Vacation Journal

Before we get into the "big three" end of year holiday seasons (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas), I wanted to share with you my summer journal made using a Tim Holtz Worn Book + Tag page protectors and his new Sand & Sea die.  The colorful pages could be used for both journaling and photo remembrances, adding memorabilia or whatever trinkets & tidbits you collected on your journeys.

Use Tim's Burlap Layering Stencil with texture paste for the covers.  To create the signature oval on the back cover, use a trimmed address label before applying texture paste - once applied - remove the label and your "space" has been left open - can be any shape or size.

After the texture paste has dried, daub on  Broken China and Antique Linen Distress Acrylic Paint.

Seahorse die cut is painted same colors + Adirondack Snow Cap  on edges - dry - coat with Clear Rock Candy crackle paint - dry - Distress Stain in Pumice Stone.  Starfish are Antique Linen crackle paint, stained with Brushed Corduroy and Sand Dollar is Picket Fence crackle paint stained with Pumice Stone.  White highlights on all are made with Picket Fence Distress Marker.  The sea grasses are die cut from Sizzlit - Spring Greenery, a bit of real fish net, rhinestone embellishments and stardust Stickles are added to accent.

For the inside of the cover before you add the metal rings, use Weathered Wood Distress Paint and the Woodgrain Layering Stencil. Distress Ink the edges in Brushed Corduroy and Vintage Photo.

Color pages were cut from Tim's Core'dinations textured cardstock with coordinating die cuts of Sand & Sea.

To accent the pages, use the Burlap and Woodgrain Layering Stencil with Pumice Stone and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks:

Diecut additional pieces of the Sand & Sea images in page colors, ink edges and add throughout the book.  The smallest sand dollar and starfish are made using a Martha Stewart Punch. The reinforcements are the less expensive paper ones (not shiny) which saturates the ink on both sides.

Use the Movers & Shapers dies to create dividers - a contrasting shade of paper was added to the backs to both stabilize and accent.  You could also use the new Shadow Press - Expedition Set to emboss then ink select pages.

The most fun was making tags to fit the page protectors.  Begin by cutting 110 lb white cardstock then use marbling techniques to colorize each, in combinations and layers of all the blue Distress Inks, plus a bit of Peeled paint for green hues.  Use inked paper reinforcements again at the tops and crochet cotton ties approx. nine inches long (ink like you would crinkle ribbon) to complete:

For a final page addition I stamped Project Life journaling cards with Stampers Anonymous - Nautical Blueprint "masked" images (the architectural linework is hidden).
To finish the cover, add inked cream cardstock with the book title stamped in place, then a bit of spritzed Distress Ink Markers - Picket Fence and Iced Spruce.

I hope you have enjoyed this project and I look forward to sharing many more in the coming days. Thanks for stopping by - best always!    Kay