Etsy.

Smash book by EK Success→ rated 5 stars by me.

May 16

The Let’s Go travel journal kit is now here!

Just in time for vacation and travel season, I have a new product available on Etsy today: my “Let’s Go” travel journal kit. This kit is for the scrapbook lover who wants to put together a keepsake journal of their vacation without having to fuss with all the cutting, punching, and trying to figure out what papers to use. It’s all here for you; 30 unique pages, 3 tags, 1 vintage card piece, a sheet of airmail stickers, 5 Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons, and 2+ yards of baker’s twine. It all comes in a white cigar box for you to decorate to your heart’s content! The size of the journal is approximately 4×6″, so it’s small enough to put in your bag and tote along with you. Add photos, journaling and mementos of your special trip, and you have a unique and special remembrance to last you a lifetime! To get yours and see more photos of what’s inside, click on my Etsy badge to get to my shop, and get yours before they run out. Free gift with purchase, too! Happy travels!

May 10

The first prototype…

I decided to spend this afternoon/evening taking a stab (no pun intended) at binding a book; sort of a trial run. I didn’t use “book binding materials”, save for the thread, but I wanted to see how difficult it will be to cover chipboard with fabric in such a way that the cover will still open effectively, and whether or not I could figure out how to do the stitching I envisioned in my mind. Two broken needles and lots of wasted thread later, I finally did something similar to what my husband and I intend to do with his photographs. I am really excited about this, now! This book is my trial run for “the” book, so mistakes are okay; I’ll be using this journal for my own personal use where imperfection is perfectly okay.

every page is different, these are examples

I am really pleased with this type of stitch; nothing too fancy, yet not too plain, either. I will probably find something to put on the cover to decorate it, and knowing me, filling the pages will be lots of fun. Just wondering, do you think this is something that might sell on Etsy? Please let me know! See you tomorrow!

Apr 22

Evalicious!

Evalicious. I love the name of the blog. I love what’s in it, too. I know, I’ve been on a jag, lately, loving this person or that, but the truth is, there are so many awesome individuals out there with such admirable artistic qualities, I feel I must give credit where credit is due. And today, it is Eve Johnson, who runs Evalicious, a creative art company who happens to have big talent for wonderful scrapbook supplies. She is the creator of a unique “Destination mini art journal”, and it is so popular, it was on back order. I preordered mine, and received it today! Yipee! It’s gorgeous. I was in awe when I opened it. OMG, I can’t wait to go somewhere and fill it up with photos and journaling. Here is a snippet of what she has to offer:

this is a handmade envelope on the right

that's an ID tag! Genius!

Notably, I have been really into mini journals lately. I think there should be events in one’s live that deserve a book. Celebrities have biographies written about themselves all the time, right? Why shouldn’t you? Write it yourself, which has been my mantra, all along. There are many out there who are creative and good with words; I, however, am not. I applaud anyone who can write; you have a gift. I just have my scrapbooks;  that’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it! Happy journaling!

Apr 18

Remains of the Day, Part II

Okay, here we are. Again, I was not happy with the cover, so I started over for the second time. I neglected to take photos of that process, but you will see the results. I think it looks pretty shabby, which is exactly the point. In the class, however, Mary Ann Moss uses shabbier pieces of paper to make up the pages, which looks neat, but I opted to use some scrapbook papers to use them up, and they don’t look as shabby. Next time I will use scraps of old papers and magazine pages, like she did.

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I am so looking forward to filling in my new journal. I normally go for a simple look when I scrapbook, but I think it will be fun and interesting to do something totally off-the-cuff, becoming shabby, worn and loved. I can just go crazy and be wild and fun with it…another side of me I usually keep in check! Anyone interested in pursuing a project like this may click here to check out Mary Ann Moss’ blog for more information. Happy journaling!

Apr 2

Vintage finds

great finds at great prices

After work this afternoon, I met hubby at a new art exhibit opening at the Spectrum Gallery, downtown in the Tower District (the Soho of our town). Afterward, I noticed some antique shops nearby, and since I don’t often get to this side of town very often, I thought I should peek my head in to see what’s what. I have been looking for some vintage items, and I feel that I’d rather not spend an arm and a leg for a “new” scrapbook product that is supposed to give that vintage feel, and get the real deal, instead. No shipping costs, either. The first place I went to was an “antique mall” with many vendors in individual booths. Loads of goodies, here! Wow, I will have to go back again someday, except that I noticed that many antiques are more expensive than I realized. Well, maybe those 7 Gypsies vintage-looking products on their website don’t look so bad after all…But, I was able to find some inexpensive items that I had been wanting, and then I went to a thrift store down the street and found what I have been really wanting: cheap, unused sewing patterns. Sewing patterns, I have discovered (thank you, Ali Edwards!), can be used like tissue paper, and decoupaged onto journal pages:

braying a piece of pattern onto a decoupaged acrylic overlay page

the finished page, on the right.

