My own Fauxdori - a new obsession

I have a new obsession. Planners. Recently I bought an Erin Condren planner to help me with my business and myriad of appointments. I love it. It's pretty, but I find it too big to carry with me every day. 

Then I saw a friend of mine post her fauxdori on Facebook and I had to know what it was. What followed was a plethora of Google searches on Midori Traveller's Notebooks, and their DIY versions, along with insert. I found that I could have a planner, a journal, a sketchbook and more all in one lovely purse-sized notebook.

So I did some research on YouTube and other areas, and found Ray Blake, and decided to use his method for making a cover. Instead of leather, I decided to go with some denim that I glued to scrapbook paper for reinforcing. I sprayed it with sprays and painted some feathers through stencils too. I used several  different embellishments that I had laying around, namely Tim Holtz charms, clips and chain, some washi tape, a Simple Stories Snap Album insert, some metallic elastic, and journal cards.

I made my own inserts for my bullet journal using Ray Blake's inserts that he has generously put on his blog for download, and went to town making my own fauxdori.

I made a pen loop from duct tape and a brad, and it holds my pen quite nicely.

I love how thick and juicy it is without being cumbersome. And the discovery of a bullet journal works for me! So easy to keep notes, lists, and a brain dump all in one spot.

Hope you like the project and I've listed links below to the places where I found my inspiration and downloads.

Inserts:
Ray's insert downloads
Plastic pocket inserts

Cover:
Ray Blake's DIY notebook cover which inspired my cover

Other great resources for your own notebook on YouTube:
Rhomany's Rhealm
Jennifer Harvey

Quick peek inside my altered book!

I absolutely loved getting into the textures and sprays today. I hope you enjoy!

Back in my journal

I had so much fun today getting back into my art journal. I used my altered book that I've been using for a couple years now and just sat down to play. There are so many layers in this spread that I really don't know how to explain where the pages begin and end. But there are a few gems that are tucked into the pages, like the seed beads that I adhered, and the music paper, as well as yummy texture paste.

It felt really good to sit down and play with my Lindy's sprays and stencils, along with my stamps and texture pastes. I had almost forgotten how much fun it could be. You'll be seeing more of my art journal pages in the future for sure.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Get the mojo back with a quick project!

Had those days when you feel like you've lost your creative mojo? Boy have I! Here's a little project I did, just to get me going again. Have you ever considered doing something as simple as altering a notebook? This notebook was created for a swap I recently took part in.

A simple notebook altered with scrapbook paper and
clusters of elements 

closeup of the top cluster. I adore the little butterflies!

Detail of the bottom cluster

I primarily used the Plumeria line for this altered project. It is part of the July kit and add-on from Scrap'n with Flair. You may still be able to get one if they have a couple in stock. And of course I had to use a lot of Prima flowers. Love them!

So when your mojo has run away, bring it back running with a quick altered notebook project.

Don't hide in the shadows... an art journal page

Today I thought I'd show you an art journal page I did using some of the papers found in the June kit I received from Scrap'n with Flair, available here.

This art journal page was created using old book paper pasted into a hardcover book that I repurposed as an art journal. I put a layer of acrylic paint on, and some texture paste. Then I layered on some of the paper I had from the beautiful FabScraps kit. Then I stamped a chevron stamp over some areas, and onto the Prima flowers I had, and layered on some more paper, cardboard, inked up canvas and tags. I finished it up with some dew drops, scribbles and splashes of black ink.

Here's a close up of each of the page's clusters:

You can see some of the beautiful FabScrap papers here that add a vintage look to the page.

I distressed the journal spot, and added some of the beautiful crocheted lace that comes with the kit. Notice the beautiful damask paper at the bottom too.

I just love how these papers have their own distressed texture to them.

Make sure that you pick up the June FabScraps kit before they are sold out. They come with beautiful embellishments, like antique brass butterflies, flat back pearls and gems, lace and bling ribbon, and tons of gorgeous papers that have their own distressed, shabby texture to them. The kit is an a fabulous deal, so don't miss out.

