“A Rat Pack Journal”

Hi Friends,

Welcome to June and Winter in Australia. It is the Queens Birthday long Weekend here and it has been lovely having a the weekend off!!

I was checking out Youtube last night and found anew Tutorial from Nik the Booksmith on creating what she called a “Rat Pack Journal” this looked like fun so I thought I would give it a go!  Her Video is “HERE” if you would like to pop over and have a look.

 

I decided to make my journal cover, from some cardboard packaging that I rec a book in. It was sturdy enough that I thought I wouldn’t bother strengthening the covers like  I normally would with extra cardboard. I thought a soft, squishy cover, would be nice for a change and  I measured it roughly 8.5×8.25″ (17×16.5″)  I then mesured out where the spine would be and how wide I wanted it. I just eyeballed it with a pen and ruler as it was too big to place in my trimmer.

I nearly always use book tape which I find at Bunnings, to add a bit of strength to the spine as it takes the load of the signature (lots of papers). and binding.  I decided this journal didn’t need it.

I had some of this nice fabric left that I found ages ago and thought it was lovely, so I used a bit more of it on this journal. I just placed the covers on the fabric and cut around it. I then cut a way a bit of the excesses fabric and cut a few notches so it would fold over the edges properly.

I used some thin double sided tape on it just to hold it, while I machines around the edges with a zig zag stitch. I am pretty happy with how the cover came out.

For the inside covers I used some retired SU DSP that I thought was a good match, of course its Blue!!.  I just adhered it with tape and some strong clear glue.

 

 This was the ‘RAT PACK” part of this journal, as I had been saving these lined scrapbook pages and my coffee stained note paper. ………………. I just cut them down to a good size and sew a few pagers together. I made 3 signatures. Of course you don’t need to sew them together as they will stay in the book once you do your binding.

I made this one into a pocket just by sewing three sides together and punching a spot at the top so I can get bit and bobs out of it.

To bind the signatures in I just used some seam binding and wrapped it around the spine a few times and tied it off on the front of the spine. This is an easy way for beginners also with no sewing.

This is the Easy Twine Binding Method that I use for most of my journals. I like being able to add and subtract pages if they don’t work or suit my project!

As I used fabric for the cover and seam ribbon for the binding I thought a fabric name plate was in order.  I layered it up with some book paper, pattern paper, old curtain and some gauze.  I am very happy with it.

This is my finished little journal ready for me to jot down notes and things when I am watching a tutorial or thinking of ideas for my next creation!!!

I hope I may have inspired you to have a go at making your own journal. The are fun to make and use.

Have a great afternoon, I am off to spend some time with my boys!!

Hugz

Kerri x

2020/21 Catalogue Is Live!!!

Hello, My friends,

It is very fresh here in Western Victoria today and there was ice all over my car when I was ready to go to work!!   I hope you are keeping warm and staying at home as much as you can. I am working and busy as usual.

For those of you that are interested the New 2020/21 Stampin’ Up! Catalogue is now available to order from and see over on my demonstrator Website “HERE”

 On my website, you are able to place an order, look at all the New Products, Host a Demonstration, Check my Events, or contact me.  I am happy to place an order for you or answer any questions you may have…………………… If you would like a hard copy of the Catalogue, just let me know and I can send you one via Head Office. My customers get one FREE of course!

Right now is an EXCELLENT time to join my Team if anyone was thinking about it. You can Join to get 20% of your own craft supplies and/or build a business…………….

For a limited time, new recruits get a FREE stamp/tool bundle when they join before 30 June. The Starter Kit is already a great value at $169 AUD/$189 NZD for $235 AUD/$285 NZD worth of products, but with this additional motivation to join.

I thought you might like a peek at the Catalogue on the Stampin’ Up! YouTube page, “HERE  There are also some lovely New Product videos also.

I have just placed an order and when it arrives, I am going to do an unboxing video so you can see the lovely products first hand.

Have a great afternoon and feel free to contact me anytime here or on my Website for any information or questions you may have.

