DIY Accordion Journal

Hello.

Once again adding to my creative journal collection :) Well what can I say? I'm heading to New York this weekend for a company retreat and I direct art shows for a living...being creative will be a given.

And I would like to journal about my first experience to the big apple ;) I decided on a smaller sized, accordion journal for easy traveling. This was a good one because I was able to use paper I already had on hand.

Up-cycled, recycled and cute as a button. Let's get started!

Here is what you'll need for your journal:

a scrap piece of poster board

2 sheets of card stock printer paper

ruler

scissors

glue stick

pencil (not pictured)

paper cutter or utility knife

Let's talk paper for a sec. You could really use any paper or regular copy/printer paper. However, I wanted thick white paper that will hold up to paint.

This is the brand I used - available on Amazon.com here.

First I've taken my scrap piece of black poster board (about 7.5 inches long) and marked the center point length ways. *Honestly, I think this was a piece of backer board from a frame I bought* I never throw papers away!

You'll then mark 1/8 inch on either side of the center mark. This will be the spine of our journal.

Then, using the straight edge of the ruler, bend/fold over each side to create the spine.

Then bend and fold the opposite side.

Now you have a spine ;)

If your edges don't line up like here, just trim the access off with scissors.

Now you're ready to make the inside accordion of your creative journal. Taking a piece of the card stock, eyeball about 1/8 inch from the edges of the cover.

Once measured, mark with a pencil and cut the card stock length ways at your measurement.

Then cut the second sheet of card stock likewise.

Then using the ruler, bend a small 1/4 inch section on the ends of both card stock pieces.

Then, using the glue stick, apply glue liberally and sandwich both "grooves together" making a "V" shape with the card stock.

Set aside to dry for a few minutes ;)

Once dry, you can use this "mid-point V" to gauge your accordion folds. Just a simple "over/under"fold.

Then, using the glue stick, glue the left end piece to the back of the book cover.

Then allow to dry.

I then took another scrap piece of paper and glued it to the inside of the front cover, but that's optional.

Lastly, I had a sweet little watercolor doodle that I've been hanging onto and thought it would make a pretty front cover :)

I added a fun striped binder clip and all done! Ready for a New York adventure!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Ginger

I will be linking up to these awesome parties!

DIY Cat Cave

Hello.

I think I've mentioned before that I tend to spoil my cats :) I'm always thinking of new toys for them and giving the occasional canned food as a treat.

Here's Oliver looking all majestic in the studio ;)

Today I got a package from Amazon and it came in a pretty big box. And I'm thinking.... what can I do with that? Bingo. Cat cave!

Here's what you need:

Big cardboard box

contact paper

clear packing tape

utility knife

scissors

white craft paint 

paint brush

white cotton rope ( I had some left over from this project)

marker

glue gun

left over carpet piece (I had a piece left over from my cat tree)

Let's get started!

First, draw an arch to cut that will be the opening.

Once cut, tape the box closed with clear packing tape.

Reinforce the other side with tape.

Watch your cat climb in your project LOL!

Cut some contact paper to size and attached to the sides of the box. Cut the corners at 45 degree angles and fold in.

Note: I reinforced the edges of the contact paper with clear packing tape to make sure they wouldn't come up.

Once all the sides except for the opening are covered, grab your paint and brush and add a first coat.

Let dry.

Then add second coat and let dry.

Once dry, plug in the glue gun and hot glue the carpet piece to the top of the cat cave.

Lastly, hot glue some cotton rope around the opening.

Then add a little catnip as well as an old towel and watch the kitties explore!

I think they like it :)

Enjoy!

xoxo

Ginger

I will be linking up to these awesome parties!

Art Journaling from a Thrifted Book

Hello.

So I came across a lovely online art journaling class that included a thrifted book! I was so intrigued!

The idea is that the book already contains text, imagery, binding and a hard cover...sounds like my kind of project for sure ;) I immediately went to my book shelve as I knew I had the perfect book to start out on my newest creative journal :)

As luck would have it, I had purchased this vintage indoor gardening book months ago. I saw it and was just drawn to it. I'm glad I didn't disregard it as a frivolous purchase :)

It has some beautiful imagery - not to mention that old book smell. It's perfect!

It had a dust jacket cover, but I decided to omit that from the journal itself and use this paper for collage purposes later on.

So now I have a beautiful hard-bound book to work with.

Next using regular craft paint, from Walmart or Michael's, I added some color to the pages of the thrifted book.

I also collaged several magazine pieces and various paper materiel onto the pages. Whatever struck my artistic fancy!

Materials used were:

magazine pictures

dust jacket material

brochures clippings

craft paint

oil pastel

markers

colored paper

I also used various items to create a painted pattern, such as bubble wrap or the eraser end of a pencil.

I also enjoyed cutting out letters from magazines to create text in a random note style.

I used several paper sources for collage material, to include:

Past plane tickets

mailers

packing materials

washi tape

I am particularly drawn to SKU numbers and bar-codes :)

So much at your finger tips! Any paper material can be recycled to create art in your art journal. I hope to see what you all journal about and create!

Enjoy.

xoxo

Ging

I will be linking to these awesome parties!