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.