2015 #9 A Place for Secrets and Dreams {by Lynne Moncrieff}

2015 Theme 9: Words

Hi everyone, Lynne Moncrieff (Adorn), joining you this evening with a post featuring journals I created using  ESN stamps and Fresco Acrylic Chalk Paints.

Since childhood I have had a "thing" for journals/notebooks, many I deem too beautiful to actually use so they are there merely for me to look at and to once again promise myself that I must write/sketch in them but that day never does seem to arrive!  Since I started to stamp, altering inexpensive store bought notebooks has been a favourite of mine as is making them from scratch. 

For this tutorial I created three Journals consisting of one signature stitched into each cover using the pamphlet stitch. This tutorial focuses on the process of creating the covers and not the actual binding but if the pamphlet stitch is new to you then you can easily source tutorials online.  It is possible to create such Journals without the need for specialised bookbinding tools however I would advise using a large needle for the stitching, a suitable tool for creating holes to ease with the stitching and wax cord.  

For the signatures I used quality copier paper but this could be substituted with watercolour paper, writing paper, handmade paper, etc. The finished Journals have a front cover of approx 7" x 5".

Artist canvas forms the base for the journal covers. The canvas I work with is primed but I like to add a coat of white Golden Gesso, to both sides.

Once dry, I randomly applied Grunge Paste which was followed by adhering fragments of vintage book text and Idea-ology Tissue Wrap with Golden Gel Medium (matte).

The journals at the stage after the initial preparation, before the  fun begins of playing with paint and stamps!

With the stamps laid out in front of me...

ESN04

ESN05

ESN06

ESN07

...I set about stamping a selection onto white tissue stock with Staz-on Jet Black.

The eagle eyed among you will spot that there are several which I ultimately did not make use of but this is always my way of working. I like to have a selection to hand as I tend to make decisions as I actually work.  Anyway, they can be used for another project, some other day. 

Journal No. 1

Time to get messy with paint! For Journal No. 1, working with an old credit card and artist palette knife, I applied Toad Hall, Guacamole, London Bus, Vanilla and Haystack.  

After heat setting I randomly inked up the handwritten letter stamp from ESN 05 and the calendar from ESN06 with Staz-on, stamping in a random fashion onto the cover. 

Journal No. 2. 

Blush, Prawn and Buff were applied as for Journal No.  1, with only the handwritten letter stamp this time stamped onto the cover. 

For Journal No. 3 I selected Guacamole, Sherbert, Prawn and Toad Hall. I then continued to stamp the handwritten letter and calendar onto this cover. 

Don't forget to paint the inside of all the covers.

The next stage was to adhere the stamped elements with Gel Medium to the Journal covers. During the drying process I cut copier paper in preparation for the signatures.  There are no photographs to share of this stage but you will see that what follows are photographs of a side shot of the binding and the completed journals.

For each Journal I allowed enough length in the binding cord to wrap around the journal to create a closure.

The stamp from ESN06, which reminds me of a blank page from a diary, was the perfect space for me to fill with words.

To co-ordinate with this cover I painted cream rose lace trim with Prawn and Sherbert, cutting into individual rosettes. 

I had fun creating my own sentiments for the covers.  After all, who has not written a secret within the pages of a Journal at some stage of their life!

The random patches of Grunge Paste and thick application of Frescos created a lovely textural quality on each of the covers. 

Sara Naumann's stamps are the perfect selection for such a project, with endless possibilities for creating your own phrases by mixing and matching the stamps with ease. 

The beauty of creating your own Journal is that you can create to any size, colour, theme you desire or what about creating a collection as I did?  Although it is not necessary for the Journals to be formed from artist canvas I recommend it as a fabulous substrate for all manner of projects however the Journals could as easily be made from fabric, mixed media paper, watercolour paper, etc, in fact whatever you have to hand.

Thank you for visiting this tutorial and I hope it will inspire you to create your own Journal(s). 

Lynne Moncrieff.  Adorn. 

Ohhh Lynne, these look so much fun and really easy to make. I love your colour combinations too. You are right, the texture add lots of interest, but I would also love to have a go doing this onto calico, or even some other cotton fabric that I've lost interest in, in the hope I might change it to something I would like more!! Sara's stamps work a treat, and love the fabric rose embellishments too! ~Leandra

We would love you to join in with challenge #9: Words. If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Words link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, May 24th, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.