EnVe Art = a portmanteu for Envelope Art

Hello everyone!
I ordered a lace and textile kit from Amity Bloom on Etsy, and no sooner than having opened the package and being mesmerized by her beautiful collection of laces and textiles, I started working on another EnVe Art collection.  This time instead of creating with one envelope, I made several. As Nazy says, you achieve more dimension when creating several envelopes.  And she was right! There is so much more beauty and interest when the envelopes are bunched up together.

The lacy bit, gold infinity looking trim, dark red sari silk, and vintage button were all a part of the Amity Bloom textile kits.

The gorgeous deep red and gold paper bits are from Jarf, MidievalMirage from Etsy.  Her digi kits are sophisticated, elegant and so delicious....I want all of them!

White envelopes were gathered and seeped in coffee to create an old aged charm. These envelopes are already stuff with secrets, ephemera and affirmations.  I am already working on a blue collection. I think I will more until I grow weary of them, or run out of the fabrics from the textile kits.

I used a faux gold leafing product from IndigoBlu.Com, named, Mega Flake (the one I am using is the Lancashire Rose). You apply the flakes with IndigoBlu Flitter Glu. I found that using a fine image stamp works best. I apply the glue thinly on parchment paper, then I light apply the stamp to the glue and immediately press the stamp on the paper I am using. Then you apply the gold flakes and let it sit until it is completely dry. Use a stiff brush to wipe away the excess and the image will reveal itself.
The photograph shows a nice lit image of the gold, but when the image is not near a light, it's nicely opaque looking.  It's a really great product!

Here's a short video to get your EnVe Art creative juices flowing:

Thanks for visting me!

It's Mauvelous - Junk Journal

A happy mail package I received that contained remnants of

of beautiful mauve colored blouse

inspired me to

create this junk journal entitled,

It's Mauvelous.

You'll have to watch my YouTube Channel to

see the pocket on the last page of the journal

to see what became of that fabric.

In the meantime,

here are a few pictures of pages

in the journal.

Valentine Junk Journal

Hello Friends!

It’s time for another Junk Journal Share.

Soft sweet colors of blush, pink, cream and charcoal are incorporated in this journal using designer papers such as Kaiser Craft and Prima.  In a recent treasure haul at a local thrift shop, I found some lovely linen and doilies.  I used one linen piece as the cover page, and I affixed some Wonder Under which is a fabric adhesive and it worked wonderfully on the linen and paper.  I’ve said it before… I’m not a “Cover Girl” in every sense of those words. I struggle with creating them.  When I’m done with the inside of the journal, I want to move on to the next project.  And, this is why my covers are so simple in terms of design.  The most frilly part of the cover is the paper tab made out of designer paper, sari silk ribbon, embroidery threads and a lovely intricate designed button.  I so enjoy creating these paper tabs and no two are alike.  

This journal has more journal papers to write on.  Not all of the journaling papers are included in the YouTube video…after you have seen one or two, the rest are pretty much the same. There are 76 pages including both inside covers, and the little paper bag, and security envelope.

Here are  few more pictures and if you like what you see and want to see more, you may find this journal on my YouTube Channel:

Floral Fabric Cover Junk Journal

I seriously need to use these old paper collections I have accumulated over the years!

And, as I was going through my neglected paper stash, I came upon the Bo Bunny Gabrielle paper line.  I immediately remembered what drew me to that collection…the gorgeous designs, colors of cream, various hues of aqua, brown and coral.  And, I found upon viewing these papers again that they sparked a renewed energy and inspiration.  So I set about creating this junk journal. 

The size of the journal cover is 4.5 inches wide and 9 inches in length.  It is a pamphlet style with one signature.  There are 54 pages in total which includes both inside covers and the short papers. 

Some of my favorite features in the journal are as follows:

 Filigree Pendant Hitch:  I knew I wanted a simple cover and a closing hitch, but I didn’t have the proper hitch to affix to the cover.  I sewed a button through the fabric to secure it, but it didn’t give me the height I needed to wrap the textured teal ribbon around the button.  I resolved this by affixing this pretty filigree pendant on top of the button and sewed it down through the underneath button and fabric.  I wasn’t going to give up using that teal colored ribbon because it really helps set-off the colors in the journal and adds lovely texture.

 Inside cover page features an aqua ribbon woven through a flower lace pattern and tied at the middle.  I must do this again, as I love the effect.

Elegant Twig: After pruning a shrub one day,  a small fragment fell down.  As I reached down to pick it up, I envisioned what it could look like slathered in gesso with pretty embroidery thread wrapped around the twig.  It’s interesting how you view objects after you become a junk journalist. ;)

White Kraft Long Flap Envelope from A Tattered Dream on Etsy:  I just can’t say enough about these envelopes and their design.  They are so unique in their design and the paper quality takes on inks and staining beautifully.  I do think I should have diluted the coffee a little bit before applying it to the envelopes, and I’ll remember that the next time.  There’s stamping and some Tim Holtz stencil work with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo inks.  I save some of the die-cut remnants and used them as collage pieces. I think die-cuts and chipboard remnants add a lot of interest in a collage with very little bulk.

 Vintage Photo of Little Girl on Chair:  I adore this photo of this young girl sitting on the chair with her legs dangling from the seat.  You can tell her sweater is skewed because one side is longer than the other…I think she dressed herself that morning.  I had these little bits of trim left over from a previous project, and I thought I could use them to adorn the photo.   The trim was placed on layers of paper and sewn in places for more texture and topped off with more ribbon and a petite size jewelry tag.  The element piece became a pocket on the page.  Some embellishment pieces just design themselves and this is a fine example. 

Paper Tags:  I think these page tabs are one of my favorite embellishments to create. Each one is unique, and since I am fond of “elegance,” I think they render some tattered elegance and a little shimmer and shine.  Just tear off a piece of designer paper and fold it down the middle (don’t try to make a perfect square or rectangular shape… you want it to look tattered). Open it up and apply layers on both sides of the torn fold with a lacy bit, sari silk ribbon, embroidery or metallic threads, and sew them down in a straight stitch and ziz zag stitch, and with a threaded fine needle weave in some pretty beads, or add a button.  They’re really simple.

Thank you for viewing, and I hope I have inspired you to use some of these ideas in your junk journals too.

Artists' Cafe Junk Journal

Have you worked on a journal and 85% into the process,

you pull a 180 degree turn and start another one? 

I finished the “other one” in record time! 

It just moved on its own…

while the “first one” sits in a box packed away waiting for a rainy day. 

I truly love the “first one,”

but I ran into some technical issues…

the covers on junk journals really throw me.

I feel so inept when it comes to the covers. 

You know those places that finish up a quilt cover for a fellow quilter? 

The quilter does all the designing and sewing. 

Then they send the unfinished quilt it to a woman or company who will finish the top of the quilt.

I wish there was such a place I could send my finished journal pages to

so that they could design covers for me. Ha.

So here I am sharing with you my “Artists’ Café Junk Journal.” 

It’s a pretty place where I can journal my fav online artists,

record places to purchase goods for junk journals,

and other websites that I find inspiring…

you may find your blog or website in my journal someday too. ;).   

 

White Kraft Envelopes with Long Flaps for Junk Journal Journalists

Happy New Year Friends!

I got a little me time over the  holidays 

to start working on a 

Reflections Junk Journal.

I so adore those White Kraft Envelopes

with Long Flaps for 

Junk Journalists.

These envelopes can be purchased at

A Tattered Dream on Etsy.

The journal pages are 4.5 by 6.5 inches and 

you can see that the

white kraft envelopes fit fine on this page size.

The paper quality of these envelopes worked well with

the coffee dying process.

I chose to use a moist coffee filter with the wet grounds still

in the filter.  I then punched the filter down on top of

each envelope until I arrived at the desired appearance. 

A Tim Holtz stencil and Vintage Photo Distressed Ink pad were used

to create more interest as well at some stamping too.

Of course, I had to alter them with some mixed media elements to 

make them shine. 

I hope I have inspired you to use these envelopes in a new way in

your junk journal. 

Unfortunately, I did not buy enough of these envelopes

so I will be purchasing more soon. 

Thank you for viewing with me!

Happy Holidays: Christmas Junk Journal

Happy Holidays Friends!

I’ve had this project on my art desk in various stages for some time now.

I was delighted to find some time to sneak away and finish it up before the year ended.    

Like many of you, I adore working with fibers, threads and fabrics,

and in this project I created little page labels and tags using these items.

I love how the little labels came out and will use this technique again. 

I found inspiration in putting these colors together when I came upon a Pier 1 Christmas sale and found this fabulous birch tree inspired paper wrapping.

I couldn’t wait to unwrap it and get started to complete the journal.

See the link to my YouTube Channel below, and 

Here are some of pages you will find in my junk journal:

  Check out what became of the wrapping paper in my junk journal too.

The little metal round tag, inventory tags, elegant and delicate tatting looking lacy bit,

and the black and white striped paper bas was purchased from A Tattered Dream on Etsy.  

Thank you for looking and I will see you again in the New Year!