A few favorites....

I absolutely love Dyan Reaveley's journal made by Ranger!  Oh my goodness, you have the freedom to use all types of mediums - super nice!

I tend to make background pages using different colors, stencils and stamps.  Then later, I make my journal pages that work with the backgrounds I made. 

I wasn't sure what to do with the pink/red and bits of green but then Christmas called out to me.

This has become one of my favorite pages that originally was a bit of a nightmare.  I turned the too dark purple into a lush deep midnight blue - perfect for angels.

This spread was done using paints instead of inks. It's a challenge to letter on top of paint - so I probably won't make too many pages using paint, however, I did like how this turned out.

Tag, You're It

I resisted adding art on top of my tag when I completed the background. I so loved the background that I created for approximately 30 different size tags all using the same colors, stamps and stencils. When I found the fish, I thought they would be perfect for this tag!

XYZ Journal

The "XYZ" letters I have had in my studio at least 8+ years.  I thought they were cool, however, I didn't have a home for them until I thought of making this journal.  The cover technique was one that I learned in an altered book workshop several years ago.  The Tim Holtz thinlit gears are perfect for this cover look of industrial along with a couple of other elements that I had.  Red electical tape was applied as an extra design element.

The large red "5" was an earring that I took apart.  I save a lot of 5's for my "Fifth Child Studio" name.

 Apparently I enjoy making tabs as my recent journals are packed with them!

Below are a few of my favorite pages.

I love stamping the tea cup several times and then stacking them.  I liked how this page turned out and I will probably repeat this process.

Okay - I couldn't resist using this image from an old year book from a medical collage.  His smug look was calling out to me to alter his appearance.  I fussy cut the lense part of his glasses and inserted a distress ink color background.  Glossy accents was then added.

"Listen" Journal

This vintage book cover was in such great shape that I decided to add my ephemera on the cover without any other preparations.

Below are a few of my favorite pages giving me the opportunity to use up paper scraps from other projects.

I call these journals "smash" journals too as it's my way of using bits and pieces.

There are so many funny quotes that I have collected - I like pages that make me laugh.

I usually make a western theme in my journals.

I love making layouts with a strong color theme.

"ART"

The batik material was a perfect match for the cover design - I love how that happened!

I followed Dyan Reavely's technique for cutting pages and reinserting them. (see last photo)

I love this bird image and I use it quite a bit!

Few Fav's from Algebra Journal

When I took the latest Tim Holtz Chemistry 103 class, I created the new techniques in a Dyan Reaveley's journal from Ranger where I had taken the signatures completely apart. I loved being able to try the new techniques on both sides of the signature pages and then choosing whether I wanted them in the finished journal or not. I was also able to determine the order in which the pages appeared. It was super easy to make a Copic binding when I finished making the backgrounds because the holes were already punched. I also divided the pages into three different color themes.

I love all the layering that happens when you use the distress inks, stencils and rubber stamping.

My book is packed full so I was not able to have it lay flat when I took photos.

I love my new city, Minneapolis!

I have always loved this rubber stamp image in my collection.  I researched his name to read about him - super interesting!

I fuzzy cut an image that was from an vintage Christmas card and added it to my page.

Coming Soon....

It's been soooo long since I posted that I almost forgot I had a blog!

I have four finished journals that I'll be sharing photos plus other tidbits in the next few days.  The vintage algebra book will be posted first.

It's packed full of delicious goodness!

Dessert Queen

My Aunt Dorothy is an amazing Iowa farmer's wife.  She made the most amazing desserts and was known in our family as the "Dessert Queen".  I was over the moon when Somerset Studio featured my art honoring Aunt Dorothy.

The photo I used was taken on her wedding day in the early 40's. 

Lady's Home Journal

Recently I have been recycling old books making them into journals. I am enjoying the process of creating new pages and altering an already existing cover. My stash of journal books ready to go has now been depleted to three. I made these "ready to go" journals for workshops that I cancelled due to my moving from Oklahoma to Minnesota. There wasn't time to prepare for the workshops and pack! I have been slowly consuming my own ready to go product and that makes me very happy!

I named my journal "Lady's Home Journal" as it reminded me of the large magazine that my mother ordered and centered around a woman's life.  Choosing pink, french text, pearls and shoes inspired the contents of my journal.



It was a great opportunity to use paper and ephemera from other completed projects along with my rubber stamps.

Using quotes that my friends post on fb are a great source.  I wasn't on fb when I was doing a lot of calligraphy.  I have lots of quote books and the quotes are pretty boring. The quotes that I love using now make me laugh.... a lot!

I love the challenge of using the left overs.


I had a few girlfriends that were Danielle Steele book lovers.  I personally never read any of her books and this quote is why I never did!

Art Journal

I love the wire spine that I made for this book! It took me a few attempts at getting the right wire weight to work with the chunky beads that I wanted to use. I would have had more success with the wire if I had more experience. I have a new found appreciation for those who do wire work in making jewelry, etc.

Some of my favorite pages.....

Life is Good - Thank You Lisa!

Our calligraphy guild was super blessed to have Lisa Engelbrecht teach us a "lettering on fabric" workshop. I have had so many opportunities to use the techniques that she taught me and I have used them over and over again! Lisa continues to be a huge inspiration to me and is missed and loved. I think of Lisa every time I letter on fabric.

I absolutely love combining my rubber stamp passion with my love of calligraphy and marrying the fabric and paper together! I have made so many fabric/paper books.  It's truly my addiction. The book I made was using scraps left from other projects - different sizes, colors, and textures. I am using rubber stamps and calligraphy on the pages. My book is almost complete - an easy theme of "Life is Good".