2012 Circle Journal

Forgive me readers, it's been a few days since my last post. I do have some goods excuses honestly so hopefully that will appease everyone and I won't be sent to purgatory!!
This week is always hectic each year. It's my sister's birthday on the 10th, mine on the 11th and Dad's on the 12th. We also used to have a few others thrown in the same week but they are no celebrated for one reason or another. My husband has also been incredibly sick this week and it's not so much that he needs all this extra care (no comment about man-flu) it's more just that when he's not well I don't expect him to help out as much around the house and you really notice it when you're the one doing most of it.
Anyway I digress...
I finally received my 2012 Circle Journal back that I have been doing with some of the amazingly talented people from the Crafting Passionz and Scrappers Obsessionz groups. The talent of some of the crafters that I am blessed to know just astounds me and I count my chickens that I am able to have a tiny taste of it all to myself... even though I am sharing it with you.
I know you will love their creations as much as I do!!
In these earlier blog posts I went into a bit more detail about my journal and how I created it. Part 1, part 2 and part 3.
But now to share all the completed pages from the other contributors:

Quick refresher - my cover pages (inside and out), definition page (part of my instructions) and sign in pocket. 

 Quick refresher part 2 - my pages and tag that I created.

Gail's creations

I love the background that Gail created with tissue paper and will definitely have to try something like this myself very soon. I love anything interactive especially in mini-albums so really enjoyed the waterfall journaling, particularly as I'd only ever seen it used on cards before. The other unique embellishment was the butterfly with stick pin attached. I really like this idea because it's so different.

Jude's creations

I love the colours that Jude has used for her background. She has used water-colours so they blend so well together, but I really like that they still have an intensity to their tone without looking washed out as sometimes can happen. I also really like the way the stamping also has a washy look to it rather than having a harsh stamped look. I love all the hand-written journaling as well. And definitely need to get some of these collage stamps that Jude has used.

Tash's Creations

Tash turned the interactive flap for her set of pages into a top-loading pocket with tag. I love that people did take up my challenge to do something different with this element of the album even though I am sure they hated me for putting it in there in the first place. I love the colour scheme, love the background and love the embossed heart with wings. Definitely a favourite of mine!! There are just so many things about these pages that every time I look at them I discover something new and that is truly an indication of someone who is very talented.

Faith's Creations

Another stunning background. I love this colour scheme as it's so very fresh and does remind me a lot of Faith. I really like the different layers Faith has used in her background to make it so interesting and just adore the crumpled flowers. Faith also created a pocket for a tag from the flap, but her's is side opening. I love the tag and really love the gemstone dangles at the bottom of the tag. I never thought of using my bind-it-all (or similar) like this - brilliant idea.

Shar's Creations

I am happy to admit that I was really stunned when I saw Shar's pages. Shar is the queen of chic and shabby and vintage and everything that I am not, so this is so NOT her normal style of scrapping but I couldn't love it more. The simplicity of her monochrome creation is just amazing and so stylish. I love, love, love it... and yes it is definitely my style. And I love that she told me that she knew exactly what she wanted to do as soon as my journal arrived on her doorstep. I love those aha MOJO moments!!

All our sign in tags - back and front

I love these almost as much as I love everyone's pages because they all go perfectly with each person's respective pages.

I can't thank everyone enough who participated in this year's circle journal. It was only the second for the group but I know it will not be the last. If you are interested in joining in next year's circle journal then please leave a message with your contact details and I'll be sure to let you know when sign-ups are announced.

Circle Journal - 2012 Part 3

And finally the last part of my Circle Journal... before every one of my wonderful friends has done their bit... my pages.
I ummed and ahhed for a few days as to what to create here. I loved what I'd done with the cover and first page, then didn't know how to actually create my page up to the same level of intensity. I was at the point of resigning myself to having lost whatever spark on creativity I'd found when I stumbled across some art journal page on Facebook and Pinterest and then the light bulb went on.
Just create pages as if this is an Art Journal... too simple and too obvious. How did I nearly miss that?
And that is what I did.
Given my uncertainty as to what to do, I decided to create on other paper, which I could adhere into the journal, rather than risk stuffing up the rest of the journal, especially as one part had to attach onto the back of my instruction page. (I really didn't want to have to re-create that again!) 
I started with acrylic paint in dabber form and liquid with a foam brush. Didn't like it.
I added some stencilled white paint over the top. Didn't like it either.
I added some dry brushed white paint over the top. Still didn't like it.
I added some Distress Stain around the edges of the pages. Didn't like it and was getting ready to throw it away.
I added lots and lots and lots of Adirondack Colour Wash and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist then dried it with my trusty heat tool. And I finally liked the end result.
Yes I should have taken photos at the various different stages but to be honest I was nearly in panic stage because it SOOOOOO WASN'T WORKING!!
Here's the colourful end result after I then added stamped scrolls and my journalling in Archival Ink - Black. I just love the way it stands out against the colour... sexy!!

