“Masculine Junque Journals”

Hi Friends,

I am always planning my next project as probably most of you do too. I watch YouTube videos and get lots of inspiration and heaps of ideas going around in my mind. By blogging about it I get it out of my head!!

Lately, I seem to be doing more girly themed projects and I thought it was time a did something grungy! I have decided to make my two sons a journal each and scrap some of their outings, trips, etc which I haven’t done yet. They will have the same sort of content as they are always doing things together.

It is a beautiful Spring day here in Australia and I have been out with my sister. I had to take it a bit quiet yesterday as I had a bit of a fall.

I want the journals to have a masculine, grungy feel so I  am making them with soft covers and grungy themed scrapbooking papers and elements.

I used cereal boxes cut apart and I added some chipboard to the spines, I covered them using Colour Blast Graffiti Grunge range of papers. I used black book cloth tape and I have done a bit of embellishing on the covers to keep them grungy looking.

So, next I got out my Texture Paste and used a stencil to add a bit of texture over the pattern paper and then a few die cuts and adhered them to the front cover.  I painted over a layer of Gesso primer over the top and let it dry.

I glued down some cogs and gears chipboard and metal embellishments with Glossy Accents. I then went over them with Gesso also to prime for my next step. You can still see the layers of die-cuts and texture paste. you can let this air dry which doesn’t take long or use a heat gun if you have one.

As you can see above, I have played with some distress Oxide sprays and a few metallic ones also. I sprayed and splattered the colour and aso dabbed a bit here and there over parts to highlight them.

Here, I added some more colour to hight light some of the backgrounds using Nuvo Mousse Paste and some Metallic Distress Stain. I also added some Tim Holtz Crackle Paste in a few places for a bit extra effect!

Above is just a better pic of the crackle paste. I then glued some hands on to them also.

I wanted to add something just to finish it off and as I was searching I found some small watch parts that I forgot I had 🙂 They were perfect to group together, gesso over and colour!! I just sprinkled them over some glossy accents, then gessoed and painted with metallic spray 🙂

Both the journals are the same but different, just like my boys! Now to have fun putting some paper and stuff into them.

Stay tuned 🙂

Kerri x

 

 

 

“Bloom Journal & OLW Update”

Hi there,

If you didn’t see my post about this journal it is “HERE”  

At the start of 2019, I picked my One Little Word and this year it is CREATE!!! I certainly have been using my OLW and letting myself have time to CREATE”!  I have scrapped quite a bit and made numerous journals for my self and friends plus gifts. I have also made 3 Tutorials for a couple of Facebook groups that I am in and joined in making ATC swaps and some cards for the shop I sell them in also. This has also been great for my mental health with a couple of challenges in that department of late. Craft is great ‘therapy’ and is good for your soul 🙂 I have also managed a few crafty days with my sister showing her different things and she has taught me a few bits and pieces also.

Anyway………………I was intending to use this journal for my mum, but it has now become my Quote Journal as I always had bits and pieces of quotes kept on paper and Pinterest and never all together! I will be making another journal to use for my mum.

I started adding “stuff” to it over the last couple of days and I am pleased with my progress.

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 I have been using my stash for the last 6 months or so and making a slight dent in it!!!  Making some journals certainly helps with my stash of pattern paper and matching sticker sheets. I went through them all and put them to good use to make pockets, tuck spots, collages, tags, and embellishments for my journal.

I also added some tags, flip-out pages, and extra pages to use my own handwriting to Journal in it also.

 

I made a fold-out flip from some pattern paper and it ties up with the ribbon. It’s a nice way to add some more space to journal or add images.

As you can see it has grown a little with all the goodies I am adding to it and it is getting thicker. I love a journal that is loved and chunky….. I will probably be adding to it daily as I find things to add.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a go at making your own Quote Journal. Stay tuned as I am making my boys a Journal each and will share soon 🙂

Happy Journaling

Kerri x

“JJ tutorial – Part 5 – The Finishing Touches”

OK, let the fun begin…………… You have done well and worked really hard to get this journal made so now the fun bit begins. (not that all isn’t fun!!!)

