I have been itching to start a new journal.
My first journal I used rings, which was great because I could add and rearrange pages as the whim suited me.
My second journal was stitched, and I love it. It is fun having the blank watercolor page to start with, knowing I could do whatever I wanted with it. And watching it fill up was amazing. It is so thick now (and I still have quite a few pages left in it).
For my third journal, I decided I wanted to try a different format again. Spiral bound. I am using the same size as I did for my ringed journal (a butchered moleskine) but with this one, I will need to add all my pages before binding it and will not be able to add more after. So it should be interesting. I spent a lot of time decorating and embellishing pages. I used old papers, new papers, handmade papers, watercolor paper and even some of the original moleskine pages. I then stacked them all up in a pleasing order and I plan to bind it later this week, and will show you the results. But for now I wanted to show you what I have done in preparation.

I started this cover a while back, but let it sit unused and finally came back to it now, I made a couple alterations to it's existing condition, and added some new stuff. I love using antique sheet music covers for the bases of my journal covers. I have a great thick book from 1850 filled with the best old music, you can feel the indent of the print in the paper. I use is sparingly, but it always seems to make it onto journal cover.
The star is from tinsel trading, vintage, which was glued upon some vintage pink netting, a recent antique shop score. The fabric flower is vintage as well but I do not recall where I got it. And the pink ribbon, I loooove this ribbon, is from here, dreamy indeed! You will also see a paper dollie (is that what you call them?), some paper that was the packaging for some pretty smelling soap and an angel snipped from a victorian trade card.
For the pages, I had a lot of fun going though my box of scraps and favorites, adding snippets of paper (old & new), tabs, embellishments, coffee filters (of course!), bits of fabric, etc.

Stay tuned for more later in the week about the progress of this journal - but in the meantime, here are some more cover shots:
Andrea gave me this rhinestone H ages ago - and I was happy to find the perfect use for it.

These black and white images were from an advert in a vintage vogue that Sue gave me one day while we were crafting together - love the style of them.

That's all the peek I have for you now... More soon!