Hello everyone
Ann here with you today and I'll be sharing a few different ways that I like to express gratitude.
Autumn is in full swing where I live, and I am always so inspired by the beautiful colors this season brings. Pairing these colors with the gorgeous leaves from PaperArtsy France Papillon Stamp Set 029 (FP029) was perfection. I achieved my color by using PaperArtsy Infusions Dye Stains in Slime (CS13), Lemoncello (CS04), Just Walnut (CS25), and Terracotta (CS21). Then I used the Stamp Set 028 (FP028) to add sentiments to my pieces.
Every autumn, the beauty of nature that surrounds me instils a sense of gratitude for how fortunate I am to be alive and surrounded by those who love and support me. These feelings usually result in me setting aside time to make a few "expressions of gratitude" cards to send out.
While I was creating my cards, I thought it would be wonderful to also create a journal where I could take a moment each day to reflect on something I am grateful for. I will be sharing the process for creating this Daily Gratitude Journal as well.
To create a blend of gorgeous fall colors, I spritz a piece of PaperArtsy Smoothy (SCA4) with water and sprinkle Infusions onto the page randomly, letting the different dye colors spread into each other.
If there are areas that are too bold, add more water, and conversely, in the areas that need more color you can sprinkle more of the infusions. You can also use a brush to move the color.
Once the papers are dry you get a glimpse of the beautiful, bold colors.
This beautiful Infusions dyed paper was the perfect background for an overall patterned paper. Using embossing ink, I stamped the various leaf designs from PaperArtsy France Papillon Stamp Set 029 (FP029) and sprinkled with fine detail gold embossing powder then heat set.
I also wanted a patterned paper where the leaf designs themselves were colorful. Using the various leaf designs and Distress Inks by Ranger, I inked up each stamp with multiple colors then stamped onto paper. I love how the same random stamping with different mediums can create totally different looks!
I cut up one of the sheets of embossed leaves into individual pieces.
With all the different pieces ready to assemble my cards, it's time to make the pages for my gratitude journal. I begin by stamping the branch design along the edge of piece of drawing paper. The paper is long enough to fold and only as tall as the stamp design. I use a stamping platform to ensure the correct placement, since there will be 30 pages in my journal.
Each edge is cut to mimic the outside edge of the design and then the pages are stacked together.
The journal uses an Australian reverse piano hinge binding. It sounds intimidating but is not difficult, and it does not require any stitching. The best part is that it allows pages to be removed and replaced easily. My binding is essentially a strip of PaperArtsy Crunchy waxed paper (WXPA5) accordion folded.
Each of the folded pages has a slit in the fold that the accordion slips into, then a strip of paper secures the page into place. There are many tutorials online for specific directions on how to create this binding.
My pages were folded to allow the branch design to extend beyond the front flap. I cut the book covers to those same dimensions (shorter front cover and shaped edge for the back cover) and then covered them with pieces of the Infusions dyed paper. Using PaperArtsy France Papillon Stamp Set 028 (FP028) I stamped and embossed the words "daily gratitude" onto the front cover. I also added a couple individual leaves.
The inside cover papers are old French papers with the leaves stamped on top of the original script in archival ink.
I stamped the first journal page with the title "daily gratitude journal".
I created three "thankful cards" to send out as well as a daily gratitude journal.
I love the way each of the three cards is unique yet shares similar elements.
I am looking forward to using this gratitude journal each day in November.
Lifting the cover to reveal the beautiful inside.
Coloring the branches and adding touches of gold.
Multi-colored inking of the various leaf stamps.
The contrast between the gold and the rich background color.
Any day a good day to express gratitude, I hope to make even more of an effort to acknowledge this gratitude and I think the daily gratitude journal will be a wonderful start! I hope that I have inspired you to create something.
Thanks for stopping by, Ann xx
No comments:
Post a Comment