Hello

Welcome to my first post of 2019.

I thought, for this first project of this brand new year, a journal.
I like to have several projects on the go at any one time, especially a project I can pick up now and again to work on, this journal was such a project which I started weeks ago when I had the thought of printing onto the new rice paper from That's Crafty!

Supplies
That's Crafty! Surfaces Specialised Paper Pack (worked with the rice paper)
That's Crafty! Surfaces A5 MIxed Media Journal Kit (worked with calico)
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Textures Collection Set 1
That's Crafty! Walnut Ink Crystals
PaperArtsy Eclectica Designed by Kasia Avery Everything Art EEA02
PaperArtsy Eclectica EAB
Kraft-Tex Sampler Pack (worked with black and tan)
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Staz-on Jet Black
Cartridge Paper
Copyright Free Image
Inkjet Printer
Wax Linen Thread
Brown Cotton Thread
Awl
Bookbinding Needle
Ruler
Pencil
Pinking Shears
Sewing Machine
Rusted Washer

Instructions

Journal size: Approx 8.5" x 6"

I washed the Kraft-Tex and allowed to dry thoroughly. Simply a personal choice, I like the more weathered appearance achieved by washing.

Search for copyright free image of your choice or ideally, use one of your own photos. I had in mind a specific image and stumbled across what I was looking for. If necessary, re-size image.

I like to print onto different surfaces and have found that adhering speciality papers, muslin, canvas, etc to freezer paper, can be useful in allowing it to be fed through a printer. So that is what I did, I set about adhering a sheet of rice paper to freezer paper. Well, I shouldn't have wasted my time!!! It repeatedly jammed the printer. Instead of continuing to try to have success, I decided to go back to basics....would the printer accept the rice paper without the freezer paper acting as a carrier?  Success!  It worked a treat. That said, I am not advocating you follow my instructions, I only wanted to share my experience.
Something I want to point out, which is clever thinking on the part of That's Crafty, the rice paper is of a suitable size to feed into a standard printer.
You can see the image printed onto the rice paper in the photo below. Ideally, I would not waste any space on any paper that is printed but I knew I could use the white space above the printed image for stamping the quote.

I selected black and tan, with the black forming the cover and tan only acting as an accent, cutting two strips of the tan Kraft-Tex with pinking shears provided an extra detailing. To attach the strips, I turned to the sewing machine but they could have as easily been attached with adhesive.
This shows the inside of the front cover.

The tan strips were then stamped with the beautiful script stamp from Textures Collection and the mark making stamp from PaperArtsy which was also stamped onto a scrap of linen, layered to a piece of coffee stained calico, attaching with naive cross stitches.

This was adhered to the cover, layering with another scrap, this time of handmade paper.
My attention then turned to the inserts. There is nothing I love more than messy time, staining papers.  Tearing the cartridge paper  (each sheet would be folded in half, once dry), I generously applied the dissolved walnut ink crystals to each sheet, both front and rear.
For the completed journal I worked with three signatures in sets of four.


Final touch, a piece of stained calico was folded over the upper edge of the front cover, to form a simple tab. It was then embellished with a rusted washer.

For the moment, the pages are blank, until I decide how I want to progress with this. Simply using it as a notebook, for quick jottings or for it to become a more thoughtful space, possibly an art journal.  Time will tell.

I have always liked that about books, even long before I made books, it is the possibilities of what they might contain.

One final word in this very lengthy blog post.  If you are new to working with Kraft-Tex and planning on hand-stitching or machine stitching, keep in mind the nature of Kraft-Tex. Although it is super strong and suitable for stitching, it is more akin to paper than it is to fabric when using a needle, worth keeping that in mind.

Thank you so much for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne