besottment by paper relics

Old Book Journal: More Spreads

Here is another peek into my old book journal. This is my favourite spread so far.

 

Here is another spread I started...

I always love adding tea bag fortunes to a spread!

Both spreads above and below are in progress...

I'll share more when they are complete!

my journaling basket

I mentioned my journaling basket in THIS POST and some people emailed and left comments wanting to see inside the basket - so here is a post to show you! Above is the basket full.

Inside the basket I have a box that a gift came in that I use to hold goodies.The bottom of the box holds markers, pens, glue stick and glue pen and detail scissors. The bottom is used to hold little bits.

Above is a look at the pens, makers, scissors and glue.

This photo is a look at some of the little bits...

Included in the bits are glassine envelopes with smaller bits - like vintage dennison labels.

In the basket underneath the box top and bottom are bigger scissors, pretty tape and more journaling papers.

Lots of alpha stickers are a must - as well as large vintage dennison labels and old antique fashion ladies.

Some more peeks into the layers of the stuff in the basket - some old book pages, victorian scrap, dollies, etc

A couple more peeks... below you can see a packet of the reproduction game pieces I love to use, a vintage postcard, product tags that I find fun and may want to use on a spread and more...

I keep this basket downstairs (my studio is upstairs) and use it when I want to journal at the kitchen table, on the couch while watching a movie, etc. It helps keep journaling a daily practice for me! The basket itself measures approx 17 inches long from handle to handle and 10 inches wide - it was one I grabbed at Homegoods ages ago.

I hope you enjoyed looking inside!

Old Book Journal: A Few Spreads

Here are some spreads in my new old book journal. I had fun with this first spread, I love the way my pens and markers soak into the old paper. Since I made each page 2-ply, there is no (or at times very little) bleed through. I used an old 1824 fashion image (I usually do not use color ones) and went from there...

For this family spread, I used an image from a magazine of a woman holding a frame, and put in a copy of a family photo. On the right is a bill from my great, great grandfathers shop in Connecticut that I found on ebay. Oh, and how crazy that I saw my last name on the page - so I highlighted it!

Here is a close up of the photo, it is hard to see but it is a picnic scene complete with a record player! My grandmother, great aunt and friends... I just love it.

Here is the spread with the subpages and flaps open:

This spread all revolved around "Hope" (as a word, not me!):

A peek inside her skirt:

More spreads to come soon!

Old Book Journal: Created

I have been itching to make a journal with old book pages. Ideally I had wanted to use a book that was whole and keep the spine intact, but I didn't have any books I wanted to use that I had not already ripped the cover off. (the journal is shown above with my "journaling basket" that I keep downstairs to journal when I do not feel like going to my studio. I might do a post on the contents of the basket in the future!

I still had lots of pages from the book that had the covers I wanted to use (they are the same pages included in this antique paper packet). I decided to sew the pages together. I broke up a signature from the original book to keep the pages complete, so they were not just torn out as a single page, but taken out 2 across as one sheet. I then sewed two pages together to make them thicker and sturdier. I made 3 signatures of 6 pages and then stitched them into the cover, creating the journal.

Here is a side view of the pages:

I added a pocket to the back to stash bits I want to be sure to use in the journal:

Here is the inside cover and first page (you may have already gotten a peek at this on instagram - as well as seeing me type on old labels with my 1923 typewriter) - the silhouette on the right is a greeting card from Paper Boat Studios that I found at a local shop.

I will be sharing more of this journal with you soon! I really am enjoying working on the old pages.

Agenda Journal Insta-Peek

Here is a peek at last weeks agenda journaling (first seen in my instagram feed)

 

reverb 2013 journal (days 10 - 17)

Below are photos of days 10 - 17 of my reverb13 journal to share (see days 1- 9 by clicking HERE)! If you are new here - learn more about the project HERE.

December 10 - Ten things I was thankful for in 2013. I decided to list ten PEOPLE I was thankful for in 2013 (in no particular order). I used a library card a friend gave me a stash of.

I also enclosed a card on of the ten people gave me that was really touching and a perfect keepsake to add to this day.

December 11 - Did I form any new relationships in 2013. I started attending a group where I meet some wonderful women, so that is what I journaled about for this prompt.

I also included a sweet letter from one of the woman.

December 12 - Something I planned but didn't do in 2013. This day-page was made from a glassine envelope, so I added my journaling inside.

December 13 - My biggest indulgence for 2013. It was buying a small jar of La Mer face cream - which was so worth it. I cut a photo of the jar out from an advert in a fashion magazine...

and made it a sub/flap-page (below).

December 14 - this is one of my favourite day pages created in this years journal - here is a close up:

The best meal I enjoyed in 2013... this was another close one, I had several to choose from, but went with our anniversary meal at Wit & Wisdom.

And included an instagram of us that I snapped while we were waiting to be seated:

December 15 - Favourite photograph taken of me in 2013

I initially added this photo of me taken by Kari on her visit to see me, it is at Ladew Gardens in the topiary garden. Later in the month I went back and added this (below) underwater instagram photo taken with my phone (using a LifeProof case) by my niece over Christmas while we were visiting my parents in Florida.

December 16 - Most memorable moment with family - a visit from my sister who I had not seen in ages. It was a nice visit. Since 12/16 I did have a wonderful Christmas holiday with family that I could have added here as well. On the back of her photo, I wrote a bit about the trip.

December 17 - The bravest thing I did in 2013

I added a photo that represents the journaling for this prompt...

which I added into an envelope since it was some private musings.

Stay tuned for the next installment soon!