Kerri x

 

“Easy No-Sew Journal”

Hi Friends,

I hope you are having a lovely weekend. In between being an Essential worker here in Aus, I am staying at home. #stayathome

I was watching Johana Clough  “HERE”  on her YouTube channel and she made a fun Journal. I thought that would be perfect for a Cookbook for myself to use in the kitchen. It’s not too big and I can have separate recipe categories.

I had eight spare notebooks that I didn’t use awhile ago for a project so I got them out and adhered them all together, one on top of the other. I glued two at a time, then all together with white PVA glue. I then did, as Johanna had and used some fabric to bind them together. I just made sure I had plenty of glue on the spine and under the fabric when I attached it.

I put a couple of heavy books on to of my journal so it would stay together while the glue dried. You can see the covers of the exercise books buckled a bit but that doesn’t worry me as they will be covered up. I also added washi tape to each side of the books to give the spine a bit more strength.

Today I have made some sections using pattern papers from the collections, to divide them up in my journal. I covered each of the joining covers with some pattern paper and that made dividers. This is the first pages inside. I made a pocket on the left with some spare journaling cards and a bit of embellishment, with the first Catagory for Notes.

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As you can see above in the slide show I have made the other dividers the same but with a different mix of the two collections. I used stickers and die cuts to embellish them.

On the backs of a few of the dividers, I adhered a clear 6×8 page protector. These are to hold recipes that I cut from magazines until I get a min to put them in their section. I also have some of mums handwritten ones I want to include.

Above, you can see what you can create from something that looked pretty ordinary into your own personal Journal. You could do this project for anything you want to record. This probably cost me about $10 to make with what I already used from my stash and the few papers etc I used from the kit I bought.  It is made to have our family favourite recipes and to the way, I wanted to keep them together for my boys 🙂

This is a look at the tabs I made for it.

I hope you like this project and you hop on over to Johanna’s Channel and have a go at making something for your self.

My next project is a fun journal for me to play and create in with a lovely group on FB called “Isolation Days Journal” Just some fun ladies getting together and creating while they #stayathome  I am also playing along with a new Scrapbooking group created by the lovely Fiona Kenward to get some scrapping done!!

Stay Tuned and thanks for stopping by x

Kerri x

“Prompt 7-10 – Junk Journal”

Hi Friends,

I am feeling a lot better today than I have the last week or so. I started back to work this morning which was nice, as my client said he missed me 🙂  Yesterday, I went for a drive with my son and it was great to get outside.

I have completed a few more prompts on the JJ I am following along with Linda Israels January challenge on Youtube and in her FB group.

PROMPT 7 – Find a Poem that inspires you and create a page with inspiration from the poem you found. Journal about why the poem inspires you.

Prompt 7 video “HERE”

I used some watercolour paper and painted some ink on to it. I then added water droplets for some texture. I stamped the butterfly, with Stazon ink so it wouldn’t bleed, with my Stamparatas twice and cut one wing out, to use for the journaling. I attached it at the body so it would flip up. I added the poem and a smidge of embellishment.

PROMPT 8 – Write a compliment to yourself abut something you accomplished recently. Centre your journal page around that.

Prompt 8 Video “HERE”

 

I made a tag and covered it with a napkin. I just added a coffee dyed doily and a quote. I bit trim to finish it off.

This prompt was a little out of my comfort zone………..

I journaled that I do receive a few compliments from my friends usually about my hair or something I am wearing. To me, it feels a little funny and I think I get a bit anxious.

The compliment that I would make to my self would be…………….” that I am a good friend”   A couple of friends have been through rough patches and they were there for me when we lost mum and dad, plus my broken arm. It was nice to return the favour and be around for them to talk to if needed. I am pretty easy going and I feel most people can open up to me and feel at ease.

PROMPT 9 – Pick three colours for your journal age and only use them to create your page. Write about your favourite colour or why you picked these colours for your page.

Prompt 9 Video “HERE”

For this prompt, I picked the colours gree/pink/cream. I have been a blue girl all my life and I still love it but thought I would do something different as I  made a complete Blue Journal last year.

