Saturday, 17 October 2015

A hand-made Journal

Hi Everybody!

Today I am sharing a journal (8"x 6") I made for a change instead of a journal page.  I made several of these journals a couple of years back, mostly with Halloween decorations. The covers have been made from cardboard from the back of a pad of painting paper, which has been covered with crumpled tissue paper using mod podge, and pushing the paper with the fingers to produce the folds and patterns. This is a rather sticky job. When it is dry, it needs a second coat of mod podge and then gesso. When it was finished I glued on the other parts - scraps of cardboard, textile flowers and leaves, a small head made in a mould, metal chain, scraps of paper doilies, lace and  cloth etc. Then it was coloured with Viva Inka gold in gold, copper and gunmetal grey.  I tried to give it a worn and aged look. It sounds more complicated than it is. I usually make one large piece and cut it into the necessary sizes, but you need to cut it before gluing on things like the head and chain. The finished journal was bound with my BIA and decorated.
I am linking to Stamps and Stencils,  make it 3D

and to Country view crafts, add some texture

The front cover:






The back cover:


The Inside front cover was painted with Viva rust, and then given extra colour with Inka gold in various colours. The leaf is a real one, embossed with Utee gold, and the whole side has been varnished to protect the leaf.


Inside back cover


I stamped a small image onto the bottom right hand corner of each page using Stazon in green  and/or brown:







I don't want to show all the pages, so here are the images I used:


This is the mould for the heads, and I use a mix of alabaster and plaster of paris, mixed with water to fill the forms. It dries quickly and is light.


A few photos taken in our little town at a time when the weather was better:









Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

35 comments:

  1. Lovely journal, such wonderful details Valerie, priceless! Quaint and pretty town you live in.

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  2. Really wonderful, love all the details, just fantastic. Have a great day, Hugs, Sarah

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  3. Well ... you know how I feel about this journal ... absolutely MAD about it! It's delicious in so many ways .. you are so talented, Valerie! Thanks for sharing it with us. Your photos are delightful. hugs, Donna

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  4. ooohh wowwwwww,das cover sieht schweinegeil aus,bin begeistert.
    schöbes we.

    hugs jenny

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  5. Wonderful photographs with a scene worth shooting around every corner.

    Stunning journal with the amazing cover and the pages with the small images in the corner. I love how you made the cover and thanks you for explaining how you did it.

    Have a great day

    Love Chrissie xx

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  6. A wonderful journal Valerie, fabulous colour and texture and I love the detail of the stamped pages. Have a lovely day. Xx

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  7. Fabulous journal covers, love all the texture and the leaves on the inside look stunning.
    Lovely pictures Valerie, you live in such a pretty town.
    Have a great weekend.
    Avril xx

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  8. Das ist ein ganz wunderschönes Herbstjournal Valerie! Ganz große Klasse! Tolle Aufnahmen auch wieder !
    Ich wünsche Di einen schönen Samstag Liebes!
    Knuddel
    Susi

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  9. This is a gorgeous journal, Valerie. The colors are so warm and inviting. It looks very complicated, but you described how you made it well. I had no trouble following what you did. I have NO idea what alabaster is, though. I've heard the word, but it was used to describe skin tones, not a product used with plaster of paris (which I have).

    I enjoyed the summery colors of your town. I could almost feel the heat radiating off the stones and bricks in the street scenes. Of course, the photo of the bicycle in the walkway stole my heart.

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  10. Fabulous colours and textures on your journal Valerie and lovely photos.
    xxx Hazel.

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  11. Oh my Valerie. Your journal is fabulous, truly my style, sorry, the style I love. The colours are earthy and really look great. Beautiful pictures too. Hugs Rita xxxxx

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  12. Gorgeous journal covers, I love the texture you created with the tissue and mod podge etc. I have some board waiting for me to create a cover and I now have some inspiration from you... thanks! Happy Weekend, xxx

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  13. i love the cobblestone and brick in your area!

    such a special book. may it inspire you to fill it.

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  14. Wow, wow, WOW! Your journal cover is absolutely stunning. What a fabulous work of art. I love it.

    have a great weekend.

