Mini Scrapbooking/Journaling {with JOFY stamps by Jo Firth-Young}

Hi everyone, Jo here.  For my blog post this month I'm embracing 'less is more' and by this I mean the SIZE of the project.  I really enjoy creating small projects - so working in this 4" x 6" journal is ideal for me... and there a few new stamps at work here too...something to look forward to....

What I really like about creating pages like this is that I can use the phrases and the alphabet from my recent stamps sets to create the titles - and giving them a slightly different use.

This page is created (as are all the projects) using a pocket scrapbooking card, matted and layered with washi tape, stickers and an 'instant/polaroid' photo.

I like to use parts of an image - such as 'love' used on the page above... its part of a phrase but I wanted to show you that its not always necessary to use the whole phrase - select and use the pieces that are suitable/applicable.

I stamped the phrase in black Archival ink and painted with Snowflake Fresco Finish, happy that the versatile Frescos dry on the 'plastic' of the washi tape.

The dainty flower stem that I stamped and coloured with Fibralo pens is fast becoming a favourite image of mine, as are the Fibralo pens!

On this second page I started with another Project Life panel and a piece of book text stamped (in Archival ink) with another new flower image of mine from JOFY25 (coming soon).

I coloured the image with coloured pencils, but later on in the process decided I didn't like it and painted it instead with Fresco Finish - altering elements is all part of the process of building a project isn't it.

I stamped a flower quote from a Lin Brown Eclectica plate (ELB05), and a few lines of stitches -another new stamp - one that I hope you'll find really useful.

I painted a small panel of Vanilla paint (a nod to my goal 'embracing' yellow) in preparation of writing on the page, and stamped 'happy' underneath - yes another new stamp!!

I used a pigment pen to write some words to link the flower theme together and incorporate the word 'happy' - on the stamp plate it is actually designed to be a sentiment to be used in conjunction with a couple of other words - but again I want to show it being used in an alternative way.

To finish the page I added a few embellishments - its not finished until there's a button!

I have bought packs of 'pocket scrapbooking' style cards (love these small elements that can be used singly or assembled into something bigger, more complex) but there are always a few that might not be quite my style or I can't see how I might use them - so instead of throwing them away I alter them - and here are a couple of quick and easy ways to do this... and again it's another simple way of using the stamps for other uses...

I chose 3 cards that didn't really appeal to me and gave them a simple 'JOFY' makeover:

The word on this first card (original on right) wasn't one that I would really use so I blocked it out with a strip of washi tape, and a panel of stamped scallop edging (probably my top 'go to' stamp!) from JOFY13

On this next card (original on right) I wasn't keen on the image and so I stamped the flower stem onto a die cut 'label', stuck it down and added detail with a white gel pen.  By changing the orientation of the card has also changed how it looks.

On those two cards I retained the original amount of open space so that they could still be used as journaling spaces but on the final card I created a background panel - I stenciled onto the card with fresco finish through Lin Brown's PS001

The card is a mustardy-tan pattern - not my usual colour palette - so I stenciled the circles in Snowflake:

.. drew around each one in black fine liner pen to add detail:

... painted them in shades of Slate - one of my new Limited Edition paints - I LOVE this colour - really good alternative to black - it seems to go with everything! ..again another coming very soon product!

 ... and the final step was to stamp detail into the largest circles..

You can see what I did with this panel over on my blog tomorrow.

I hope you enjoyed my 'less is more' projects, I hope it inspires you to make something small or to give your 'unsuitable' items a bit of a make-over.

Thanks Jo, I love this mini scrapping malarkey aka project life! The colours you use always look great, and how cool that your stamps adapt so well to this style too!

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE you will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by17:00 (London time) Sunday 24th Aug2014