Saturday 18 April 2015

Simplicity

Hello all, welcome and thanks so much for dropping by here today. The other day I was lucky enough to find an amazing leather hand bound journal for a really reasonable price, and even though I really have no need for a new journal, I could not resist it....
It's quite small (about 4 3/4 by 5 3/4), and really fat. The pages are made from what looks like a kind of thick mulberry paper with some lovely textures to it, so I thought it would be perfect to do some simple journal pages without any fat embellishments or anything, and as it's not too big, individual pages should not take too long.
So here are just a few pages of what I am going to call, my simplicity journal.....
I gave the pages a quick wash of gesso, slapped on some paints, did some background stamping and then stamped various focal stamps  mostlyfrom  Tim Holtz  straight onto the page or on a separate bit of card first..
For this one I stamped the Butterfly from the Perspectives set straight onto the page. Then I stamped it again, inking up the stamp this time with a few different colours of Faber Castel Big Brush pens and stamped it on smooth card and then immediately clear embossed it. I cut it out, covered it with Ranger Glue and Seal and when that had dried coloured it further with the Big Brush pens. The Glue and Seal makes it possible to blend the pens with your fingers and when it has dried it is totally permanent.
The sentiment is from the Tim Holtz Small Talk collection stickers.
So many wise words in there. I think all the pages in this journal will have quotes to go with them.
A few splatters with watered down gesso finished this page and there you have it, - quick and simple, that's journaling how I like it best......

Here are the next two pages:
More Butterfly imagery, background done in a similar way, paints, background stamping (Indigo Blue and Prima) The butterfly was cut and embossed with the Tim Holtz Butterfly Duo die and embossing folder and coloured with Decoart Media paints. The text was stamped with the Ken Oliver letter stamps.

I also added some Crackle Glaze (Decoart), hard to see on the photo. This is actually a little page I inserted into the journal, below you can see the other side:
The pears are a Stampendous stamp and the little envelope and journaling tags were made using some Prima Cartographer papers.

Well, that's it for today...Thanks so much for your visit today like always, very much appreciated whether you leave a comment or not.
Look after yourselves and stay creative!!

40 comments:

Regina said...

Beautiful leather bound book and indeed a wonderful find. I LOVE the pages so far....thank you for sharing with us.

Hugs,
Regi

Carolyn said...

A great find and terrific pages already finished. WOW! I enjoy viewing your blog. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Kathy Bradley said...

What a beautiful leather journal - it really is stunning. Your pages are, as always, lovely!! Thanks for sharing your lovely find!

Rita said...

What a special find Astrid. You have certainly turned it into your own already. Stunning pages. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

Deborah Wainwright said...

What an amazing find Astrid, its beautiful. I love the way you have decorated the pages. I love butterflies and you have created some beauties here. Xx

brenda said...

Had to pop over and take a look at this beautiful work Astrid, fingers crossed I am getting back into the swing of things and soon get caught up on my blogging and everything else come to that.

Hope you have a good weekend.

B x

Valerie-Jael said...

What a fabulous journal, and the first pages you have made are great. Have fun with it! Valerie

Dagmar said...

Was für ein traumhaftes Buch - genau der richtige Rahmen für deine fantastischen Journalseiten!!! Ich wünsche dur ein schönes Wochenende. Liebe Grüße, Dagmar

chrissie said...

What an amazing find Astrid and the pages you have done already look stunning.

Have a nice weekend

Love Chrissie xx

Nikki Acton said...

What a great little book, I can see why you could not resist. Beautiful,pages Astrid. Have a lovely weekend. Nikki xx

Redanne said...

I just love the way you say you 'slapped on some paints' - if I could slap paints as beautifully as this I would never use anything else but paints!! The book itself is beautiful (and such a great find) and you have made it even more beautiful with your wonderful pages - the butterflies are absolutely gorgeous. Hugs, Anne xx

Annie said...

What a beautiful find Astrid and your pages are just gorgeous. Wonderful colours and inspiring words. Love it!!

Have a lovely weekend
Annie x

Jac said...

what a fantastic work of art, love the butterfly x

froebelsternchen said...

Such a beautiful Journal and your first pages are just BEAUTIFUL... love them!
Have a happy weekend dear Astrid!
♥♥♥
Susi

Meggymay said...