It's time to get journaling about my health

I'm excited to show you my latest art journal work. Well actually, it's not so much a page as it is the journal itself. I've been meaning to alter a composition notebook that I got at the dollar store for a while now. I didn't know what I wanted to journal in it, but I wanted to make it pretty. Then Samie Kira Harding gave me something to journal. 

She's offering a mini-course called Art Journal Diary, and I'm really excited about it. For a while now, I've been trying to figure out how to journal my food, sleep, pain, and daily activities in one journal. It's become very important to me to track these things, to get a better handle on my fibromyalgia. Her course is all about how to journal your health, or daily activities. So far I love it. It comes with a PDF with examples of simple journal pages, tags, etc that you can use. So I decided that it was time to get to that composition notebook and get started on my art journal diary.

Additionally, Paula Phillips has started a Facebook group about arting your weight loss, so I figured that this would go hand in hand.

I used the Prima Song Bird collection, which was a Scrap'n with Flair kit, and it is so gorgeous and easy to work with! Of course it's hard to go wrong with Prima. So I covered the front and back covers with a pretty page, that already had some text on washi tape in the corner. I covered the seam with washi tape that I got at Desserres. Then I went for my stamps. I used the stamps that are part of the collection, and a Tim Holtz text stamp that I thought was appropriate. It says "Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Altered composition notebook

That's what I want to do, live in the moment, to handle my stress better, and also enjoy the days when I am feeling good.

Cluster closeup

I used some of the chipboard pieces - this one says "Be free", and I clustered some Prima flowers around it, with a swallow charm, and some bling - also from Prima.

Corner flowers - don't you love Prima's flowers?

I clustered some more flowers in the upper corner to balance the page. I thought it was kind of cool how the peach leaves look like they belong to the flowers.

Long-suffering - this is what this journal is about

And then down in the corner, I placed another chipboard piece - this time a bird with the word "long-suffering" on it - and some flowers, with a bit of bling as well.

I love how it came together, and I'm really looking forward to working in it now. Since this notebook is going to be used almost like a Smash Book, I'm not too worried about smashing the flowers or anything, because most of my journaling will be put onto tags, journal spots, photos, etc. and then pasted into the book afterwards. I want it to be a real diary, and with it being a pretty one, it will be a pleasure to pick up every night before heading to bed.

I hope you get a chance to take Samie's course and try altering a book or composition notebook so that you get excited about journaling your day. Link me up to your altered book so that I can admire your work. And have a great weekend!

Lazy Saturdays are wonderful

I adore lazy Saturdays where I can sleep in, or go back to bed, then get up, have some coffee and go to the art room to work in my altered book. It's so relaxing and that's totally what I need right now. A friend asked what the purpose of an art journal is. For me, it's a way for me to work with my hands creatively, try new techniques and put things together, and rid myself of stresses, focusing on positive ideas and mantras.

Here's my latest spread that I did today. I used several layers of gesso, spray inks through stencils, texture paste, scrapbooking papers, found papers, lace, washi tape, inked up canvas bits, stamps, metal embellishments, flowers, and the list could go on. I think you are getting the idea. I like my layers.

The full spread, using inks, stencils, texture paste, found papers and much more.

The left side of the spread

The right side of the spread

You can see them closer up by clicking them and going to Flickr. I would love your feedback, so please leave me comments here or at Flickr. Have an amazing weekend!

Fresh Eyes

Spring is finally around the corner (again) and I have felt the need to move to a fresh springlike palette of colours lately. Along with with bring fresh colours, I'm hoping comes a matching attitude. Hence the journaling on the page.

This spread is in my altered book, which I haven't used in a while. I started with collaging vintage and worn papers onto the pages. Next I put gesso on the page, followed by some paint that was spread with a brayer. I dropped some watercolour down on the pages and let them drip. After that I put down some modelling paste in area and glued down some tissue paper. Next came lace, papers, flowers, inky canvas and ribbon.

I really enjoyed the process, although I had no idea where the spread was going to go... I just followed the muse, and this is what she had to say.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Morning's play time

A couple of pages from my altered book. I really enjoy play time in the morning.

Enjoy your weekend!