For this page, I wanted to make a flip out so I used some napkin with sealer over and under it to adhere it to a piece of cardstock. I then added a bit of lace trim when dry.

I then added taped to a small folded section on the left so it would open up to my journaling. I just added some pattern paper in those shabby chic colours that I liked. The paper under the journaling will stick out of the journal but that is just a fun element, like tabs you can use n your journal.

PROMPT 10 – Use an image from a book or magazine. Use it on your journal page and write about something that happened today that made you feel good………………

Prompt 10 Video “HERE”

I found this cute little kitty image in one of my Daphne’s Diary magazines and I thought he would look nice on the front of the little pocket I made for the journal tag. I just layered a few diff papers underneath and stamped the quote on the bottom. I journaled about the lovely day I had out with my son.

I hope you are enjoying the Prompts as much as I am. Hoping to get a few more done this week 🙂

Have a great Monday

Kerri x

 

 

 

“Prompt 4,5 & 6 – Junk Journal”

Hi, my friends,

“HAPPY VALENTINES DAY”……………………

Today, I am a still a bit under the weather, with some sort of buggy thing I have. Been back to the doc Wednesday and I have an infection.  I am off work the rest of the week and on Antibiotics and Ventolin. I haven’t been unwell for a long time and there goes my great record of no sickies in our house…………………..

Anyway…………… I thought I would post a couple more of the Prompts for my JJ I am following along with on Linda Israel on YouTube Channel and Facebook Group.

Prompt 4 –  To make a pocket and another tag/journal card to write about something you would like to change about yourself.

This Prompt is “HERE” for you to watch her video.

I had a denim jeans pocket from one of my kids’ jeans and I decided to use that for my pocket. I did a bit of hand stitching and added a few buttons. A doily and a bow in the middle to finish it off. I used the other tag I made, to journal about trying to change my fast-paced life and slow down and “enjoy the moments”  I am doing ok with this most of the time………….. to look after ME!!

Prompt 5 – Use a rubber stamp on your journal page, to your satisfaction. then on that page write about someone special in your life…………………. You can see the video “HERE”

For this prompt, I used a notecard from a paper pad and folded it in half. I used a leaf stamp and stamped off the page all around to create a border. I then used the notecard to journal about my sister Alison, who is a very special person in my life……………………

 I thought to hold it, I would make a belly band from a piece of pattern paper and slip it underneath to hold it in place. as it is personal I didn’t want it showing on the page. I used a piece of copy dyed paper and some washi tape to embellish it.

Prompt 6 – Paint some Junk mail and use in your journal as a background.  Journal about a Goal you want to achieve this year.  The video for this one is “HERE” 

I don’t as a rule get much junk mail, as I do most things now on line.

I had an older BHG magazine, so I tore the back cover of it and use half for my page background.   I used Gesso over the top to cover up the writing and pictures then I sprayed some mist through a stencil. when that dried I add some ink through another stencil to soften the look of it. I used a calendar card I had to journal on and just baked it with a piece of plain cardstock and inked the edges.

The Goal I journaled about, was about getting my mental and physical health back on track, exercising and I have even started running. I finished the page off with a couple of wood embellishments, twine and washi tape.

I hope you are enjoying these prompts if you are playing along with me, as I am.

Have a great ValentinesDay

Kerri xx

 

 

 

 

 

Prompt 3 – Create a Journal Card”

Hope you are all having lovely Saturday friends. It is nice and cool here in Victoria and it has been a bit of a weird Summer. In between work this weekend I am working on a couple of journals. Today is the third prompt for Linda’s Junk Journal that I am following along with “HERE”

Prompt 3 – Create a journal card or tag and use the back of it to journal about something that brings you joy in your life…………………………………..

For the card, I cut a tag from watercolour paper. I layered some mist, shimmer paste through a stencil, ink and washi with these pretty die cuts.

