I used a cereal packet once again for the covers, this time getting two journals from one box, as they are so small! I had been wanting to play with some new products, and techniques, so these two became the guinea pigs. I am very happy with the outcome, overall.
I had seen Jenofeve designs using paint on a couple of her journal covers some time back and finally got myself around to trying it. I used some Mont Marte paint from our local Shiploads store...it's cheapo but non the worse for that for this purpose. I have also been trying to find ways to use products other than my preferred Ranger Multi Matte Medium when making journal covers, as although it does give wonderful results and feels so nice to touch, it is just so expensive. No-one has it in store here in craft shop-challenged Tasmania, so I have to get it online from mainland shops, or on occasion, from America...and the postage puts the price over the top, rather.
This time I used Liquitex super heavy gel for adhering the brown paper layers, and Reeve gloss gel to mix with the acrylic paint for applying the tissue paper covers over the top, once they had dried out and been flattened under the Webster overnight. This combination worked a treat, the covers are sturdy and flexible and a nicely matt finish, but with a shine, if that's not a contradiction in terms!
One simple thing I learned that has made quite a difference to the spine appearance of these journals, was to punch the holes for the pamphlet stitching from the OUTSIDE of the cover...up until now I have always punched from the inside out, but this leaves a nasty little crater around each stitch hole on the spine that cannot be completely removed. Punching from the outside in puts the crater on the inside of the spine where it is simply invisible and the outside spine is just much neater. Hardly rocket science, but I am pleased I finally worked this out!
I think I may have mentioned in a few previous posts that we are in the midst of our hottest summer on record...well guess what? Two mornings ago we woke to a much chillier morning to be told that snow had fallen overnight across the highlands, including Mount Wellington...we are now back to warmer days, but it was like a breath of fresh air indeed. Have you noticed though, how quickly, once things cool down, that you forget how uncomfortable you are when the weather is too hot? Mmmmm...never satisfied us, although I would much prefer to be cooler than hotter, any old day.
Bye now,
Di