Using 7gypsies Mix And Match Book As a Junk Journal

Hello, readers!  I’m Dana Sanchez (I’m also known as Dapoppins on my Instagram and recently updated YouTube Channel.) Today, I am sharing a Project Journal, my current work in progress.  I think the Architextures Bee Mix and Match book will be a fun vintage-esque way to catalog some of the things I’ve made over the last few years.

CONQUERING THE BLANK PAGE – STARTING A JOURNAL

A Few Supplies:

• Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Coffee Shop
• Tattered Angels High Impact Paint – White
• 7gypsies 4×6 Printed File Folders – Vintage
• 7gypsies Large Ephemera – Gypsy Chronicles 
• 7gypsies Architextures Parchment Rub-ons
• 7gypsies Architextures Stash Paque- Joy
• sewing machine
• stencils
• fountain pen
• misc paper
• butterfly from stash

A new journal can be daunting.  All that perfect paper.  To make a journal feel more usable, I break it in. This journal’s ring binding made conquering the blank page easy.  Selecting a few random pages I dry brushed on White High Impact Paint. After the paint dried, I grabbed a stencil and sprayed on the pretty Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist.

To make my photos pop I want them all to have some kind of matting or layering them so I found a piece of textured cardstock from my stash.  When the shimmery mist started to pool on the page I mopped up the excess with plain white paper.  The resulting pattern was an unexpected bonus!

Using the Papers

Organization is not my strong suit.  It could be that I don’t have enough space or maybe I have too much stuff and too many ideas, I’m not sure.  I pull out all the things I might want to use,  didn’t used half of what I pulled out, and then went to find different options.  These two pages only use a couple of things from the video and some elements I didn’t even think to talk about at the time.  Am I the only one who does this?

I matted my photos on white paper but wanted to “junk” up this journal by implementing the creative ideas I’ve picked up watching Junk Journal Videos on YouTube.  The rectangle with the butterfly is a page from the journal that I cut, folded and sewed to make pocket/envelope.

On the bottom of the envelope is a strip of coffee stained printer paper that creates a pocket for ephemera.  The envelope holds a 7gypsies file folder. This presents me with extra room for journaling about my projects while providing the page with an interactive element.  Not one to fuss over imperfection, I left loose threads and ignored the crooked sewing.

Adding Details

Architextures Rub Ons are the best thing since sliced bread.  They work just how they are supposed to without sticking where they shouldn’t  but still rubbing off easily.  I used them in this layout to complement the vintage industrial record keeping theme I am going for.

I have an old fountain pen on my desk that I pull out occasionally.  Since I’m making this album to keep track of projects,  the pieces will need journaling to accompany the photos.  After gently shaking my bottle of Glimmer Mist from side to side to “activate” the shimmer I dip the pen in and use it as my writing tool.  Since I’ve only used one color of Glimmer Mist this helps unite the page even though the colors represented in my photos are more modern.

I plan to fill this entire book with pages and hope you check back with me to see how I am doing. Do you have a journal for your projects?  Might I suggest one of the new Architextures journals?  There are several to chose from, each with its own unique vintage charm. I’d enjoy hearing in the comments if you have an album of the things you have created.  Am I the only one who feels like she needs to keep a record?

– Dana –

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