• Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: fabric floral

    July 19, 2025 - By 

    I had a little play this morning with some fabric I picked up at a church rummage sale on Thursday.

    I cut a paper scrap down to 7×10 to fit in my planner journal then tore the fabric to approximately the right size. Next I put a bit of tape runner in the center to hold the fabric in place while I stitched around to create a stable base to work.

    Teal and orange are such a wonderful color combo. The bits of teal against the warm palette were very inspiring.

    I pulled from my stash and starting the layering process.

    Adding more and more bits from my table.

    I keep this glass cookie jar on my sewing table to toss little bits of this and that in as I am crafting. This system works really well for both containment and inspiration.

    This color scheme really spoke to me. It was hard to decide when this one was done.

    The mix of fabric, lace and paper has me very pleased with the end result.

    I’d love it if you’d stop by Art Journal Journey and play along with my Botanical theme this month.

  • Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Small journal love

    March 31, 2022 - By 

    I was recently inspire to create some new journals. These are single signature journals.

    I’ve never thought to create small journals such as these but I realized that these are going to come in very handy.

    I used scraps of heavy fabric for the outside of the cover and recycled posters for the inside of the cover.

    The denim cover is from a pair of jeans that my now college-aged daughter wore as a preschooler.

    Since the embroidery was so cute on it, I saved the leg. Waste not, want not.

    I used about 15 pages of various papers for the signature.

    I wasn’t worried about them all being exactly the same size, in fact, I prefer that there is some variation.

    The rose on the left is a digital creation of mine. I had a group of mine printed at Kinkos to make sure that they would print properly if I were to sell them as digital downloads. I have not taken that step yet but maybe someday. In the meantime, I have some fun and uniquely me pages to play with.

    The right side has one of the tags I have created from the masterboards I’ve been creating with scraps. I like to stitch around them both for interest and to secure the edges.

    Here’s yet another tag slipped in a side tuck on the page. The tuck is from my stash of mini colleges. Also a scrap busting project.

    Both masterboards and mini colleges are things that I tend to do when I’m lacking that creative spark. They are quick, use lots of scraps and are great to have around for later projects.

    Here is yet another example of both being used on one page.

    Attaching an envelope to the edge of a page then folding it to the back creates a fun flip out that can hold a secret note or photo or whatever you want to tuck away for safe keeping.

    I’m really having fun with these journals. They are quick, no pressure of strict theme, multi use and just really darn cute.

     

  • Around home - Art - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: in progress edition

    April 12, 2021 - By 

    I feel like I should have a virtual loading bar on my activities. I have many things in progress and I’m excited about all of them!

    Journal progress

    I gutted a book from the 50s that I knew would never hold up to the abuse that I would put it through. I liked the orange cover and mid-century motif but it was a bit damaged on the back. I decided to cover it with some Tim Holtz tissue and go from there.

    I used some transparent pink paint over top of the tissue for a little better color once I had picked out the inner spine fabric and end pages. Pink is a favorite of mine. I’m so not a girlie girl but I do love pink.

    I stitched in my signatures….

    and now I need to take it back apart…ugh. The book no longer sits nicely. Is it fine? It would work but it would bug me every single time I used it. I should have left more space between the signatures.

    Plant babies

    My seedlings are doing quite well. I’m just about ready to transplant the tomatoes into larger pots.

    The nasturtium seeds I saved last summer are baby plants now! I started a few more plants just last week. So excited for those. I’m planning to try the leaves and flowers in salads this year. I’m also going to save some of the blossoms for tea. I have no idea if I’ll like it but I’ve heard it good.

    Maybe I’ll use these fancy little cups that I can’t seem to part with. They are so pretty.

    My radishes have  sprouted…unfortunately its been cold and there is snow in the forecast.

    They are all tucked into bed now…so punny.

    I also had to share my thrift store score. I got all of this paper for under $5. Stacks and stacks of good sized scraps and three paper pads. Crazy! I’m looking forward to making a bunch more cards.

    Fan favorite- Marvin

    This picture was just too cute not to share. He is laying on his “security bag”. It’s a reusable shopping bag that he immediately claimed. He gets upset when I move it to vacuum. So we have a bag that permanently lives on our living room floor. He’s not spoiled at all. But who could say no to that face.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?