    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  15. Not many people are so fortunate to live in such a charming little town - you know how I envy this!
    Your journal is fantastic. There is so many things I want to do and here I am still trying to get settled in this house. While I don't mind down sizing - it is hard in this little house to deal with storage especially my craft supplies. But I will get it all sorted out.
    Sandy xx

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    1. I am sure you will. I craft in my kitchen and don't have much space for kitchen utensils!

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  16. Really quite astonishing (from someone whose art is always flat as a pancake). It looks like an ancient book made by an bookbinder from medieval times. I also seriously love that each page has a little stamped picture, that makes it really special. I might try (copy) that idea in my next little modest booklet.
    Your town is endlessly fascinating, wonderful street photography today.

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    1. Yes, I am always fascinated that I keep discovering new corners in this little place. Feel free to use any ideas.

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  17. Stunning journal cover, Valerie. Amazing textures and I love the small images on the inside.
    Hugs, Mar

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  18. Gorgeous journal covers, the textures look amazing and sounds like it could have been fum making them. Lovely touches of art with the little images on each page.
    Yvonne xx.

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    1. Back again. Thank you for joining us at Stamps and stencils with is fantastic journal.
      Yvonne xx

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  19. Definitely.... you have completely OUTDONE yourself this time Valerie. Absolutely positively FABULOUSLY ELEGANT PERFECTION. Oh yes.... it IS. I am in awe of your wonderful journal cover. My fav part is the twine and chain on front and how the twine goes all the way to the back at the same place - more or less. The texture is wonderful - not just the tissue but it seems there are other things hidden under there too!!! And you even made the faces... wow. The color and the shimmer and the vintage feel is just stunning. I guess you can't tell at all that I am overly impressed with your creation once again sweet gal!!

    And.... love the bicycle picture but my favorite pic is the one with the planter up high outside that window sill. Now that is just toooo sweet. I just love your town. j.

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  20. Definitely.... you have completely OUTDONE yourself this time Valerie. Absolutely positively FABULOUSLY ELEGANT PERFECTION. Oh yes.... it IS. I am in awe of your wonderful journal cover. My fav part is the twine and chain on front and how the twine goes all the way to the back at the same place - more or less. The texture is wonderful - not just the tissue but it seems there are other things hidden under there too!!! And you even made the faces... wow. The color and the shimmer and the vintage feel is just stunning. I guess you can't tell at all that I am overly impressed with your creation once again sweet gal!!

    And.... love the bicycle picture but my favorite pic is the one with the planter up high outside that window sill. Now that is just toooo sweet. I just love your town. j.

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  21. I have a weakness for journals, always have done, even as a child. This is seriously gorgeous with that lovely texture and the colours are so rich.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  22. Wow! This really is special! Such fabulous texture! Love your town photos! Chrisx

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  23. Your journal covers are amazing and full of many luscious details. Makes me want to hop up and give making one a try :) Lovely photos of warmer days ♥

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  24. Sorry for the delay- finally got my internet back. LOVE your journal. The cover is amazing. The face mold is very cool. You did a great job!

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  25. Oh Wow! Your journal is absolutely gorgeous Valerie.
    I love all the different textures and details - FANTASTIC WORK!
    And after all that you still had time to go for a walk and take lots of lovely photos :)
    Gill xx

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  26. Marvelous surfaces and texture. Wonderful journal. xox

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  27. Love your journal :) Funny I was considering making my own journal to do my own 52 week (full year) journal adventure in 2016 :) I am just in the process of mapping out the journey I shall take with art journaling and will be fully blogging about it all next year :) I am so excited and seeing your blog post has just inspired me even more to make my own journal for the adventure :) Thanks Val T x

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  28. Hi Val, sorry it's taken me so long to visit you, I'm still playing catch up after my holiday - this work thing will never catch on lol. I love your cover, especially your (real) gold leaf. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Country View Crafts, and have a fab weekend. Sue xx

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  29. Your journal is stunning andI love the added stamping on each page which make it even more individual.....Thanks for joining us at Stamps and Stencils
    Sharon xxx

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  30. Stunning textural work, Valerie - the colours and beautiful elements are so tactile and detailed - a treat for the eyes and the fingers too I should think. Absolutely wonderful! Thanks so much for playing along at Country View Challenges.
    Alison x

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  31. Absolutely Gorgeous and totally yummy textures! Love that Frantaged leaf! xo

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