 

As you can see I created quite a lot of different embellishments, so you can play around and make your own 🙂 If you click on each photo it will enlarge the images.

 

#1 – I made a small vellum envelope and added a tag. On the other side, I made a cluster and a couple of die cuts.

#2 – This is a fabric fold up that I glued down at the top then added a bit of ribbon, tag and a quote.

#3 – This is a cluster that is hiding under the fabric flap. Made of scraps and stash.

#4 – On the left, I used a bit of an envelope and made a pocket then I put an Artist Trading Card inside it. A die-cut and tag to finish it. On the other side, just a small pre-made envelope with another ATC poking out!

#5 – Underneath the vellum foldout is a white envelope stamped with text. The vellum on top is stamped also, with a fabric tab on the side to lift it up.

#6 – This is a piece of coffee dyed copy paper with vellum over the top and a tuck spot.

#7 – A journal card attached with washi tape and a journal card underneath.

#8 – Two small journal cards stuck down on one side and other cards just tucked underneath.

#9 – A small file folder cut in half and used as a pocket.

#10 – A brown paper kaiser bag that I cut down and taped one end closed. I can put extra bits and pieces in it to store until I get them into my journal.

#11 – This is a cut out from a paper pad and I glued down three sides and made a large pocket. On the right side, I just added some different journal papers taped under one another.

My ideas are to guide you, feel free to do your own thing and add what you want to your own Journal. I will be adding bits and pieces to it for a while. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am happy to help you if needed.

I hope you have enjoyed your Junk Journal Journey and have learnt a few things on the way.  I am looking forward to seeing your finished journals.

Happy Junking

Kerri x

 

 

 

“Squishy Bloom Journal”

Hi There,

My son went to the supermarket for me the other day and bought home the wrong size cereal lol. I then decided to use the empty box to make a “squishy journal with it!  Well, what else would you do 😉

I have been making a few hard book cover journals, so I thought a nice soft covered one would be nice.  I set about strengthening the spine and corner of the box when I cut it apart and then decided to gesso over it and add some lovely floral napkin that my sister swapped with me 🙂

I loved this large Camellia on the tissue paper, as they reminded me of the gorgeous Camellias that mum had in her garden. I am thinking I will put photos and memories of mum in this journal.  I collaged them with some other pink tissue paper packaging that I rec in some happy mail.

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As you can see in my slideshow I have put together for you, I have made a lot of places to journal and add photos if I want to. I made some tuck sports, pockets and used a few small envelopes and added tags and journaling cards to them. A few of the papers I chose had good journaling space on one side and not so much on the other so I added space to them on top.

As you can see, I just used a Prima Journaling card for the focal point and off white sari silk for my binding and closure. I just added some lacey butterflies for embellishment. I had room for two nice sized signatures for it and the closure I made by attaching the sari silk on the spine, inside and then threading it through the eyelets.

With the softcover which I never reinforced with any chipboard, it gives it a lovely texture to the napkin, glued on to the cover. I am really pleased with the way my ‘squishy bloom journal ” came together and now to play with it and fill it up with memories of my mum 🙂

I hope I may have inspired you to make your own squishy journal and I would love to see it if you do 🙂  Have great weekend friends!

Kerri x

 

“JJ turorial – Part 4 -Making Embellishments”

Welcome to Part 4 🙂

As you make your journal/journals you collect lots of scraps from cutting paper down to size. I hadn’t really done much with mine but decided to use some of them up to make embellishments to put in my Journals.

Above is the box of junk/supplies that I pulled out of my stash before I even started anything. Lots of this stuff I have now made into embellishments.

Here you can see I made a heap of word Ephemera -These are “collectible items that exist for joy.”  You can use any type like tickets, tags, receipts, brochures, junk mail, packaging, etc.

