Welcome to today's stop on the StencilGirl and The Groove Tool blog hop!
I'm super excited that I got to work with The Groove Tool for this... you know how much I love anything I can use with my stencils!
For today's project, I thought I'd try something that's been kicking around in my head for a while. Traveler's Notebooks are super hot and trendy, and I've seen some homemade art journal inserts, but I thought I'd like to make a stenciled Junque Journal insert, so I did!
Here you can see mine inserted into my notebook. My cover is actually by Chic Sparrow and I use the wide one that fits the Moleskine Cahiers instead of the original, thinner Traveler's Notebooks (although those fit in here too!) With that, here's a very quick overview of how I made it, and how I used the Groove Tool to pull it all together!
First up, I did the cover. I used a sheet of very thin chipboard because I knew I'd want it to be somewhat sturdy after it's full and I take it out of my traveler's notebook. I cut it to the size of a Moleskine book - 8"x10.5." Then I used the brush attachment on the Groove Tool to stencil the Butterfly Duo stencil by Maria McGuire with acrylic paint.
I did both butterflies, spreading it across the whole cover so that both sides would be decorated.
The brush attachment really works great for this - I just popped it off and cleaned it in water when I was done.
To finish the cover, I added lots of detail to the butterflies and then used pieces from a travel themed ephemera package from Art-C (makers of the Groove Tool) to embellish. I used one of the sanding attachments for the Groove Tool to do a little distressing around the edges of my cover. That's definitely a lot handier than trying to sand by hand!
Next, I made the inside pages of my journal. There were several very cool sheets of 5x7 patterned cardstock in the ephemera pack, so I combined those with paper scraps and some thin, black masking tape to make each folio - there are five of them, all sized 8"x10" when I was finished assembling.
I punched holes and bound them into the cover and then started decorating. The backs of most of those pages were pretty blank - perfect for stenciling, of course! This time I used the sponge attachment (I need to get a few refill packs of these!) These work great with ink, but I also really liked using them with paint.
Here you can see all of the completed inside pages:
I used some of my hand-carved stamps in here to alternate with the stencils. Here's the list of stencils I used in the order they appear in the book:
Finally, the back cover so you can see how it looks inserted into my notebook:
There you go! I now have a portable Junque Journal, ready for me to work in on the go (or at home!) I hope you enjoyed today's project and that you've enjoyed our blog hop this week.
Make sure you leave a comment below and on all of the other posts this week since one lucky winner will get their own Groove Tool plus a $25 gift certificate to StencilGirl!
Comments will close at 11:59PM Central on September 26th, so make sure you get to all of the blogs and leave your comments for your chance to win! (One comment per person per blog post, please.)
Today there's one more stop for you to visit, and make sure to visit StencilGirl Talk to get the list of any posts you might have missed on Monday and Tuesday.
For those who are interested, The Groove is available now at EVERY
Hobby Lobby store. Most
Michaels and
Joann Fabric and Craft stores have it now, as well. At Hobby Lobby and Michaels, it is in the stamping isle. At Joann, it is in the paint and stencil aisle, near the unfinished wood. Of course, it may be ordered directly from Art-C by calling Customer Service at
800-448-6656. (You can also ask your local independent store if they carry it or will order it - I know I'll be calling mine to see about getting more sponge attachments!)
Thank you Art-C for letting me play with this awesome tool! So much fun!
Wow, you have wonderful ideas and are so generous sharing them. This is a nice giveaway and a fun tool. Love hops to see new art, tools and artists. It's how I was introduced to your art.
Posted by: Denise Spillane | September 23, 2015 at 12:43 AM
love your project so pretty this tool seems to be so useful in so many different ways thanks for the chance to win
Posted by: ros | September 23, 2015 at 01:41 AM
Your journal is looking good!
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/
Posted by: stamping sue | September 23, 2015 at 05:32 AM
Love the ease and smoothness the Groove Tool provides. Love the details of the butterflies in your journal..so creative. I would love to win the tool and experiment.
Posted by: Eloise | September 23, 2015 at 07:28 AM
How fabulous! Those colors are terrific!
Posted by: D.AnnC | September 23, 2015 at 07:49 AM
Gorgeous work on
your creation!
The Groove Tool
looks really
useful for a
number of things.
Carla from Utah
Posted by: Carla Hundley | September 23, 2015 at 10:29 AM
what a beautiful project. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: McStamper (Gilda) | September 23, 2015 at 10:36 AM
LOVE your journal cover & pages! I haven't started an art journal yet. I need to do that. The "Groove" seems to be a multi-faceted tool! Awesome.
Posted by: Nancy Sapp | September 23, 2015 at 10:59 AM
Great project! Thanks for sharing the opportunity to win one of these great tools.
Posted by: Carol Ponsford | September 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM
The groove tool seems like a multi-use addition, particularly helpful to cover larger areas. Would love to try this.
Posted by: Susan Achter | September 23, 2015 at 11:20 AM
very cool, love how it worked with the stencils
Posted by: Margaret Griffiths | September 23, 2015 at 11:40 AM
WOW! This is really cool ! I'm making journals as Christmas gifts this year and I can see the Groove will really help things along :)
Posted by: Carol L Samsel | September 23, 2015 at 11:46 AM
Hi Gwen
This is my first comment for anything. I don't usually comment, just read others and look at all of the beautiful artwork by the team and those other talented people who make comments and show their work. I am to much of a beginner, however, after seeing your wonderful journal I realize I can make one of these myself. We will be going on a trip in two months and I am inspired to go into my craft room and make an art/travel journal. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
Posted by: judi abbey | September 23, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Love the tool and your blog!
