Flip journal tutorial and Going to Mexico and Europe for a year!

The big news , we are retiring and going to Mexico ( for 2 months ) to plan the year vagabonding trip to Europe for a year.  Why just retire?  We are taking a senior gap year.  The year of exploration between working and retirement! We are traveling with only one bag each and a backpack so only minimal art supplies and my art journal.   So my posts here will be more about photography and whatever art presents itself as we travel.  Oh my I am soooo excited.

So here is my last project before starting to pack ( will miss my studio ).  This is a flip up journal with tags.  I saw one somewhere and I thought it would be a good last project. It turned out to be pretty easy to do and I think it looks good.  I cut out the cover and tag pages from heavy card stock and then made plain card stock pages and Graphic 45 paper pages. The cover is made from Spellbinders die cuts and they are painted with metallic paints.  There are lots of pockets and tags made from scrap papers.  The book rings open to rearrange or add pages to the journal.  And I hung a black key on the cover with Swarvorki crystals ( they are my signature item that I use on all of my art work).  Enjoy!  Oh If you want to follow along on our adventures and how we are doing it ; my blog is seniorgapyear.wordpress.com ( follow) because there will only be posts occasionally before Europe and that is in April.

A #portfolio / journal using #Tim Holtz collection folio as a template

I purchased a #Tim Holtz collection portfolio the other day at Joanne’s.  I thought what can you do with this?  Well quite a lot.  I used it as a template and recycled some pressed board I had at home and made this #steam punk portfolio and journal with lots of my  distress inks and paint supplies.  I think this is a wonderful format that can be made to hold a single event ( a special trip) or season   ( Fall ) in an innovative format.

I added two sets of layered pages ( one on each side) to hold photos or journal insights.  The entire portfolio can be closed with the two velco holders and can expand to fit whatever you want to put inside it.

This item is available in my etsy shop; https://www.etsy.com/listing/217127644/handmade-book-portfolio-vintage?ref=shop_home_active_3

completely handmade journal with tags using Graphic 45 paper An eerie Tale

I have been working on making a journal completely handmade using recycled pressed paper that I have in my scrap basket.  So here it is ;  Enchanted Fantasy.  I used Graphic 45 paper ( I love , love their designs)  An eerie Tale to make the pages, cover the cardboard and make the pockets and tags.  I used book rings that open to be able to add pages or to move pages around at will.  Brown yarn to make the ties and the decoration on the sides.  I am quite happy with this journal and it only took 3 evenings to make.  Here are the photos;