These were easy to make and I just used some word stickers I had and backed them on to some pattern paper than tore another piece and stuck them on to it. These are great for adding to items you add to your Journal. If you don thave stickers just write your own. Your handwriting is an embellishment on its own 🙂

To make some embellishments for my journal I just tore a heap of paper, cut up some fabric and lace, then just layered them.  No plan, just played.

By making these Embellishments, I didn’t need to buy anything for my journal. I used my stash, which I have been doing for the past few months.  You can see the word embellishments I used on them also. You can finish them off by adding some machine stitching or faux stitching using stamps or a pen.

I hope I have given you a few ideas for using your scraps up and making some pretties for your journals

The last part of the Journal is coming up and I will be showing you how to use the embellishment you have made and ow to add a few other items.

Stay tunes 🙂

 

 

“JJ Tutorial Part 3 – Making the Pages”

Are you ready for the next part of making your JJ? For this part, you will need to go through your stash and find any sort of paper you wish to add to your journal.  If you didn’t see the post about what you can use in your journal, it is “HERE”

The list is really endless…………………….

Step 1 –   For this journal as it a blue Themed I have mainly kept to blue, cream and white where possible. To work out the size of your pages just measure the height of your journal and make the width about 6′ which is a 12×12 piece of scrapbook paper folded in half. I didn’t bother using my trimmer, I just used my magnetic mat and ruler and tore the paper at roughly 9.5″.  You can make them all sorts of sizes to give your journal interest.

I have used a variety of paper and ‘junk in signatures to create my different journals.

I like to add packaging like gift bags cut up, vellum, lined paper, ledger and scrapbook papers, brown paper, watercolor paper, and paper bags, pattern papers, vellum, specialty papers, clear cello bags, and ATC holders, coffee dyed paper and doilies, magazine and book pages, brown paper and gift wrap.

Step 2 –  You just fold them all in half and collate them to what order pleases you.

I have decided to go with two signatures and they are a bit chunky. Remember you will be adding bits and bobs to your journal so it will expand. It’s up to you how many pages you want and how big.

These are 5 signatures from another journal. You can see how they are separate from each other. This is done so the weight is spread evenly throughout and you don’t damage your spine or pages as they will get lots of use.

Step 3 –   Now for the most important part which is the binding.

Now, it is time to bind your pages into your book, ready to use. There are quite a lot of different ways to do this, but the easiest I find is called theEasy Twine Method and requires no sewing or special tools. This is the video I used from YouTube “HERE”

I didn’t use twine this time,  but some of the lace that I had left which matches my closure. I just had enough to wrap it around twice as I only used the two signatures. I like using this as you can remove and add pages if you want to 🙂

We are going well with making your journal and only a couple of parts left to go. Stay tuned for how to make and use some embellishments to decorate and finish off your journal.

Enjoy

Kerri x

“Common Place Journal”

Hi friends,

I have been a bit absent this week as I am on leave and I spent a couple of days with my sister for her birthday. It was a great time shopping, talking, laughing, eating and generally just doing sister stuff!! Back to work tomorrow!

Over the weekend it has been beautiful and I have been out in the garden, to do some much needed tidying up. So happy it’s now Spring here in Australia!!

As you know I like to make the odd journal or three and they have a specific purpose as art, collage, memory keeping, junking, etc 🙂 I am making my boys a journal each and more on that soon.

Commonplace books (or commonplaces) – are a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books. … Such books are essentially scrapbooks filled with items of every kind: recipes, quotes, letters, poems,  proverbs, etc.  These are also known as Thinker Journals and I am definitely that.

I thought I would like to make two, to have. One on my desk and one in my bag to use as inspiration strikes. A little journal just to add ‘me’ stuff like inspiration, quotes, arty things I try, etc.  I think we all need that one space to collate our thoughts and ideas. I have been doing this for quite a while but not realizing I was.  You can use anything you want to as a journal but I, of course, am making my own special one!!

