Saturday, 18 December 2021

2021 Topic 15: Journaling Gratitude with HP {by Nikki Acton}

2021 Topic 15: Journaling Gratitude


Nikki has gone all 'mini' in her gratitude exploration and there are some really gorgeous tiny details in this mini book with plenty for the recipient to lift, turn and explore. We often need prompting to be thankful and this one is just the ticket! 
~ Keren

Hi everyone, it's Nikki here today from Addicted to Art, sharing my Journaling Gratitude project.

When I saw this theme I firstly thought of a journal page with lots of colour and words! But when I sat down at my desk I decided to make a mini gratitude book with pockets and space to add grateful thoughts later. I was inspired to make this style of book with all the little elements by Tracy Evans.

To start my book I created some gel prints using a selection of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics Cerulean, Pistachio and Vanilla. These became the background for all my pages.


These were very quick prints - not overthinking or seeking perfection! I grabbed a few stencils that were close by including Tracy Scott PS201 and PS234.
 

Having created by blue / green backgrounds I also took a few rough prints using some Peach/Pink tones - to add contrast elements to the pages. I used photocopy paper or book paper for these. Colours used were PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics - Orchid, Peach Nectar and Peachy Keen.
 

Each of my double pages are 14.8cm x 10.5cm (A6) making the closed book 7.4 x 10.5 (A7). I decided to have a page a day for my gratitude prompts and notes! For each page I tried to incorporate different ways of creating spaces for these.


 Monday had a reversible tag and Tuesday a little book

 

PaperArtsy Hot Picks Extra - HPXT08 is a great journalling stamp set, I used this for my days or the week. I added embellishments and background stamping using Gwen Lafleur Stamp Set17 (EGL17)
 

Each double page followed a similar process - adding some background stamping and my embellishments using the pink toned prints or white card.


The tickets on Gwen Lafleur Set 21 (EGL21) come in lots of sizes - you can see how I have layered some here.

 
And when you are working with Hot Picks stamps - there is none better than HP1506 - with the gorgeous butterflies - always a favourite!
 


For Friday and the weekend I tore a little frame out of some of the painted book page as a backdrop for another butterfly and little note book.


Some of the tickets on EGL17 are great for cutting out little strips of numbers for embellishments.
 
 
The circles and also the letters making up the word 'Gratitude' on the book cover are from another Gwen Lafleur Set - EGL16.
 
 


To finish by book I added front and back covers and adhered some fibres to the spine and to secure the book shut. These books are small and easy to make - just glue the back of each double page to next one. 

Happy Christmas to you all! 

Nikki x

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3 comments:

Words and Pictures said...

Great colour combination (with hopes that spring will return one day!!)... and I love how the butterflies flutter from position to position as you turn the pages!
Alison x

Etsuko said...

Absolutely stunning book Nikki!! It's a really fun project, full of lovely ideas and details in the small book. love it!! xx

SewPaperPaint said...

What an uplifting color palette you've chosen Nikki and the collage work is dreamy, a perfect little book for this topic and I loved seeing your gel prints transformed into the pages and bits & bobs. xx, Autumn