Journal with Blooms

Hi,  it's Ann here today from the Linnie Bloom's Design Team and the blog: AnnMakes.  I  used a Home Decor Kit from Linnie Blooms:  Rustic  Journal to make  myself a portable watercolour journal to carry in my bag.

I used some Gelatos and some water to alter the natural canvas for the cover.  I also altered the house shape that comes in the kit to make a flap for the journal.

I used pink and gold gelato to colour the blooms and enhanced the centres with big black embroidery threaded knots. I later glued the flowers to the cover.

I finished the inside cover with some vintage dictionary pages and some Mod Podge.

I cut three sheets of watercolour paper into 6 pieces to make 12 pages in the journal.  I used a very simple book making method by making two holes through the papers and the canvas.

 I then used the piece of jute cord from the kit to bind everything together with a double knot.

I sewed a zig zag line on the house/flap.  I also stitched the flap to the journal back on my sewing machine.  I added small velcro to the cover and flap.

Finally to add some whimsy to the cover I used some stamps and Staz On ink for the Bee.

I hope that you are inspired to make your own personal piece with the lovely Linnie Bloom's Kits.

Supplies:
Linnie Blooms Rustic Journal Kit
Gelatos in blues, teal, green , bright pink, and gold by Faber Castell
Staz On black stamp ink by Tsukineko
Mod Podge by Plaid
"Buzzing Bees" stamps from Blue Moon Creations / Spiced Sunshine Stamps
Velcro from Multi Crafts
Dictionary papers from my stash
Water colour paper by Loes Cornell
Sewing thread by Coats and Clark
Aleene's Tacky Glue

Thank you for stopping by.  For more of my projects and how to's please stop at http://annmakes.blogspot.com.

Asia Journal ~ A Linnie Blooms Mini Journal

Asia Journal ~ A Linnie Blooms Mini Journal

I have been designing for Linnie Blooms for quite a while now. A very good experience and a great chance to get my hands on their product line. When I put my hands around one of their Mini Journals, a small 5" X 7" collection of canvas pages and a wonderful Flourish Pocket tucked inside, I fell in love!

Linnie Blooms Mini Journal

It has 4 pages of stitched surfaces sandwiched with papers recycled from old book and a wonderful pocket opportunity to insert little bits of unexpected joy inside. I just knew I had to create something special with it and something dear to my heart. It called for lots of details and a place for fond memories.

Since I lived in Southeast Asia quite a while, what better subject than memories and ephemera from my trips and life there? My own little memory scrap book to hold some favorite treasures.

Asia Journal by Linda Kinnaman, front cover

I was interested in trying out some Transfer Artist Paper, which I had heard does a great job of transferring images to fabric. I wanted to give it a try on canvas and see what I could do with it. I found an image from one of my Dover Publicationsbooks that I thought would set the color and theme well. I had a bit of trouble getting the image to adhere well, but think it came out a bit vintage looking, which after a while grew on me. It makes it look old and well worn, like a favorite book which has been tucked in my backpack while on my journeys.

A special note: Thank you to Leslie Riley, who took time to consult with me over the effects I was trying to achieve and learning to love what became.

I added some simple Linnie Blooms shapes for the title and some rub-ons and old stamps for accents. A few jade beads and some brass charms added a bit of bling to the front cover.

Buddha pages

While in Asia, visits to Buddhist temples are a must for learning about the culture and customs of the people. I have been to many and find each one beautiful, colorful and wonderful places to see. I have met some very interesting people while visiting temples, and have gained a respect and embracing of their principles. I wanted to honor my visits with a couple of images from travel brochures that I had collected.

Ladies in waiting pages

The beauty of Asian women is well known! I wanted to capture a vintage collection of Chinese and Japanese costumes and accessories. Their attention to detail, grace and elegance are impressive to me. Pink and green combined together spoke of this for me and I saw a lot of it while traveling. Strong yet feminine colors of spring time. Beauty and charm.

Most women now embrace the Western style of clothing, so spotting a women in traditional dress was a delightful surprise. Often they would pose for a quick photo if you politely asked, often with a blush and a small giggle covered with a delicate hand. It is nice to see these traditions still upheld and celebrated during special times or events.

Ladies in waiting pages

postcard insert for pocket

Tucked inside that Flourish Pocket I found an old post card of a Reclining Buddha in Thailand. I embellished it with more old stamps and an old print of a garden scene and some flourish rubber stamping.

Flower pages

Asia is also known for their lovely flowers. So many of the flowers we use today in our own gardens are from all over Asia. I myself, have peonies similar to the one pictured here. These two pages are more Transfer Artist Pages that I colored and painted in with myGelato color sticks.  I also added some old stamps again and a book mark that I picked up in a Hong Kong shop.

Memories of China, back cover

Finally, the back cover depicts a few placed in Hong Kong that I have visited. I love all the details they put into their architecture. Tons of carved and painted details all over the place! Huge statues, large structures for placing incense to burn, old paintings and tapestries. Wonderful flare for color and ceremony.

