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Wednesday 7 January 2015

Friendship Journal

Hello again, my lovely blog friends.  Happy New Year to you all!  It seems an age since I last posted, a full three weeks!  A new year means new beginnings, new resolutions and - joy!- new projects!  I must admit I've found it difficult to get going again after Christmas.  Part of the problem is that I'm swamped with possibilities and ideas and projects I want to do and take part in.  However, since I need to watch my energy levels and not overdo things I have to be selective about what I take on. 

One of the things I've decided to take part in is a circle journal.  I've always wanted to do one so I couldn't pass up this opportunity.  My theme is Friends and Friendship and I've already shared my pages here.  Today I'm showing the journal covers.  I was inspired to cover them with tissue paper by the challenge over at the PaperArtsy blog which they have revamped this year.  There will be fortnightly challenges with a different theme and the first one is Fragile Papers.  I love using tissue paper - it gives such a wonderful texture.  Here is the front cover:


and the back:

I brayered all over the tissue paper in different shades of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish chalk acrylics.  Since I learnt to do this, again inspired by Leandra at PaperArtsy, I can't stop brayering!!  Then I used matt medium to adhere the tissue paper to the covers.  The tissue gives a lovely wrinkled effect:


I stamped and embossed a friendship definition stamp and then added my home-made black texture paste through the Balzer designs Fleur de Lis stencil:


The hearts are made with white texture paste put through Balzer designs Mix and Match Hearts and then sponged yellow and cut out:


So I'm ready for the first posting.  There are 9 of us doing this so I will have to wait nearly a year before I get it back!

Wishing you all blessing, inspiration and fun for the year (and projects) ahead :)

22 comments:

  1. just gorgeous. I never use black texture paste and looking at this I am considering doing it VERY soon!!
    I would love to know more about a circle journal. I guess it is like a round robin type of thing where you make and send and receive and everyone gets to play in the journal. If that is it, how do you get involved in such things?

    I love the cover. YUM!

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    1. Yes, it is like a round robin. Everyone picks their own theme and you mail the journal on to the next person. You do your page or pages then mail it on againand so on till your journal comes back to you. I've always wanted to do one so I responded to Tracy (her blog is called Sojourner), when she asked who wanted to take part in one. So I guess you just have to ask people if they want to take part. Hope you can get one going

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  2. This is amazing - love the effect of the black on the lighter colour - very deep!

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  3. I love your book covers Susan! I've always liked black and realist colors together! Yum! I loved the whole process of what you did to make this...I like tissue paper too! I have yet to try your texture paste recipe, but it is on my list! Just simply looks fabulous my friend! Wow I can't believe you have to wait so long, I would be on pins and needles! LOL! Blessings on all your wonderful new year crafty projects Susan and I just speak a peace and strength over you and your body and a fresh oil over you this year my friend! Victory is yours! Blessings

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    1. Felicia, thanks so much for your prayer and blessing, I can feel that oil washing over me and doing me GOOD!!!! I'm already on pins and needles and I haven't sent it yet!!!

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  4. delicate and beautiful, love the textures!

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  5. What a wonderful spread, loved all the yummy textures and the layering is fantastic, Susan!

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  6. Lovely textures Susan! I just want to run my fingers across those pages!

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  7. Beautiful colours and texture, Susan!

    Lucy x

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  8. Looks beautiful, Susan! Can't wait to feel all that lovely texture 'in the flesh' as it were.

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  9. This is gorgeous Susan ! The colours are beautiful , and they seem really relaxing although they are bright. Looking forward to your 2015 creations ! I really must try something new this year , I signed up to the HKC blog but think I will just stay with doing my own thing, don't want to feel under too much pressure as I'm not naturally creative !

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  10. This is so beautiful Susan! The colors and textures are a delight to the eye.
    This sounds like a really fun project, and very a rewarding one!
    Good to see a new post from you...glad to see that you are ok.

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  11. Susan,
    love the look of the black on the lighter paints

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  12. Great cover. Love the colors, the structure and the design.

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  13. Really lovely textured and colorful cover you have created!
    Thank you for sharing your creative process too.

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  14. Your covers are fabulous, Susan!!!!

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  15. Stunning colour palette, particularly with the black paste. Perfect!

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  16. Happy New Year Susan! This is gorgeous! I always love stopping by to see your latest creations!

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  17. Gorgeous! I love the colours and textures. Great start to the new year!

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  18. I warned you the brayering is addictive!!! I love your texture and the circle journal is a great idea! Enjoy! And that for playing along!

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