Travel Journal with StencilGirl and USArtQuest

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my stop on the blog hop with StencilGirl and USArtQuest! I'm so excited that I got to participate in the hop... so many fun products to play with!

I'll get right to the project and then show you a brief step by step of how it evolved. A little background on how this came about - I love to make books, and I LOVE to travel! So naturally, I make books to use as travel journals. Usually I do a 3-ring book and don't actually bind it, but for my trip to Bali this month I decided to try something a little different, and I thought that using StencilGirl stencils and products from USArtQuest would be perfect!

Here's my finished book (pre-trip, of course!)

And now for a little how-to... I started with the covers. I picked out some 8x10 canvas panels to use for those and started decorating. First, I did the back cover. I took a beautiful half-sheet of USArtQuest Art Papers  and decided that I would add a little copper Perfect Pigment Fluid Acrylic paint to the background to make the flowers stand out. I won't lie... this took a while, but I find it pretty relaxing, so I didn't mind.

Next I started working on the front cover. I used more Perfect Pigment paints to cover the background, then stenciled the main image using the Bloom True stencil by Flora Bowley.

If you look closely, you'll see that this stencil comes in two parts - the outline, and then the actual flower mask. I left the pieces together for this part so that I could add an outline later. I used the Perfect Pigments paints again - I mixed Magenta and Wheat to get the lighter color for the flower.

I knew I wanted the cover to be inspired by batik fabric designs, so for the outline (you can see above that I removed the mask) I used Duo Gilding Adhesive to put down a layer of glue so I could go back through and gild the outline. Once the adhesive was tacky (follow the directions - "when it's white it's not right, when it's clear it adheres!) I put down the Gildenglitz Leafing and then buffed off the excess.

I used the Spring Fling stencil by Flora Bowley and repeated this process so that I had some leaves. Then I added a few other details and a title. I glazed both the front and back covers to they'll stand up to travel and handling. While that dried, I assembled my inside signatures. I separated the trip into travel time and then actual days in Bali and set up a signature for each day there and then one at the beginning and end for the travel (it's almost 2 days each way!) I bound it all together, and there you go!

For the inside, I used more of those beautiful half-sheets of artist papers to make the end papers of the book. Here's the inside of the front:

and the back - this paper is really iridescent - so cool!

I also went through with stencils and Perfect Pigment paints and stenciled designs on some of the blank pages. I liked the transparency of some of the paints, because it makes good backgrounds for writing or other things I might add during the trip.

Above, I used the Going Global stencil by Mary Nasser along with the beautiful pearlescent green paint.

On the next ones, you can see where I bound this gorgeous textured artist paper into the book, and then added some stenciling next to it:

I used the Floral 1 stencil by Traci Bautista and the Flower and Leaf stencil by Daniella Woolf for these.

And last but not least, the finished and bound back cover:

I hope you enjoyed today's project!

No blog hop is complete without a giveaway... one lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to StencilGirl as well as some of the USArtQuest Decorative Papers and Perfect Pigment Acrylics that you're seen us use in this week's hop!

Make sure you visit all of the stops on this fun, 2-day blog hop and leave a comment on each to increase your chances to win! (One comment per person, per blog please.) The giveaway closes on Sunday, Sept. 19th at 11:59pm Central.

Today's blog hop participants:

• StencilGirl Talk
• Gwen Lafleur <-- You are here!
• Joe Rotella
• Kirsten Reed

Comments

[Barbara Cobb]

Your journal is absolutely breathtaking! I too, love all the different Artists Papers available.

[Nan]

I love the palette in the giveaway, and I can visualize what it will look like in my art journal. I also love what you have done in your journal with the Perfect Pigment Paints!

[MelodyJ]

That book is so pretty. I love the colord and image.

[Melissa T]

Really nice -- inspiring. (Joe sent me.)

[stamping sue]

this journal book looks great! like that you used paints with stencils.
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

[Rhonda V.]

I love that the stencil is two part, your travel journal is wonderful! So many fun techniques used here, thank you!

[Gerrie Johnnic]

Amazing book, especially when you say "Bali"! The flowers are perfect. Love the colors and textures of the pages.

[Glenda]

Truly beautiful as well as functional journal. Love all the textures and colors. Have a wonderful journey.

[Annette Reed]

This is lovely! I love all the leafing and sparkle. I really like the looks of that back cover! Thanks for the step by step.

[Stacy Caddy]

I love making my own journals, this one is gorgeous.

[Joe Rotella]

Fantastic book! Love every part!

[Shannon]

Wow, very inspiring. Thx for sharing.

[Thea McC]

Shared on FB, love the variety in you journal!

[Helen Markee]

How beautiful!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

[Carol]

I'm so glad I didn't miss this blog hop. Love your journal and I really appreciate all the tips and techniques you shared. I can really use them for my Thailand journal. Beautiful work!

[chark]

love the copper paint and the leafing--lovely work!

[Jen Waugh]

Stunning, stunning, stunning journal Gwen. I need those Flora Bowley stencils!!!

[Susan G]

What a beautiful journal, so many lovely colorful pages waiting to be created on.

[Gwen Lafleur]

Thanks Kathy!

[Gwen Lafleur]

Hi Vicki - It's not Coptic - it's more of a modified long stitch - on the top and bottom of the spine are kettle stitches, so it looks like Coptic, but it's actually a lot easier!

[diana garcia]

Love this book, and adore the detail put in to you work!