A lot of things came to mind that I could journal about, but I chose my wonderful two sons, as they are the joy of my life!! I used a poem I found on Pinterest and just altered a few words to include Cody and Jayden. They are the best decision I have ever made in my life and I am very lucky to have them. I am very proud of the two strong, wonderful men that I have raised mostly on my own.

I hope you are having fun playing along if you are.

Have a great afternoon

Kerri xx

” Prompt 1 – Altered Composition Notebook JJ”

Hello, my crafty friends, Just popping in today with a quick post for the Altered composition Notebook JJ Challenge.

Prompt 1 –  Using fibres to create a bookmark and to Journal about 3 Holiday/Xmas/New Year memories, that mean the most to me.

Linda shows you on her Youtube video   “HERE”  how to make the tassel and the tag. You just go about it the way you want to. Everything I am using for this journal is out of my craft stash!!! This is the first tassel I have made, so not too bad! The tag was fun to do with a bit of mixed media collage and layers.

This is the page that I added the journaling to. It was just white cardstock and I added a bit of ink and doodling.  I journaled about spending precious time with my boys and them being home with me for Xmas day. We chatted about different things we remembered about Xmas with mum and dad as we miss them very much. Nothing is the same…… I also wrote about the time my sister and I spent together a few days before Xmas. We finished our Xmas shopping had some yummy food, laughs and talked non-stop. I also saw my niece and nephews who are very precious also…… I have never been a journaler as I love telling stories with my photos, but I am finding this challenge very good for me and it gets me a bit out of my comfort zone.

This is a fun challenge and I am really learning from Linda, along the way. Hop on over and join in too, I would love to see your creations!

Prompt 2 will be up within the net day or so, stay tuned!!

Kerri x

 

 

“Altered Composition Notebook Junk Journal.”

Hi, there my lovely friends,

I hope you are having a nice start to Feb. I am busy as usual but finding time to walk and do a bit of Craft. I was looking for a bit of “INSPIRATION” for my next JJ project and I came across a lovely channel by Linda Israel who is a wonderful mixed/multi-media artist. I have watched a few of her videos and I found a JJ series she started Jan 2020 called “Altered Composition Notebook Junk Journal” and I had a peek!!! I was hooked straight away to create a JJ and follow her daily prompts.  I have also joined her Friendly Junk Journal People group over on FB.

This is Linda’s first video to create the cover “HERE” Linda used, what we call in Aus a students exercise book, but I decided to make mine using a biscuit box 🙂  I cut it open and used the spine as is and then collaged some music and book pages over the front and back. When dry I sprayed some mist over it and then let that layer dry.

I decided to paint the spine black and I added some washi tape to both sides of the spine and also at the top for a bit added strength.  The front cover I sprayed a watercolour tag with mist, then collaged the Eiffel Tower image I found in a magazine. I used some die cuts as well.

To finish the cover I added a scrap of lace to the tag at the top.

For the inside pages, I made two signatures. I collated some sheet music, book pages, magazine pages, scrapbook papers, and a few botanical pages. These will be the pages I work on each day I do one of the prompts. I used the same cream lace, to bind the two lots of pages in.

If you are looking for a challenge, hop on over and have a look at the FB group, or Linda’s YouTube channel for lots of inspiration…………………..

Have fun playing

Stay Tuned for the 1st Prompt – Using fibres and creating a Book Mark…………………

Kerri x

“A Junk, Junk Journal”

Hi Friends,

I hope your week is going well. I am having fun playing along with a Youtube Turorial on Treasure Books. This lady makes wonderful art and I thought I would make a smaller version of a Traditional Junk Journal to use up some of my “JUNK”

I

You will find the Tutorial that I followed “HERE”  I just adjusted to what I wanted to make. I didn’t cut the box up or stitch it together.  I used a smaller biscuit box, then did a background technique for the cover using baking paper and paint. I then just embellished the front. I added jumbo eyelets and used seam binding to keep it closed. I went with elastic to bind it instead of sewing in the page signatures!!

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Above I have added some photos of the finished journal so you can see the different types of “JUNK” I added to it, the binding and the closure.

