A Skinny Imagine Junk Journal

About 3 months ago, I made my very first attempt in doing up a junk journal. As unsure and scary as it seems to me, I managed to get one done up at the end of the day. It wasn't easy for me as making albums is my Achilles heel. For this month Graphic 45's monthly challenge, I was one of the few ambassadors to do up a junk journal. Thankfully, my very first attempt didn't make this task a daunting one. Bracing ahead, this is what I've done up!!!

Instead of a bulky book, I decided perhaps I should do up a skinny version where it's handy enough for my very own keepsaking. This skinny little junk journal measures 4.75" by 8"; a pretty good size to me. In view that perhaps not a lot of crafters are daring enough to do up a complex one, introducing such a size might be less daunting. 

Super short and sweet; I kept the front cover as simple as possible. Not so much over the top yet it looks like a noteworthy kind of journal. This junk journal consists of 3 magazines within, stitched onto the spine, with as many as 20 over pages to be filled in due time. 

A combination of old vintage stuffs, recyclables, together with pattern papers, stuffs and such were added to give the junk journal the junky identity. I'd suppose that's how it should be, isn't that so? Well, those matching Imagine acrylic stamps just came in time to pair up this beautiful collection. I've literally used all of them for this journal. Here is a video showing a short glimpse on how the inside of the book looks like...

Right now, I can't wait to get those pages filled up. Looks like I'll have to do up a junk journal series on this book since there's an abundant of designs from the Imagine collection that I can use them to fill them up. And that what makes creating so far when you've all the matching stuffs. And YES! I think I'd really do that soon. 

Here is the list of supplies I've used for this project which you might be interested to know where to get them from:

• Graphic 45 Imagine Collection 
• 8" x 8" paper pad  (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com) 
• 12" x 12" patterns and solids  (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com) 
• Create yourself clear acrylic stamps (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com) 
• Dream clear acrylic stamps  (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com) 
• Clearsnap Decades Dye Pad
• Venetian Lace (Scrapbook.com) 
• Photogenic (Scrapbook.com)
• Aleene's Always Ready Tacky Glue (Blitsy)
• Tea-dyed papers
• Cream cardstock
• Ribbons (golden trims, grosgrain ribbon)

Meanwhile, happy crafting and junk journaling! See you guys very soon!!

Floral Shoppe Ephemera Cards

We all have some sort of papercrafting dilemma. And I tend to get that a lot especially I want the best of both worlds with minimal damage, as much as possible. This probably speaks a lot about my way of crafting.

Oh well, long time no see everyone! I'm glad that I'm able to find time to blog this entry - a post that's perhaps way behind my post with Graphic 45 last week. That's one thing I love being in Graphic 45, a lot of work was pre-planned in advance in a way that I don't have to rush in and try to get things done at the nick of time. However, do pardon and be patient with me for the next few weeks while I'm trying to get my timing right. I've been really bad in handling my time for the past weeks due to sudden hiccups in life which I'm still struggling at.

So moving on, making use of the time I have without sharing much about my hiccuping life, I shall go straight to the point on what I've done for Graphic 45 for this July. I'm re-sharing one of my old videos which I've done in 2016 - fussy cutting. It's a cutting technique that I've acquired while I was doing my footwear design course where we were taught to cut footwear patterns out from cardboard using utility/craft knife. I find this method rather ergonomically friendly and easier to control, hence decided to attempt this on designed papers where the intricacies are way complex compared to footwear patterns in general. And it kinda works, giving me more defined cuts than scissors can ever provide. In my video above, I explain very briefly how to hold and use the utility/craft knife to fussy cut as well as some useful tips in getting the right blades. More papercrafting tips over at Graphic 45 blog which you can hop over to read further.

To show how this technique can come into good use, I created two very simple ephemera cards using Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe collection. Such a beauty of this collection! And who doesn't loves flowers? I do of course! Sometimes you just need to break the various design elements and reassemble them to create your very own design. And that's what I did!

Summing all up that's what I got to share today (though it's a week late), and I do hope the video would be able to address some of the questions you probably have in mind. If you've any questions, do always feel free to drop a comment or even send me a message. I'll gladly respond and assist whenever I can. So, below here is a list of supplies in where to get these lovely collection and I shall see you guys very soon again! Happy papercrafting!!!

List of Supplies:

• Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Ephemera Cards (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Graphic 45 Tags and Pockets (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Graphic 45 Large, ATC Tags & Flowers dies
• Tim Holtz 8" x 8" Metallic Kraft (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)

My First Post as Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador - Fairie Dust Magical Door

After all the traveling within SE Asia, finally I'm back with my very first blog post as Graphic 45 Brand Ambassador. As much as I'd like to stay consistent to update my blog and YouTube Channel on a regular basis, unfortunately I'm still very much stuck with other commitments. Till I iron things out, very soon I hope I'll have more time to stay focus on things I want to do.

Without further ado, let's go straight to what I've created for Graphic 45 as this June #G45Selfie challenge. I'm reviving my past tutorial that reflects my style of creating in the kind of craft I'm into. Sharing here is re-creation of a magical fairy door using Fairie Dust collection via a video tutorial I created previously as Graphic 45 DT member. 

