Junk Journal July : Part 2

I shared the first part of my response to Junk Journal July 2023 in my previous post. I was inspired by the small accordian format - mine measures 15cm high x 12 cm wide for no other reason than because I had some old board covers that were that measurement. Although I started a week late, I got myself into a rhythm with this challenge while on holiday so decided to post after the first 11 prompts. 

Following that post I went away for another weekend and that kept the momentum going and even with me starting a new job last week I managed to only slide a few days behind. Completed one side and heading back the other way now.

This is Prompts 12-20. 

The details prompt included some hand stitched french knots in the flower. 

Maximalism (below) - layered patterned collage papers, papers coloured by me using different techniques, paint through stencils, paint pen marks, tag with ribbon, washi tape, words and a double-page spread!

Then turn the cover and have Pause - one of my favourite supplies is stencils

I liked having the juxtaposition here of the fold out interactive and the more secret envelope

I am a couple of prompts behind but enjoying what each new prompt suggests to me, so I'm not feeling pressured to push on when I'm not inspired. See the playlist of prompts and demos on youtube here. 

Junk Journal July : Part 1

I had no intention of participating in this Junk Journal July 2023 challenge, but something made me do it! I was inspired by the small accordian format plus I knew I was going to be away for a couple of weekends in July and wanted to take a wee kit with me so I could create if I wanted. First I created my "junk journal" from scrap papers - it measures 15cm high x 12 cm wide for no other reason than because I had some old board covers that were that measurement. I glued and machine stitched pieces of paper and tags together. And I printed the list of prompts out so I can cut and include them on each page

Then I gathered 2 x A4 plastic envelopes and popped papers in one and focals in another - included a couple of old magazines (good paper for collage), a Tim Holtz word sticker pad and a large pencil case for pens, glue stick, scissors, and a new set of watercolour pencils. I did sneak in 2 fav paint tubes and a cosmetic wedge as well cos you never know! It all fits in a small recycled bag to travel.

These first few prompts I hadn't watched anyone else for inspiration.

I am always challenged by leaving some negative space untouched. Lucky for me the word July was on this page, and I used a mask to reveal some other spaces. Since I'm in an accordian journal, it's fun to run prompts across the usual boundaries of the pages.

The next tickets and tags prompt led me back to what I learned in wonderful Fodder School classes with Liz Constable. 

For Prompt 5 : Fold out I remembered an origami envelope by Helen Colebrook. Get the instructions here. Here alongside Prompt 6 : Layers on layers

Fun to play with the extra tag insert - meant I could have balance across 2 pages. The next prompt of stripped back was a challenge for me - decided to go as simple as I was able with strips of paper. 

Prompt 11 was a perfect chance to play again with the idea of snippet rolls

I've got myself into a rhythm with this challenge so decided to post after these first 11 prompts. Loving how this journal is looking.

Hopefully there'll be 2 more postings to share (let's see how it goes once school hols is over and I start my new job!). See the playlist of prompts and demos on youtube here.

Down the garden path : stitched roll finished

2 blog posts in 2 days! I knew that having school holidays would enable me to get some things finished.

I have loved Roxy's Journal of Stitchery Vol 3. It's been a 6-month stitched roll challenge and since it's now finished I thought I'd share all of my photos and a video in one post.

January : the beginning

Wild flowers and Garden gate

February : Vegetable garden and Garden shed 

March : Pots of flowers and Visitors to the garden

There was an extra week in March so time to add one more garden visitor - I finally found the perfect addition for behind my garden gate. I'd been exploring photo alteration in a class with Jane Chipp and decided that my own dear mum would be perfect behind my gate.

Details of the method used here. 

April : Garden Seat or Bench

May : Pond (April prompt but I was late!) and Tree

Favourite flowers - embroidered ribbon gifted by a friend, a piece of my great grandmother's lace, roses and a pohutukawa. 

June : Bird house - with the addition of a cute bird pin gifted for my birthday

Finish as you wish. I wanted to include a few more fun layered flowers, plus the sweet fantail print which is cut from a gifted cotton tea towel!

Finishing with words to remember when I did this and then attached it to the spool

With a tie closure at the front using my beloved sari ribbon (don't think I can do a fibre project without using it ♥) The button was made by me many years ago from polymer clay.

I did not back the roll with fabric, because the stitching on the back is mostly neat enough

And here's a video so you can see how it unwinds

All the prompts and instructional videos from the challenge remain here on YouTube if you want to join in at any time.  

Combining Fodder School Lessons

In my previous post, I shared that I made some master sheets from our May Fodder School lessons with Tiffany Sharpe and I then enjoyed watching cool lessons in June with Karen Elaine about making a blizzard book. I've managed to find time this holidays to combine both ideas into one finished project for me. First a reminder that the master sheets started like this

I am always thrilled by the magic of how they look when you cut them into smaller pieces

And then you add extra bits to make each special. I was sorting through ideas for focal points and found some botanicals from a lesson with Tiffany in Fodder School 1 which worked so well. The beauty of working across years with similar colour palettes...

Normally I would add words, but these feel finished as they are and on the back I just brayered some colour 

Karen Elaine taught us a blizzard book form which creates pockets for cards. I made my pages using some wrapping paper

Then a cover with a belt to close

It's a really useful book form to have learned, and fits in my hand - only  14cm high x 9 cm wide.

Fodder School 2 continues until September (you can still join FS 1 and/or 2 here), and there is going to be a Fodder School 3 with new teachers. There's a Free Fodder Challenge in July to meet them. One new lesson will drop into the classroom each day from July 10 for 12 days. You will have free access to these lessons until August 4, 2023. (Fodder School 3 students will receive "lifetime" access to all Fodder Challenge 2023 lessons.) Register HERE. Might see you there.