These are so much fun to make out of junk. the types of stuff I added was puzzle page, a couple of cards, lined coffee stained papers, magazine pages, a couple of Daphne’s Diary mag pages, music sheet, book page, vellum,  a couple of calendar pages, white paper bags, lined notepaper, a couple of encyclopedia pages, watercolour paper, brown paper, storybook pages, couple of junk mail flyers, envelopes and handmade paper.  You can add anything you like 🙂

I will be adding stuff to this one and showing you my Inspiration Journal very soon so stay tuned!!

Happy crafting

Kerri x

“One Little Word 2020”

Hi Friends,

I hope you have had a Merry Xmas, and looking forward to 2020 🙂

I am not one to make resolutions but I do, just before NY, choose my One Little Word!

  “HERE” is a video from Ali Edwards, to give you an idea about my OLW Journey that I do each year!

I have been pondering my OLW (One Little Word) for 2020. This is my 5th year of choosing a word to take on a journey throughout the year with me.  My other words have been Health, Simplify, Frugal and last year Create. I have found this a fun process to do during the year! Ali’s class is wonderful if you want to join in with her and there is also a FB group. I did her class the first time and now I do my own thing. I have been using a smaller 8.5 x 11 Scrap album to document in, but this year I am making a journal…………….

My word for 2020 is “INSPIRATION”

inspiration

/ɪnspɪˈreɪʃ(ə)n/

  the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

“Helen had one of her flashes of inspiration”

a sudden brilliant or timely idea,

I think we all have a tendency to get ‘stuck’ or in a ‘rut’ as crafters and also in our busy lives. I know I do and how do you get out of it? I find I look for “INSPIRATION”, something that interests me, or gets my creativeness flowing again!!  I seem to find it everywhere; in my daily life, my sons, family, home, garden, magazines, travels, it’s all around us if we look…… I use Pinterest and Google also which gives you lots of ideas………………..

I haven’t really felt very inspired by much since my mum and stepdad, both passed away in 2017. Also breaking my arm the same year in the middle of losing them didn’t help much either.  As I couldn’t do anything for quite a while, I lost interest in my garden, some of my craft, work, etc.

Sometimes it is hard to get back into life and/or to find inspiration! I can’t get motivated sometimes and I feel like doing nothing. I think we all get like that……………. I have started making my Journal for my OLW Journey in 2020 to play in. This is the start of my INSPIRATION and my journey……………….

I want to create and craft more, make journals and scrapbook, take more photos and document our life.  I have a bit of catching up to do; also to enjoy my garden again and just get out there, live and be inspired again!

“INSPIRATION IS EVERYWHERE!”

My favourite words to find my INSPIRATION would be

CREATE- DOCUMENT-CAPTURE  I would say that is because I am a scrapbooker and a memory keeper………………. I take notice of the ‘little things’ in our daily life that we often miss……………

I put together a bit of a list that might help you also find INSPIRATION if you are looking for it. I intend to be doing these things in 2020 🙂

#1 Go for a walk. #2. Exercise, #3.  Watch your pets, #4. Take photos, %5. Draw and/or paint #6. Watch videos, documentaries and movies, #7. Read books, ##8. Teach someone something you know, #9. Learn a new skill, #10. Write a Bucket List, #11. Create a Vison or mood board, #12. Attend a retreat. #13. Talk to people, #14. Join a group, #15. listen to music, #16. Spend time with family and friends, #17. Disconnect from social media, #18. Embrace new things, #19. Take chances, #20. Write in a journal, #21. Have some time on your own, #22. Be creative, #23. Sing, #24. Let go, #25. Reflect, #26. Take photos, 337. Travel, #28. Focus on you, # 29. Make new friends and most of all 30. Just Do……………………

 

2020 is going to be the year I get my INSPIRATION back on track.

I hope I may have you a bit interested you in finding a word that feels right for you and play along with me, for the 12 months. I will be posting about it throughout 2020 and it will be fun, I am sure.

I know I can use a bit more “INSPIRATION” in my life and I hope you can too.

Wishing you all a safe and happy start to 2020. See you then

Kerri xx