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.