Thinking about the size of the journal that I want and what I want to put in it, I decided on a 5×7 book and I took the pages out to use the cover.  I am mainly wanting plain and lined papers in this to write on.

If you know me I like to puddle and this is no exception. I Gessoed the cover, as I want to add these gorgeous owl images that my sister gave me when we did a bit of a napkin swap 🙂 Napkins are so much fun to use and give a great look on any projects.

I am using my Tim Holtz glass media mat and it is non-stick but as I make a mess I always put baking paper under it. I usually need to move it so it makes cleaning up easier.

I was going to leave it white but decided on a sage color underneath for a bit of contrast to the napkins. I just sponged some over it randomly!

 

To prepare your napkins you need to make sure you take all the layers of the white tissue off the back. To get the tear in it where you want it, I used a wet brush and drew the tear line. It is much easier than tearing it the wrong way.

It’s up to you where you start. You need a good brush to adhere to the mod podge and smooth it under and over the This glues and seals at the same time.

I then randomly put more of the napkin here and there in a collage. I make sure I have some hanging over the edges. I then let it dry. It hardens as it drys and gives a nice aged effect. The wrinkling of the tissue doesn’t bother me.

 

Here is the cover of my other journal I am making at the same time. It measures approx 7x 9.5. I used the same Napkin technique on this also.

Once dry, I then turn it over and glue the napkin down inside the cover, making sure it is well stuck down. I add pattern paper to the inside, or as I did here a couple more of the images from the napkins. Allow this to dry also before you do anything else to it.

To finish the journal off I cut some lined and plain copy paper to size and then just used some pretty lace to tie it in around the spine and bind it. This way if I want to add or take out pages I can.

Now, his is my finished small 5×7 commonplace journal which I can take in my backpack with and use as I like 🙂

Above is my journal for playing in at home, to journal in 🙂 I just used different lined and plain scrapbook paper in this one from my stash.

 

I made some tags and lots of places to add journaling in the pages. I hope you like this little look at my Common Place Journals and you might like to try keeping one for yourself 🙂

Kerri x

“JJ Tutorial – Part 2 – Embellishing The Covers”

Hi ladies,

Welcome to the next part of creating your Junk Journal. This is a lot of fun as you get to decide how you want to embellish your journal covers. You can do it any way you like with Pattern Paper, Mixed Media, fabric, you name it!

 

I decided I would cover mine with pattern paper this time. I just glued a 12×12 piece of pattern paper on the outside, front and back.

I then turned it over and cut it down so as part of it would fold in as shown above. I like using double-sided tape and wet glue for this part. all the tap will be covered that you did at the start 🙂

On the inside, I chose to take a poem from one of my Daphne’s Diary magazines and place it on the left, some pp on the right and I made a pocket for keeping things in on the back cover, like extra tags. You can cover the middle at the spine on the outside but the one on the inside you really won’t see it. I also write on the bottom corner when I made the journal.

There are many different ways you can keep your finished journal closed. You could wrap some trim around it, used some fabric, or any other way you want to. For me, this easy eyelet closure is the one I use a lot or I just wrap some pretty lace around it.  I have a tool called a Crop-o-dile and it punches the holes and sets the eyelets. I had this lovely blue trim and it was perfect for my closure. You could also choose not to use a closure but as you will be putting a lot of stuff into it using something would be a good idea 🙂

For my front cover, I used some layers of paper, tickets, tags, journaling cards, tickets, ribbon, metal, washi tape, a small envelope, die cuts and the large butterfly I fussy cut from an old calendar.  I am having a great time making this journal and tutorial for you and I hope you are following along and able to understand the steps. If you are unsure of anything please feel free to leave me a comment or send me a message.

Part 3 will be about collating your papers and making the signatures ( stacks of different papers folded) for your pages and how to bind them into your covers ready to embellish and add some ‘junk’ too 🙂

Enjoy x