Farewell faithful junk-journal....

... it has served me well..

Early last year I sewed 3 junk journals and bound them into the covers of an old hardback book.. I didn't decorate it or anything because I wanted this book to be something that I wasn't too precious about...  and, well, you can see from the state of it now how I've treated it! lol

I wasn't too cruel to it - I carried it around in cotton bag (you can just see the pink bag in the photo above and below) along with pencils, pens, glue and scissors - always prepared - always a girl guide! lol

It has accompanied me on many train journeys to and from London (the reason for the slightly shaky lines of many drawings sketches), and I've really enjoyed working in it - so much so that half way through last year I sewed two more journals into it...

I would thoroughly recommend working (making) in a journal like this - something that you're not too fussed about so you don't mind if things go wrong or you just want to doodle/experiment.

There's something freeing/liberating about working on pages that already have paint or marks on them - its that 'it can only get better' feeling! ... no pressure..

AND you get to use up the scraps and project leftover left on the work desk.. (I can't be the only one who has those!)

This book has been used, loved, filled with colour, ideas, doodles and more colour - now I'm going to mend the spine (I might even rebind it to give it the cover it deserves!) and put it on the shelf with my other journals.

Here is the final page I decorated in the journal - its sets the scene for the year ahead and shows my mantra for this year: 'LESS IS MORE'...

I hope this has inspired you to gather up some scrap papers, discarded gelli prints, underpapers, book pages and bind them into a book (which is easier than you think!) to work/play in.

Give it a go - no pressure!

Take care

Jo

I'm not sure it gets any better than this.....

I do love a film with a bit of singing and dancing (may have mentioned that before!) and I knew/hoped this film would be good - but I didn't know it would be THIS good - bloomin fantastic!! seriously!! sooo good..... 

Don't just take my word for it - here's the trailer...  Enjoy!

(press the button in bottom right hand corner of clip to watch it in all its full screen magical glory! lol)

Get yourself to a cinema ASAP - you won't be disappointed!

x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2018 is going to be a good year - I can feel it!.. (and to be honest its got to be better than 2017 which is a year I am glad to see the back of!)

I wish all of you the very best for the coming year.

I'd also like to say a BIG thank you for stopping by this blog - and for bearing with with my somewhat random blogging last year - I will endeavour to do better, scouts honour!

Thanks also to you lovely people who buy my JOFY stamps and stencils, and who come to workshops - its always such fun to meet and spend time with you and to share the love of crafting - long may it continue (and help keep us all sane! lol)

Keep smiling!

Jo

A little festive sharing...

(photo Chris Dark, at PaperArtsy)

The current theme over on the PaperArtsy blog is 'Torn, Ripped, Burnt'... and Chris Dark has create a couple of gorgeous projects using JOFY58 - I thought they were so clever and lovely I wanted to bring them to your attention.... they made me feel all festive and I hope they do the same for you!

Click on the photo above to visit the blog post.

Ho ho ho...

Jo
x

#365Challenge.... August

aaaah yes.. August... back when it was lovely, hot and sunny - and I created these pages for my Flow365 project ...

I'm not going to beat around the bush - I a 'little' behind schedule - but I WILL finish this project!! lol   so without further waffle.. I give you ...AUGUST!!

 

I really like the layering on this page - a painted background with layers of tape and papers sewn on, finished with a die-cut and self-adhesive letters.

 

I have a  sheet of this background paper for aaaaages - paper created by layering up tissue dress making patterns and instructions.. seemed appropriate to sew elements on to this page..

Stencilling white paint onto kraft card- what's not to like! lol

Pink and green - one of my favourite colour schemes... here I've cut up gelli printed flowers to mix with die cut flowers.. and more self-adhesive letters (I seem to have quite a lot of those to use up..)

Another lovely gelli print from a stack that needs using - anyone who gelli prints will have a stack (probably an ever increasing stack! lol) of these to use up!

     

 

 

 

 

The dates in the page corners have been created using a circle doodle from JOFY36 and the numbers are 'garamouche' by Purple Onion Designs...

There it is - August!! coming soon - but probably not too soon - will be September and October.

Christmas is coming!! ....

Last saturday I went to Loobi Crafts in Leighton Buzzard and taught my Christmas Blocks workshop... (it was a lovely, fun day - thanks to everyone who came along and created beautiful festive blocks!)

The class was overbooked and so its running again on the 18th November - with only a couple of places remaining - so if you'd like to come to this workshop and create this lovely (in my humble opinion) triptych of christmas blocks then call Lisa at Loobi Crafts (01525 838535) to book your place.

Look forward to seeing you!


ho ho ho