Journaling, My Style!

Back from class and as promised a tutorial on how I journal! I will post a tutorial on how I made my actual book at a later date. I have to pic up some more supplies for it. When I create my pages, I use only the things that I can find in my dorm room. It's like a scavenger hunt every time I make a new entry. I like the challenge :) I am always writing notes to myself so they often end up as my backgrounds on my pages.

Step 1: Cover pages in torn newspaper/notes/whatever you'd like.

I use clear school glue and a paint brush to paste the paper on there. By painting the glue onto the news paper it keeps it from wrinkling. Then I let the paper dry. For this journal entry I did it a bit different. It is about my little brother Noah who loves the color green. First I graffitied his name all over the pages. Then I glued different types of green paper on top. (His favorite color is green. Can you tell?)



Step 2: I then glued his picture down on one page. I use the same clear glue and paint brush method for pictures as I do for the paper.

Step 3: Write your entry! And then you re finished!



On some entries I write directly on the news paper. It's sometimes hard to read, but that's okay because it's meant for me to read. As long as I can read it, it's good!

So Close to the Finish!

My freshman year is coming to a close! Well almost..., I have 4 weeks left. But, I have all of these projects and papers to finish up and most are due the last week of school. So in a basic sense, my finals have already started! To keep my sanity I've started a journal. This is not your ordinary diary/journal. It started out that way, but then I got bored with that and wanted something creative. It ended up like this.

I bought a cheap journal at Walmart and decided I hated the cover. I recovered it using fabric I had in my dorm room. (I'll show a tutorial on that later. I did mine at 2 in the morning and forgot to take pictures.)

Here are some entries into it. I'll give a turorial on it in my next post!

Coasters!

Today I took a swing at making coasters. This should have only taken at a maximum of 2 hours, but I had the brightest idea to make twelve to make as Christmas/Birthday gifts for my friends back at school. So it this project ended up taking me all day, and my whole trying to speed the process up idea only made it take longer. BUT I had fun and it was a pretty cheap project.

Supplies: Felt, Clear Waterproofing spray, tiles(these can be bought at Menards for 16 cents each) super fine glitter, scrapbook letters, scissors, Mod Podge, paint brush(I like to use the foam paint brushes. Mostly because you can get 6 for 99 cents at Hobby Lobby so I don't feel bad throwing them away afterwards.), scrapbook paper, and something to use to set your project on - I used computer paper that was in the scrap bin. You don't really need all of these, you can decorate your coasters how ever you would like! (PS, like my tiny scissors? I guess that's what happens when you live in a house that holds a daycare. :p)

First trace out tiles on the felt. This will be the bottom of the coasters so they don't scratch the surface they sit on. I had to use 3 pieces of felt for 12 tiles.

Apply Mod Podge to the back of the tile and then press the felt onto the tile back. Make sure you press hard so the felt doesn't fall off.

Cut out the scrapbook paper if that's how you are going to decorate your coasters. The paper can be cut out to cover the entire tile but I thought it looked cuter when I cut the birds out.

Now cover the tile in Mod Podge and place paper on top. Be sure to press the paper firmly on to the tile so it stays on. Then cover with 2-3 layers of Mod Podge.

Ooooooo glitter coasters!!!! How I love glitter! This is where the super fine glitter comes in hand. It covers more evenly than the chunky glitter does and I think it looks prettier! And I just love glitter!

I discovered that when putting scrapbook stickers on, it helps to a layer of Mod Podge on and then let it dry COMPLETELY before putting the letters on. Also be sure to let the glitter layer dry completely before applying a Mod Podge layer or else the glitter just scrapes off.



After each coaster has been coated with 2-3 layers of Mod Podge spray it with 2-3 layers of the clear waterproofing spray (clear acrylic spraypaint) and walla!!! Now you have your very own custom coasters!