"Tools, Products, Pinterest, Techniques"


Page 1 (above) - Backs onto the instruction pages

"Swaps, Colours, Nature, Friends, Magazines"


Pages 2 and 3 (above and below) - are completely hidden when you first look at the layout as page 4, the "flap" is folded over the top of them.

"You Tube, Forums, Blogs, Facebook"


Page 4 (below) - when you first open to my pages you see page 1 and 4 and a little bit of page 2 peeking out underneath. The title "My Inspiration" was embossed in black, whereas the other pages are just stamped in Archival Ink in black.

I know I've said it a hundred times before, but the photograph just doesn't do the album justice. Even my new camera can't get the real subtlety and depth of colour. This really just needs to be seen in person.


Oh... and would you believe that all these pages, the tag and the instruction pages all started out as plain old white cardboard???

Circle Journal - 2012 Part 2

Having pumped up the cover a couple of notches I then had to do the same with the pages inside. I had always planned on making my journal interactive. I LOVE interactive pages in journals. And often create interactive elements in any pages I create in other people's circle journals - just a heads up in you ever do a journal with me. Not sure why... like I've always said, I just love to experiment in Circle Journals and mini albums.
Rather than just straight pages for my circle journal, I have included pages that can be opened out. Even though the journal itself is 8 1/2" x 6", the page when opened out is actually 8 1/2" x 11 1/2". It's kind of like one of those kids books which go "Who is hiding behind the flap?" and the kid has to flip the page out to see who is behind it.


On the first page, before its flipped open are some interesting definitions of "Inspiration" which I found while googling.

Then here is my instruction page. At the moment the instructions are written onto acetate / transparency which just sits over the colour background and title. I'm not sure if this is going to be the final format or not. I'm not happy with it, but not sure what I want to do instead. I couldn't get the acetate to photograph well at all... so you will just have to imagine what it looks like. Still you can see the background with title... not the same I know, but beggars can't be choosers. It was really hard to get the intensity of the colours on all the pages. Think I need to work on a better lighting set up.

Alas the sign in sheet at the back of the journal is pretty much in its original format and style, though this may change upon the return of my journal. With this page I turned the interactive "flap" into a pocket to hold the sign in tags.

 It just looks so drab...
And then there is the tag, to which I have added ribbons in light and dark blue and green to match the colour scheme.

 I thought about doing the writing in black, like you will see on my actual pages, but I decided it would be too difficult to read especially given the size of my hand writing. The white makes a nice change.

Circle Journal - 2012 Part 1

What can I say... I love Circle Journals and swaps. I also find them easier to do and at the moment, way more inspiring than scrapbooking or any other crafting.
Much of the reasoning behind this is because of my current infliction of "Lack of Inspirationitis". 
There is also less pressure with a swap. They're smaller, easier, less daunting. And I can use them to test out new techniques before using them (eventually) on "real" scrapbook layouts. So what is to dislike about them?
This past weekend was postal day number 1 for my current Circle Journal which I am doing with a number of lovely ladies from the Crafting Passionz forum. This is a forum for scrapbookers from New Zealand and Australia. We have monthly swaps, challenges and of course our annual Circle Journal.
These scrappers are some of the most amazing and talented crafters I have ever had the pleasure to meet (in some cases IRL) and one of the other reasons I love doing swaps is because their creations are just so cool and totally amazing, and I wish I could craft as wonderfully as they do.
I digress...
There are six of us doing the Circle Journal this year. A couple of repeat offenders from last year as well as some ladies not only new to our forum but new to Circle Journals.
This year my theme is "Inspiration". My album is 8 1/2" x 6" (the pages a teeny bit smaller.) The covers are created from recycled light weight card board which I covered with papered paper, added a little distress ink and a glitter title the thought I was done. Simple... but sweet. 
Then I saw some pictures of someone else's journal and knew I needed to pump it up a notch or two. So in true Emeril Lagasse style I added a bit of BAM, BAM, BAM... and this is what the finished cover looks like.

 OUTSIDE

INSIDE

On the outside of the cover, over the top of the distressed patterned paper, I added a 3D relief pattern using texture paste and a The Crafter's Workshop template - Cosmic Swirl. I left the texture paste over night to dry then spritzed the hell out of it using Adirondack Colour Wash and Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mists in several colours. Being my normal impatient self I dried this off with my heat tool. I then added some highlights on some of the swirls using Radiant Rain paint. On the inside of the cover, I just misted, no texture paste.
I really LOVE the end result. It was the first time I'd used texture paste and the first time using a template like this. I'd used them with paint but that was really about it. 
And I really, really LOVE the dark moody colour scheme I ended up with.

