Thursday 2 October 2014

Journal cover {with JoFY Stamps and Stencils by Helen Lindfield}

Hello, Helen here, and I’m thrilled to have been asked by Darcy to create something for the PaperArtsy blog tonight. I’ve been using rubber stamps for over 20 years and right now I have an extensive collection of PaperArtsy products which I use all the time. You can see what I get up to on my blog – my style has changed considerably since then from cardmaking, to all kinds of mixed media projects which are my current favourite.

For the challenge, I opted to decorate the journal cover I’ve been using for Darcy’s monthly journal challenge that we’ve enjoyed during the year, and I have used stamps from both of Jo Firth-Young’s new Paperartsy stamp plates 25 and 26 and decorated it with some Prima trinkets and mechanicals My journal is the square 7x7 (approximately) hardcover but there are loads to choose from in the shop


I started by sanding the cover lightly and painting with a couple of coats of PaperArtsy Fresco Paint in Chalk. I stencilled flowers from Jo Firth-Young’s stencil plate PS009 using Fresco Paint Dusty Teal, from Jo’s first Limited Edition set (oops, this has now run out, but there are lots more delicious shades to choose from- you could use the new Turquoise(Limited Edition 2), mixed with Beach Hut or South Pacific). Luckily Chalk is still available in Jo’s new paint set. Once the Dusty Teal was dry, I stamped the flower from JOFY25 in black archival ink over the stencilled flowers.

JOFY25 

On tissue paper, I stamped the large flower from JOFY26 twice, and masked and stamped a third time (for the back cover) and just twice for the front cover. I painted the flowers with a mixture of Amethyst and Dolly Mix (from the same sold out Limited Edition set) for the back cover and Amethyst with a tiny amount of Chalk for the front cover, I wanted these to be slightly bolder. Using matte medium I glued these to the covers. For the spine I used the tall spiky flower and coloured it with Limelight/Guacamole and Dolly Mix/Chalk for the flowers.

JOFY26

For the decoration on the front cover I used some of the lacy flower trims to sit behind my Mechanicals and Trinkets. I painted the Mechanicals and Trinkets first with Chalk Fresco (using cut and dry foam) and then mixed a spray of Dusty Teal and water, and spritzed. I sanded them a little, then brushed them with Treasure Gold in White Fire and Aquamarine, polishing them with a cloth to buff them up. I also used two paper Prima flowers. I found some coloured brads in my stash that nearly matched exactly, and added Treasure Gold to them too.


I assembled the painted trinkets on the page, playing with the layout before I glued everything down with a heavy structure gel, and matte medium, to be sure they’d stay put!



I can’t quite decide which is my favourite part of this project, but I am really pleased with how the trinkets have come out. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have used a different green for the leaves of the flower on the spine of the journal, so they matched better with the rest of it, but we learn as we go!

Thanks to Darcy and all at Paperartsy for asking me to take part.
Helen. 

A huge thanks to Helen from PaperArtsy. What a wonderful way to decorate your journal, it will look such a treasure in the bookcase. Well done on using up your precious Limited Edition paints, it is perfect that you used them on a special project that you get to keep.Your trinkets tie in so well and frame the stamping beautifully. 

We would love you to join in with our monthly challenge. If you are inspired by any of this month's guests who have blogged between Oct 1st 2014 and Oct 31st 2014 then join in and link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. You need to add your link by 19:00 (London time) Oct 31st 2014.

27 comments:

Hazel Agnew said...

Helen I love it. Especially the little flower down the spine. Very appropriate designing a journal cover as you have really got into Journalling. It's fabulous and your spot as GD is well deserved! Xx

Gabrielle said...

Oh my! Am absolutely chuffed to see your beautiful project on the blog tonight! It is sensational and utterly inspiring and you are both those things too! Congrats Helen x

Deborah Wainwright said...

Wow Helen the cover looks amazing you clever thing. I love what you have done with the stamps. A truely fantastic creation well done xxx

Lin said...

oh you sneaky mare lol!!! love it Helen!! the colours are gorgeous and like hazel I love the little flower down the spine..nice touch xx

Lin said...

oh you sneaky mare lol!!! love it Helen!! the colours are gorgeous and like hazel I love the little flower down the spine..nice touch xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

Ooh what a lovely surprise to see you here, Helen. This project is absolutely perfect in every detail, the stencilling and stamping are beautiful, I love the choice of colours and embellishments and I love how you have shaded the flowers. Striking and original.

Lucy x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Helen! This is fabulous! I love the way you have made a frame with those flowers and the colouring of the large flower is amazing! Great additions to the front with your trinkets! Chrisx

sam21ski said...

Oh wow Helen looks absolutely stunning, loving your colour choices, they work perfectly - and yeah you are sneaky, you kept that one very quiet indeed xxx

Helen said...

Thanks everyone - blushing here! It was so hard to keep quiet.

Craftyfield said...

It's lovely and fresh and the metal embellishments have had a wonderful treatment. The green on the spine offers a contrast I think that works. Well done!

craftytrog said...

This looks amazing Helen! I love those painted trinkets! Congratulations! xxx

Art By Wanda said...

Beautiful covers, Helen!!!! And Congratulations!!!!

PaperArtsy said...

Blimey I thought I nearly blew your cover at Ally Pally -close shave!! Looks wonderful Helen. Thanks for being a blog contributor. Fabulous!

jojo79 said...

Love it Helen, love the flowers down the spine.

Claire said...

Lovely project Helen! Love the colours you've chosen and the embellies are stunning! Claire xx

Miriam said...

Simply fabulous Helen..... gorgeous project!!

craftimamma said...

Whoohoo Helen, as usual I am late getting online and first port of call is nearly always the PaperArtsy Blog. What a fab surprise to see your gorgeous journal cover featured tonight! It's wonderful and I love the flowers both stencilled and stamped........need those new JoFY stamps so much. The painted trinkets did turn out beautifully with the pretty lace behind. Totally wonderful project altogether.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Unknown said...

U kept this quiet H! Fab project hunni, love it! XxX

finnella03 said...

Very nice. Well done you!

Etsuko said...

Oh! This is a absolutely beautiful! Gorgeous painting and colours. Congratulations xx

massofhair said...

Huge congrats on a beautiful priject Helen! :-) xxx

Julie Lee said...

Wow! This is fabulous Helen. I'm sorry I only just got online; but what a lovely surprise to see you here! this cover is gorgeous! I love how you used the embellishments and those flowers, especially the touch of having that one on the spine, are spectacular. Julie An xxx

Kirsten said...

Helen!!! How wonderful to see your project on the PA blog!! Your journal cover is gorgeous.

Words and Pictures said...

That's so lovely, Helen - the colours are perfect, and especially the layers on the metal embellishments - gorgeous! What a beautiful journal you created!
Alison xx

Keren Baker said...

This is so beautiful- love how you altered the trinkets!

Unknown said...

This is stunning Helen, and love all the metal embellishments xx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow truly gorgeous stunning journal covers, the flower on the spine is such a beautiful touch to the finished covers. Happy Creating ☺ Kezzy xxx