Over the Easter break I made a little gardening journal in which to keep all the notes about the garden this year - with my husband's foray into the world of growing vegetables and his constant quest for knowledge about it on the internet I decided that rather than have piles of little notes and scraps of paper lying around I would make him a journal to collate all his valuable information!
I took the idea from a birthday card I made him recently, which can be found here.
I used Eileen Hull's Wrapped Journal die and decorated it with stenciling using Distress Micro glaze as a resist. I added real seeds and Glossy Accents for 'water drops' to the front cover and little miniature die cut vegetables to the inner cover. For closure the twig (which is actually a shawl pin) is slotted through two loops of leather held in place with brads. The signatures are loose but held in place with brown elastic thread so that pages can be moved around or replaced.
The inside front cover has a small envelope which closes with natural twine and I made a page marker out of thick linen thread with a bead and a little pea pod on the end - this is simply looped through some of the elastic binding inside the journal.
I so enjoyed making this and I really could have gone to town decorating it but I was pleased that I managed to keep it fairly understated and simple - the hubs definitely wouldn't want dangly decorations and fiddly bits that might fall off or get in the way!
I am sharing this over at Julia's WOYWW and the
Mini Album Makers Challenge.
I am sharing this over at Julia's WOYWW and the
Mini Album Makers Challenge.
What a wonderful idea Diana, there is nothing more lovely to see in a journal our precious notes and interesting facts written the way we understand. I love the closure and the addition of the pea's in their pod. I hope he values all the effort you have gone too and keeps everything tidy within it.. i'd have to steal it at the first sign of neglect hee hee!! Beautiful to see it up close & so happy to see you linked up to MAM, Thank you for sharing... Happy WoywW Hugs Tracey #5
ReplyDeleteOh Diana, I simply love this! I am sure your hubby does, too! It's just so right in every way. I love the versatility of it, too, with the moveable signatures. The little pea pod charm on the bookmark is a beautiful finishing touch. What an absolutely gorgeous project!
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW,
Shoshi #19
What a lovely idea and perfectly executed! So many little details to explore! Using the micro glaze as a resist is such a cool idea - I must try it. I bought it to seal the distress inks, but never actually used it - this is a great alternative use for it! Loving that little pea pod too and the closure with the twig! Glad I caught you this week! zsuzsa #24
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, that is amazing! Love how you've pulled it all together, the colours are perfect. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #4 X
ReplyDeleteSuch a fabulous journal cover Diana and so perfect for the intended use. I particularly like the way that you have put together the closure. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #6
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover on the journal. Well done! Glenda #16
ReplyDeleteThat’s wonderfully clever Diana. I bet he is thrilled to bits with it. It’s a really good idea. Philip writes everything down in a little policeman notepad, he has them going back 30 + years and can go straight to the one he wants. No tinternet for my chap haha
ReplyDeleteLynn xx
It is gorgeous Diana, I`m sure he loves it, too. There are so many beautiful details, the envelope looking so inviting, and the lovely pea pod so special to add, I also love the miniature vegetables, and the water drops , everything made to suit a husband :-)
ReplyDeleteHugs, Dorthe
That's a fantastic idea and a gorgeous book - I just love the closing mechanism and all the decorative elements. You are so clever. Thanks for sharing. Happy WOYWW and have a great week, with love and God Bless, Caro x (#20)
ReplyDeleteoh, wow, Diana, that journal is gorgeous! thanks for your visit and kind comment. Helen #1
ReplyDeleteEverything you make is sprinkled with magic...that journal is simply gorgeous! I'm glad you've been enjoying your garden, so have I!!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 11 xx
Beautiful gardening journal. I love this so much. I may even be inspired to begin one of my own. I love sitting in my garden and arting in there :) added to follow your lovely blog. x
ReplyDeleteJust so lovely. Clever you. Anne x 13
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit, Diana - yes, it was pretty awful having that tooth out. However, I am amazed that I have had to take much less pain relief today - it seems to be settling down really well. I am doing the salt water mouth washes as instructed, and taking great care with the place so as not to interfere with the healing. It should be a lot better by the weekend, I think. So glad you like my little felt flowers. I made the leaves this evening and I'm now ready to start sewing them onto the slippers! If there isn't room for them all, I'm intending to make a couple of little hanging felt ornaments as gifts for friends I'm going out for lunch with next month and they can go on there. As you said, I'm hoping for a less eventful week from now on so I can draw breath and recover!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Shoshi x
Fabulous! That twig closure is genius, and I love that you have another leather loop around the back for a pen or pencil, but also just as an artistic echo! The textures are wonderful - I especially loved seeing some more of those magical dew drops - and the tiny vegetable die-cuts are a great finishing touch. Oh, oh, and the peas in a pod page-marker... gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
What a fabulous idea Diana, and so beautifully created. I now have gardening notebook envy.
ReplyDeleteYou totally disappeared from my radar for quite a while, but, thankfully, you have returned. So pleased to see you back. Don’t know why this happens on social media? Xx
That is truly gorgeous! Love everything about it and would love to know how you made the peas in a pod. I would wear something like that around my neck it is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteAm sure husband was delighted with his gift and will find it so useful in the months to come as he jots down his finds on the internet.
What talent!
Hugs, Neet 18 xx
Gorgeous Diana, very clever and very beautiful. The detail is just perfect. Happy belated WOYWW, Angela x21x
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful creation - classy and smart with a bit of your magic added too!
ReplyDeleteWow Diana, your journal is fabulous and it is such a thoughtful gift for your hubby. The cover decoration is superb, I really thought the closure was a real twig (so appropriate). Eileen's journal is just the perfect size to keep lots and lots of notes in too. I really love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining in with us at Mini Album Makers this month. Anne x
Wonderful creative garden journal Diana, practical and soo beautifully made! If I was more committed my I’d make me one.. but notes are my way. 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing it and for popping over and commenting too.
Hugs Shaz in Oz.x
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
OMG that closure is amazing! Love your style and this book. Thanks for joining the Mini Album Makers Challenge blog.
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo cool! I love your 'restraint' and the details you did add are perfect! Excellent closure too (I'm stealing this idea). :)
ReplyDelete~ Heather
OH MY GOSH, that is to die for. Everything you do, you just do so beautifully. I hope your husband fully appreciates it! I'm not sure I could get myself to let my husband touch it, if I'd made it!
ReplyDeleteI am in oooh and aawe over your little journal Diana, it is magnificent! I love the closing-technique (with the leather bands and stick) and will definitely 'steal' that idea when I create my next journal. (Oh, ha, I see there are more 'thieves', when I read the comments given earlier)Thanks for your blogvisit earlier this week, have a lovely Sunday! Love from Holland, Marit #3
ReplyDeleteHi Diana just wanted to pop back over and say Thank you very much for your sweet comment on my Mini Album DT project, it is indeed surprising what we can make with a cereal box must be from my Youth and watching Blue Peter.. hee hee! Although for me this was about preserving that Lucky Charms box as my Son paid a fortune for that cereal as I believe it is not readily available in the UK. The silly things kids spend their money on whilst at University, i'm sure he will think twice about it when he's finished his Master's but I was very grateful for the box.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing your super duper gardening journal with us over at Mini Album makers. Tracey (DT)
Oh this is so original! Love it! Thank you for sharing at Mini Album Maklers!
ReplyDelete