I did this method for Ali Edwards’ On the Road class/journal. I loved the look of  the transparent tissue-like pattern piece over the acrylic transparency (which has a pattern of a map on it).

I also wanted some little, antique bottles to nestle into my 7 Gypsies library drawer. I will put some vintage labels on them, and they will add a nice touch.

Last, but not least, I have noticed these neat little “flower frogs” in photos on Etsy. Crafters use them to hold a paper product for photography. I really like it!

I am so surprised at myself doing this today. I guess it just goes to show that one must keep an open mind, and you’ll find what you’re looking for about the time you stop looking!  Happy crafting!

Mar 21

Finding a new home for old photos…

Going through my supplies in the studio, I recently found some older photos thrown into an envelope. Oh, shame on me, I thought to myself! Every once in a while I will have an extra photo that just didn’t make it into a layout, but I can’t bear to toss them. Some, I have to admit are old originals that have been scanned into my computer, and I didn’t have a good place to keep them. I gathered some up, and decided that today is the day to do something with them. They need a home, and I just happened to have a Cindy Ruijgrok scrapbook kit purchased on Etsy a while back. Now, I have a cute new mini album, with fewer disorganized photos, and my library tray is a little fuller, as well.

I Want To Remember book

I  have only just begun to start filling the tray, but I know right now that it is going to be very enjoyable. Anything goes, and everything will! The index cards have patterned papers covering both sides with the tabs left alone; I will be adding more embellies to these, and to the many photos that will be going inside. I will show more photos as this progresses.

Also: I received an email from Big Picture Classes about a new self-paced class by a new instructor named Amy Tangerine. I haven’t heard of her before, but I quickly signed up for the class since it is discounted for a short period of time, since the synopsis sounded so good. I’ll be making more mini scrap journals; I watched some videos provided in the class and Amy has lots of tips and tricks for making them truly unique. It should be exciting! Here is the link: http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/creativejuice.php Check it out!  Happy crafting!

Mar 12

My “On The Road” project

Today was the day. I had signed up for Ali Edwards’ self-paced class, On The Road (OTR), Thursday I received my supplies from Cocoa Daisy, and today I spent the day “in the classroom” so to speak, working on this project taught by Ali. I had a great time, learned new techniques, and discovered design ideas I never would have thought of. I do have one caveat: not all of the supplies needed are included in the kit, and the instructions were at times a little sketchy. But, the completed journal is not intended to be 100% exactly as Ali’s photos show, nor are you discouraged from making it your own, i.e. doing some things a little differently. That’s the nice thing about Ali, or even scrapbook crafting in general, perfection is not a requirement, and individualism is highly encouraged. That being said, my book is far from perfect, and that’s okay with me. I actually like the quirkiness and charm of the imperfections, and I am glad that paint got on places it was not intended…the paint splatters are cool with me. I find the book to have a lived-in, and much-loved look. Now, at this time it is empty because I have yet to take that special trip which will be documented in these pages; in fact, our family has no plans for any trips in the coming future at all. No worries, I am hoping to plan something for later this year (cross my fingers), even if it’s a weekend at the coast. New York would be the ultimate, but until we win the lottery (yeah, right)!, I don’t think it’s gonna happen.

My project:

AEOnTheRoad (click here to view)

And yes, the map overlay on the back page is backwards. Dummy punched the holes on the wrong side! I guess it’s better than being upside-down!

Mar 7

Inspiration strikes again…

Today I made a little book about inspiration; let’s just say I used the inspiration I found for a good cause. I talked yesterday about how stress can sap the creative juices out of me or anyone else for that matter, and reading Ali Edwards’ blog got me back on track. With permission, I printed out some of my favorite pieces of artwork she has posted, and put together a little something to help me in the future.

Thank you, Moirai compositor!

I am posting this in the hopes that anyone who is having, or has had a creative mental block can look at this and also find a way to get that groove back. The kit itself is from Cindy Ruijgrok (www.etsy.com/shop/CindyRuijgrok), and I basically just used the stickers that came with the kit, plus just a few things of my own. I wanted this book to be simple, highlighting Ali’s work. I think that finding inspiration is one thing, acting upon it is another. The key for me is not to try too hard, but to have a mindset that allows inspiration to find me, and having an open, peaceful mind, for me, is important. I find also, that the more I create, the less stress I have, and the more peace and happiness I feel in order to create more. It’s a cycle, and I have to have somewhere to start. Thus, this book. I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me. Oh, and one more thing: One Little Word is the class I am taking with Ali Edwards’ at Big Picture Classes, and registration is still open (http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword.php). You will notice the word “imagine” in the book, and that is my word for this year. I believe the class is also inspiring, and as you may have seen on a post from a few days ago, I have used my word to help me in so many ways. I encourage anyone to at least look into the class, or see Ali’s blog (http://aliedwards.com/) for even more creativity. She is also putting on a class called “On the Road”, which is a wonderful way to get started on learning how to make a beautiful travel journal. I’m taking this self-paced class as well, and I’ll have more on that at a later time. Thanks for joining me today, and happy scrapping!