Believe it or not, I'm not a huge fan of purple. Simply not a colour I'll fancy the most even it's consider a royal colour that used to cost 3X more than gold centuries ago. Despite the fact that purple is not my colour of choice, I hardly restrict myself from using purple for creating. To give the door a magical feel, I used a gold as a complementary colour to match with the pastel purple. Practically speaking, I'm probably using the "most expensive commodities" for this magical door. 

And here is the video tutorial in how to create this magical door. This tutorial merely show the technical aspect in creating this door and I leave the embellishing of the door open so that you can create the kind of magic you want without restriction.

I've provided some practical tips in how to embellish your door over at Graphic 45 blog, do remember to pop over to get these handy tips. For your interest, below is the list of supplies I used for this project together with links to where to get them:

• Graphic 45 Fairie Dust Collection (12"x 12" Kit, 8"x 8" Pad)
• Graphic 45 dies (Large, ATC & Flower, Regular & Gear)
• Graphic 45 Ivory Tags (Large, Regular, ATC)
• Graphic 45 Shabby Chic Drawer Pull
• Tim Holtz 8" x 8" Metallic Kraft (Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Spellbinder Donna Salazar Doll Accessories Etched Dies (fairy wings)
• Own stash (1/8" satin ribbon, golden dresdens, buttons, fairy resin)

New Brews Over at my Etsy Store

For those who are unaware, I do have an Etsy shop since 2009. Since it has been quite some time I'm "tidying up" stuffs in my Etsy store, I felt it's time to do some "polishing" in my store as well as listing some new items. Not much, just 2 items which are the latest creations I've made for this year. 

One is the Pryotechniques steampunk mini junk journal, and the other is the Buxom Fairies Sconces decor. Above is an orientation video on the junk journal I'm selling at my Etsy store. 

In order to continue the kind of work I'd want to do, I do hope to earn some money in order to fund my passion. I not asking for much but your little support will serve as an encouraging platform for me to continue this. I'm also hoping I'd be able to offer some kits or more tutorials for sale online. If there's feasible technology and when time permits, I'd very much to go into online teaching to supplement the videos I'm creating on my YouTube channel.

On top of these 2 new listed items, I'm offering clearance sales on some of my past projects as well which most of them are listed up to 50% off. Do hop over to my shop to view more. I shall see you guys very soon again as I come back for my first project with Graphic 45 as their brand ambassador.

Pryotechniques; A Steampunk Junk Journal

For the past 14 days or so, apart from making adjustment to my schedule, I was also busy with something new and interesting. It's also one kind of project I've been wanting to attempt. After much hesitation, without giving myself further reasons not to do it I decided to go ahead churning out some mojo together with some inspired magical potion - I finally produce a STEAMPUNK JUNK JOURNAL!!!

Ta-DAAA!!! Here it is!!! My first attempted junk journal, Pryotechniques; that's how I addressed this pilot junk journal of mine. Of all the possible attention I might get (as what "pryotehniques" is being termed as), I fired out a face instead using various design elements I could find within the steampunk journal kit from Traci's shop, Ephemoire... 

This is probably one of the most challenging part in creating and took me about 2 days to come up with the entire concept. The process in doing up the book and bookcase wasn't the most difficult part, it's often the preparation and conceptualization part that juice up most of the time and creative brain cells. 

As I was figuring out how to get a junk journal done up, it took me quite a while to get all the pieces together. I may not be someone who is really good at making pockets and envelope inserts, so for the very first time, I decided to opt for simplicity. Yet the process involved was phewww.... It took me around 7-10 days to get this done up after researching and watching several junk journals tutorials and ideas. Nik the Booksmith is one of the many videos I've watched to get most of the inspiration. 

In order not to disappoint, I also had done up a time-lapsed video in how I altered the bookcase cover, providing fresh inspiration in how I compose a face out from the various design elements I found within the journal kit. Catch the video below to learn more...

Though it's not a full 5" x 7" journal book as intended for, I find such a handy size much easier to handle as a junk journal newbie. Everything was made from scratch - the covers and pages are all constructed using various cardstocks, vellum, printer papers, vintage and pattern papers.

A pair of butterfly charms in between the pages...

At the end of the day, I'm pretty satisfied how the book has turned out. This whole creating process has indeed encouraged me more to create more books as such. And yes, I'm thinking of making more and would love to explore more techniques in doing up more interesting junk journals. 

Thank you so much for being with me for this very first junk journal attempt and I do hope it will also inspire some of you to start making some books. Below is a list of supplies I used in making up this junk journal, with links to Traci's Etsy shop as well as other supplies I used to create this book.

List of Supplies:

• From Traci's Ephemoire Shop (Up and Away Steampunk Printable Journal Kit, Watercolour Butterflies Digital Clipart)
• Bazzill Basic Walnut Cream Cardstock (Amazon, Scrapbook.com)
• Aleene's Always Ready Tacky Glue (Amazon, Blitsy)
• Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents (Amazon, Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee (Amazon, Blitsy)
• Tim Holtz Distressed Ink in Frayed Burlap (Amazon, Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Tim Holtz Flourish Stencil (Amazon, Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Tim Holtz Sketchbook Tissue Tape Set
• 7gypsies Architextures™ Mixed and Match Bee Book
• Own stash (vintage handwriting and assorted stamps, dictionary and vintage papers, hot air balloon bronze charm, ornate transparency frame, lace and gold trims)