2011 Circle Journal

This week I received my Circle Journal back from the girls with the Crafting Passionz Forum. There were seven of us in it with it being the first time for a number of the participants.
I have to confess to re-using a previous Circle Journal album but that is because this theme has always been a passion of mine. I've always loved hearing about how couples met each other and have thought about writing a book on several occasions, so how could I resist a Circle Journal album where my scrapping friends tell me all about their significant other.
Here are the most recent additions to my "Love Starts" story.

This is the album cover and felt bag that the album fits into. The felt bag (with chocolates & teddy) was a valentine's gift from my darling hubbie and was so cute that I held onto it for a few year's before it gained a second life.

Close up of the album cover. I painted it as I didn't like the original cover, then added the Making Memories "Love" adorned with ribbons and rub-ons.

The ever important Circle Journal Instructions (in cute heart font).

These were my two creations as I have been married twice so have two stories to share as to how I met the men of my dreams. 

 Kim's Contribution 

 Veronica's Contribution

 Shar's Contribution

 Faith's Contribution

Suzanne's Contribution

Lynley's Contribution

I can't thank these ladies, as well as all my other friends, enough for sharing their respective "Love Starts"... the story of how they met their significant other.

Blogs

I haven't forgotten my promise or my plans for the blog... honest.


It's just I have some temping work on at the moment in the CBD and unfortunately this full-time working caper is not leaving me much time for crafting. Luckily the work for the end of the financial year is nearly completed, so hopefully I can reduce my hours and get back to crafting.


The good thing about all the travelling (it took me 45 minutes to get from the Downtown car park up the length of Hobson Street to the motorway on-ramp, and another 45 minutes to get home tonight) is that it gives me plenty of time to think about and plan some upcoming blogs and sketch some layouts & cards.


I have some great ideas about techniques... and you should see the cool cards I've designed... and all the layouts I have in mind... and all the really cool off the page projects... I am just going to be so busy creating all these great things to share with you.


Watch this space I have a busy weekend planned creating the samples and designs for the first few blogs...


Oh and if you are interested in joining in a circle journal send me an email to paula@scrapfx.co.nz and I can send you some information. Sign-ups are by 22nd January and numbers are strictly limited. First in, first served.

Circle Journals

Today I succeeded in my quest for some daily creative time (unlike yesterday and despite ongoing tooth ache). I am participating in my second ever Circle Journal even though this one is already nearly at its conclusion. I have one more Circle Journal to receive and complete and then I am due to get mine back.

For the uninitiated... a Circle Journal is a scrapbook created by a circle of friends or colleagues. Each person in the circle creates their own journal, establishes a theme, determines any instructions or requirements then completes the first page or pages. The journals are then passed to the next person in the circle to follow the instructions the journal creater has established and complete additional pages. This continues until each journal has been passed to each participant in the circle and the one you originally created is returned back to you completed with every person in the circle having added to your journal, just as you have added to every other person's journal.

The completed journals are usually incredible examples of a variety of different techniques and styles and interpretations that hopefully inspire the other participants along the way.

Anyway... today I completed the two pages and sign in tag for the second to last journal for the Circle Journal I am currently participating in. This particular journal required more than my artistic creativity, it also required my culinary creativity... somewhat of a BIG ASK. 

The theme was "Sweet Treats" and we had to provide a copy of a favourite recipe of ours as well as a picture of the complete recipe. Sounds simple enough I hear some of you say... obviously you are not as domestically challenged as what I am.

I probably need to set the scene a little, but first a little bit more about my lack of cooking ability...

• I have managed to ruin boiled savaloys
• I can not for the life of me follow a recipe - I have to change something, it happens involunaterally no matter how hard I try to follow the recipe EXACTLY
• I am the proud owner of the "I Hate To Cook Cookbook" by Peg Bracken
• I haven't killed anyone YET

The other part of setting the scene is that I had to do this baking business at Scrap Camp, surrounded by some of the most amazing cooks I know. These ladies at true kitchen geniuses and all around domestic goddesses and I truely feel like a complete and utter novice in their presence. (I humbly bow at their feet and gratefully accept any baking that they care to share with me).


So I took my ingredients all pre-measured except the milk which I borrowed from the camp fridge. I followed the instructions (with some sly supervision from one of the aforementioned "Experts" hopefully unbeknown to her) and remembered to take photos of the whole process to prove they weren't store bought after all that.


Into the oven they went, one last photo before the finished result and then it was just a matter of waiting patiently. 


Just to prove that they weren't a TOTAL FLOP, here is the pages I completed for the circle journal album, complete with photographic evidence which would hold up in court that I can on occassion book something mildly edible - just that was it for the year so don't expect seconds.