I am pleased with the results of my Linnie Blooms Mini Journal. I was able to use techniques that have proven reliable for me. Layers of paper and gel medium, painted trim and details, ink and stencils, gelato color sticks and lots of stickers and assorted souvenirs.

Now that I have really tried them out, I am anxious to do more. I can see all sorts of possibilities for these little keep sakes. Cherished memories, a collection of techniques, pages commemorating special times and people in our lives.  Perhaps a technique class is in order to share what I have learned here...

I hope you have enjoyed my designs for Linnie Blooms. I am taking a break from the design team to work on art work for summer art fairs that I have signed up for. If you like what I have been doing, would like to learn more and try some for yourself, let me know and I can help you. My home studio class room is ready and waiting for YOU!

Best wishes!

Linda Kay

My website ~ www.lindakaysart.com

My blog ~ www.lindakaysart.com/blog

Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/LindaKaysArt

& Be sure to visit Linnie Blooms for more Mixed Stitch Media products and ideas.

Linnie Blooms ~ www.linnieblooms.com

Linnie Blooms blog ~ www.linnieblooms.blogspot.com

Hi! It's Candy Spiegel returning as my second time as a guest designer on the Linnie Blooms blog!

This time I wanted to share the Stitched Canvas Book I created ... well, decorated anyway. The great thing about this little book is was all sewn and ready to go when I received it!

I started using my Copic Airbrush System and plastic stencils to create the background.

To keep things neat, I placed the book in an old box and used Removable Glue Dots to hold the stencil in place.

After the stenciling was finished, I airbrushed a few colors around the edges of the book.

Then, I airbrushed a piece of Linnie Textures and added it to the cover.

Then, I added a Sizzix peacock die, flowers, ribbons, fibers, Dew Drops, charms and more.

Here's another detail shot ...

For the inside pages, I used papers from Graphic 45 and Webster's Pages. I continued airbrushing the pages throughout the book to tie it all together.

On this page, I airbrushed the Linnie Textures for the right side of the page, then used it as a stencil for the left side of the page.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside my little mixed-media booklet. Visit my blog at http://candyspiegel.wordpress.com/ for more inspiration.

a pocketful of journaling...

Let's play
"what's in my Linnie Blooms canvas flourish pocket"...
You can't probably guess from this first picture, but maybe this next one will give you a hint.

 

Did you guess secret journaling?  Ding-Ding-Ding...you are right!

Earlier this month, on my blog, I discussed my new adventure into an art journal...you can check it out here.  I have never done anything like this before, and I must admit, it is quite addicting (like I need another crafty addiction!).

 

 

 

The Linnie Blooms "mixed stitch canvas book" is what drew me in.  I saw one in the "real" Linnie Blooms store when I was there this summer and I knew it was something I wanted to try.  You can see it on the online store here.

 

 

So, I am creating an art journal inspired by songs I love. This page happens to be a "church song", but believe, me I will be covering all sorts of music by the time this book is done. This song, "You are Mine" has a very special place in my heart because it came to me during a very difficult time. The story is one that I don't want to share with everyone, so this Linnie Blooms canvas flourish pocket is a perfect "secret keeper".

 

To create the pages, I covered them sloppily, or should I say "creatively" in white and then metallic gold acrylic paint.  I added some gold glitter gel, a pearl embellishment, some doilies die cuts (Sizzix decorative doily), lace, patterned paper, and fabric scraps.  I attached and covered all of these additions with Mod Podge.

 

For the pocket, I used a stencil from Crafter's Workshop, and then spritzed my own mixture of gold metallic acrylic paint, Create a Shade Pearl Paint from Close to My Heart, and water to get the design.  The color is subtle, but still has enough contrast to really stand out.  I used Fireline, (which is really thin beading wire), to string on a few seed beads (clear, silver, and irridescent white) to embellish and create a border around the pocket.  The pocket is attached to the journaling page with a delicate pearl pin from Maya Road.

 

So, what are you going to put in your Linnie Blooms Canvas Flourish Pocket? You can shop here for one, and then  please share--we'd love to see your creations!

~Kelly
www.kellystarsallthingscrafty.blogspot.com
 

 

 

My Journal by Guest Designer Cheryl Dossey

My Journal – Created for Linnie Blooms

Here is my latest project featuring Linnie Blooms canvas shapes and a composition book.

I usually pick up several composition books each year during the back to schools sales. This one was the basic black and white. It’s now a bright, happy butterfly themed journal ready to be logged with all sorts of creative thoughts and ideas.  I love journals; I have art and written journals, as well as, one just for creative ideas or projects.

I really enjoy using Linnie Blooms canvas shapes in my projects.  The rough edges add great texture and dimension.  The butterflies were first painted using watercolor crayons. I then added a butterfly transfer to each one in black.

The background of the journal is a piece of patterned butterfly paper that was then painted with white paint using a brayer. I also added vintage ephemera scraps, and some washi tape. The words were done using rub-ons, stickers and cut with a silhouette cutter.

 It was a fun project and I’m looking forward to receiving new shapes soon.

Happy Creating!!

XO, Cheryl

www.cheryldossey.com

www.facebook.com/cheryldosseyartist