Posted by: Judy Hough | September 23, 2015 at 12:19 PM
Wonderful book - I am so excited about The Groove Tool.
Posted by: Kathi Vargo | September 23, 2015 at 12:25 PM
Your journal cover and pages are all lovely - awesome colors and stenciling. Thanks for sharing your feedback on The Groove Tool.
Posted by: Kathy Bradley | September 23, 2015 at 12:33 PM
This looks so very lovely.
Posted by: Frieda Oxenham | September 23, 2015 at 12:56 PM
The groove tool looks really efficient and easy to use...bea
Posted by: Bea Savellano | September 23, 2015 at 01:17 PM
Enjoyed your ideas. The Groove tool looks easy to use.
Posted by: Susann Trandem | September 23, 2015 at 01:33 PM
Love it. Do the inside folios have pockets?
Posted by: Shari | September 23, 2015 at 01:35 PM
Your in the groove with your paint and stencils!
Posted by: Annie Choate | September 23, 2015 at 02:07 PM
Beautiful work! I imagine you can get alot done with the groovy tool!! Thanks for the chance.
Posted by: M. Austen | September 23, 2015 at 02:16 PM
Wow! I had never heard of a groove tool until this Stencil Girl thing. It seems like it would be a good tool for me with stencils, as spraying with spray inks through the stencils is such a messy proposition. This seems like it would be better. Love your junque journal!
Posted by: Sunny D L Steinmetz | September 23, 2015 at 03:44 PM
Feeling groovey, would love to try it. Fabulous travel journal!
Posted by: Jinx Engstrom | September 23, 2015 at 04:31 PM
What another DIVINE art journal, Gwen!!
It is fabulous to see your process for creating your gems!
So happy you are part of this hop! :)
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | September 23, 2015 at 04:32 PM
Lovely art journal, the sample pages are so colorful. Looks like a Groove Tool is going on my list of wants...
Posted by: Barbara Cobb | September 23, 2015 at 05:01 PM
Lovely! Some great uses of the tool. Good job!
Posted by: Shannon | September 23, 2015 at 06:20 PM
The covers are so great.
Posted by: julie m | September 23, 2015 at 06:28 PM
I like your color choice and your tool! How cool is that? 😊
Posted by: Elizabeth Kaplan | September 23, 2015 at 06:43 PM
It seems there are endless applications.
Posted by: Susan Pratt | September 23, 2015 at 06:46 PM
Wow! This looks really cool. I love all the stenciling and you really showed off the Groove tool. This is great!
Posted by: Annette Reed | September 23, 2015 at 07:19 PM
Fun tool. Great project. Love these blog hops...so much to see and learn. Thanks for shanring and the chance to win.
Posted by: Cheryl Donohew | September 23, 2015 at 07:54 PM
Hi Judi - You're welcome! If you're just starting out, this is a really good type of project to start with - it comes together quickly and you can really just use what you have on hand and adapt it based on what you need. So glad you're feeling inspired! Good luck on your project, and have fun on your trip!
Posted by: Gwen Lafleur | September 23, 2015 at 09:37 PM
Hi Shari, Thanks! The inside folios don't have pockets, but it would be really easy to add them if you wanted... I usually just adhere a pocket or envelope of some type on my pages so I can put it where I need one instead of building it into the page. But either way works!
Posted by: Gwen Lafleur | September 23, 2015 at 09:40 PM
I live in the Monarch migration corridor. I cannot wait to get my "Groove" tool moving over a butterfly motif to celebrate our transient friend. Your journal layout is very pretty and reminds me just how much I love butterflies.
Posted by: Mary Hockett Thoma | September 24, 2015 at 06:01 AM
I love the butterflies. they are such pretty colors.
the journal will be a show-stopper when you pull it out.
Looking forward to getting the Groove tool.
always wanting to play with the newest tool - and this one looks like it will be so useful.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl@yahoo.com
Posted by: Mary Holshouser | September 24, 2015 at 01:07 PM
What a keepsake! I can imagine all kinds of themes for a journal. Thanks for sharing all your techniques! And the Groove tool looks amazing!
Posted by: Pam | September 24, 2015 at 06:44 PM
Love the project you did and it looked so easy with the new Groove tool. I need something to help me create faster and easier having arthritis in my hands, plus I love new tools! :) ~Gin K.~
Posted by: Ginny K | September 25, 2015 at 03:58 AM
Such a fun page! That tool looks like it is worth its weight in gold. Easy and fun!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | September 25, 2015 at 12:51 PM
That looks like a tool I could really use up here in Canada PatriciaJohnston(at)Shaw(dot)ca
Posted by: Patricia Johnston | September 26, 2015 at 07:57 PM
Stunning journal Gwen!!!
Posted by: Carolyn Dube | September 29, 2015 at 11:01 AM
This is AMAZING Gwen!!!!! The results you got with The Groove Tool and stencils are so cool! LOVE, LOVE how you used my butterfly stencil too!!!
Posted by: Maria McGuire | October 02, 2015 at 01:07 AM