Looks like you are having fun with your new journal, these pages are all gorgeous.
Yvonne xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Wow,simply wow Astrid! What a beautiful find but what it now contains is even more beautiful....love it ;)
Big hugs
Donna xxx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What a great cover!! Of course you had to buy it Astrid :-)
The first pages that yo've made already look amazing!
Have a nice weekend, Alie :-)

Pamellia said...

Oh my, what a great score with that one Astrid! No way I could have left without buying that either! Love the pages you have done so far. Beautiful butterflies and I am loving that pears stamp! Can't wait to see more pages as you make them. happy weekend, hugs :)

Patty O'Malley said...

This is fantastic, Astrid! I've seen these smaller journals and never thought they could be used for this. Thanks so much for the idea. Great things come in small packages!

S@ndy Diller said...

I completely understand why you couldn't resist this journal, it is lovely but your pages are even better. Beautiful entries!

Dorthe said...

Dear Astrid, you may call the process simple, but to me it is such beautiful pages you created, and with a lot going on for them to appear, as they do. LOVE your butterflies on their "quiet" backgrounds, and with the qoutes !! The leather bound journal, so wonderful outside, will be filled with even more beauty ,inside !
Hugs and Astrid thank`s for your kind wishes !
Dorthe.xo

rachel said...

Hello Astrid - wow - I think this journal was a real find - and what you have already done inside is just stunning - beautiful work xx

experiments in paper said...

Fabulous pages, Astrid!! Your technique for coloring the butterfly yields such depth and rich colors - just incredible. Brilliant use of your inspirational journal (which itself is gorgeous as well).....WOW! xxx Lynn

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Astrid, just love these little leather bound journals. The pages you've done so far are brilliant, wondering if you might colour the leather on the front....
Happy crafting, Angela x

Deb said...

What a find Astrid, that journal is just beautiful! And the pages you are creating within it are equally beautiful, what a work of art and heart it will be when you are done.

Julia Aston said...

Love your sweet leather journal Astrid - Your pages are wonderful as well - I haven't journaled much often being intimidated by the large size - you've inspired me to start small!

massofhair said...

I have a small fat leather bound journal that I have had for years and simply cannot bear to use, the cover is plain, the inner leaves as you describe, it was a present from a departed Friend. You have made me realise that I should use it not let it languish, he would have wanted me to use it, he was a wonderful Artist and used to encourage me to draw...

Stunning pages already and such a gorgeous color palette Astrid, thank you for even more inspiration.

:-) xxx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great project dear Astrid, I love your journal , I love the outside and the inside you are so talented!! and I adore your Art, once again tank you for your beautiful ATC's I will treasure them!!! Have a nice crafting time!!

Greetings
Maria
Maria

Anneke said...

The inside, your beautiful work fits so well with
the cover. Wonder what will come next.
this book is really your styl so I can imagination that you had to buy.
Thanks for showing it's beautiful Anneke

Rupa Swaminathan said...

What work of art, Astrid. Your works inside is just as beautiful as the journal from outside! Full justice to the buy. Very inspiring. Thank you and hugs.

Ros Crawford said...

Beautiful pages that look so very intricate ... They look perfect in that wonderful find ... Have a great day!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow!! What an absolutely wonderful find Astrid!! This little journal is going to be so precious when completed and you have made an awesome start on it!! Fabulous colours, textures and images and so much detail on each page. Absolutely delightful!! xx

Jackie PN said...

Simply said- Gorgeous! xo

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh My! A wonderful find - and a fabulous start you have made! Looking forward to seeing more! Chrisx

Unknown said...

Big fan of this one. LOVE IT!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOL...there is nothing simple about these pages at all! They are full of complex texture...just gorgeous! Glad you bought the journal!

Words and Pictures said...

I can see why you couldn't resist that amazing leather binding - and your "simple" pages (yeah, right!) are so beautiful. I adore that first butterfly against the zingy green background.
Alison xx

Betsy Skagen said...

This is so beautiful

Betsy Skagen said...

This is so beautiful

Jenny Marples said...

LOVE that bound leather cover and it's a great idea to keep the pages inside simple, well, not that simple but limited in focal points to admire the beauty of each element more clearly. Inspiring! Jenny x

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