Vintage Travel Journal

Morning Friends,

Today I'm happy to bring you a vintage travel journal covered in distressed subway art designer travel papers from Teressa Collins.

This journal measures 7.5" wide x 10" tall and is 100 pages long which makes it easy to stow away and very portable for documenting your travel notes or daily thoughts.  It is standard ruled which is easy to use for those of us with large script handwriting instead of the thin college ruled paper. 

This vintage travel journal has been embellished with black printed flowers with center gems by Prima, cream colored Petaloo and red colored Spare Parts mulberry flowers; a Prima vintage typewriter chipboard; a large black embossed metal flower with rhinestone center.   Swirl chipboard pieces finish off the outer corners and a slim black satin ribbon is used for a tie closure.

I hope you enjoy the finished project:

Front Cover Close Up

Inside Cover with Framed Inscription Mat

Distressed Vintage Red Inside Back Cover

Vintage Damask Printed Back with Travel Tags on Binding

 If you enjoyed this project, please sign up for emails or join my blog to see whats next.  This travel journal is available for purchase in my Etsy store.

Thank you for dropping by my blog today.  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.   Until next time, create something beautiful and live life inspired! ~ Dawna

Steampunk Dragonfly Journal

Morning Friends,

I'm continuing to catch up on posting projects and wanted to share an update to a simple journal I did some time ago.  


Here's what I did to enhance this journal.   I took the basic journal which was already covered in subway art designer papers and bare chipboard.  Using Tim Holtz's Rusty Hinge and Broken China inks, I distressed all of the chipboard pieces to give them greater depth by creating a rustic patina look.  Then I topped all the chipboard gears and cogs with metal gears and cogs to add an additional layer of dimension.  

To enhanced the dragonfly, I used the same inks to give it the same rustic patina look.  Then I created the 3D effect with glossy accents and added brads to highlight the eyes.   For finishing touches I added a swirl of pearls to give it the effect of flight and added two art deco labels (front and inside) to personalize this fun and funky journal. 

This journal measures 7.5" wide x 10" tall and is 100 pages long which makes it easy to stow away and very portable for documenting your project notes or daily thoughts.  It is standard rule which is easy to use for those of us with large script handwriting instead of the thin college ruled paper. 

I hope you you enjoy the finished product:

Steampunk Dragonfly Journal Close Up

Inside Cover with Inscription Label

Inside Back Cover with Subway Art Designer Paper

Back Cover with Spine Detail and Bookmark

If you enjoyed this project, please sign up for emails or join my blog to see whats next.  This item is available for purchase in my Etsy store.

Thank you for dropping by my blog today.  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.   Create something beautiful and live life inspired!  ~ Dawna

Celebrating Spring Renewal

For me Easter is a beautiful reminder of all that is possible through renewal and rebirth.   Everywhere you look nature is engaged in this beautiful cycle of life and spring is bursting with new songs and fresh beginnings.    It gives me hope for the future, here and now, and hope for our eternal selves.   

To celebrate this spring, I have taken time to re-evaluate what matters most to me (God, my husband, my children, my family and my friends) and decided that I needed to make a course correction to live a happier life.  

This is easier said than done, but I've decided that now is the time to let go of the negative influences and reinforce the positive ones.   Doing so will bring me much closer to who I really am and help me become a better person for myself and my loved ones.  It is my desire that God's spirit abides in me on this healing journey of renewal. 

I hope you all find special meaning for yourselves in Easter and enjoy a day filled with love and gratitude.   Until next time, create something from the heart and live life inspired.  

Blessings to you all ~ Dawna

March Brithday Card Swap

Mirrored Angle Tag for Martica

Hi Friends,

So much has happened these past few months, that I'm way behind on my blog posts.  So its quiet this evening and I'd like to catch up on a few projects.  There were two birthdays in our swap this month.

First let me start with my very sweet and very talented friend Martica.  She adores tags and the shabby chic style.  I'm new to shabby chic but Martica is a real inspiration to me,  so I really wanted to do something special for her.  This is only my second attempt at something shabby, so I incorporated a few more shabby elements in this creation.  I hope you enjoy Martica's gift:

Mirrored Angle Tag for Martica

Close Up of Crystal Knob, Stick Pin & Mirror

Next up is my dear sweet friend Jolean (aka Pinky).  She has been a sweet angel to me this year too.  Always checking in on me not matter whats going on in her life.  I'm lucky to have her as a friend.  She's form Italian decent and owns her won family pizza business.  She loves pinks and whites and the shabby chic style too.  Are you starting to understand why I need to learn this style!  lol!

I was in such a rush to get Jolean's  card out on time it slipped away without a picture.  She has promised to send me one as soon as she figures out her new camera!   When she does, I'll happily update my post to add pictures! 

We'll that all the birthday notes I have to share today.  If your not a regular blog follower,  I'd love to have you sign up for email alerts so you can see whats next.  Until next time, live life inspired my friends!  ~ Big Hugs

Priceless Valentines Grifts from the Heart

Hi Friends,

February is a month to dedicated to romance and loved ones and this year was no exception.  My daughter Jessica and I enjoyed a very happy afternoon making valentines for the special people we love.  We didn't get to everyone, mainly our hubby's and children.  We laughed, talked and had a wonderful time creating together.  <3

 Lets start with my darling hubby's card,  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did creating them!  I created this Sky's the Limit card because I wanted to remind him that it was time to create a new dream for ourselves, and that the best years of our lives remain ahead of us.  To Richard with love:

The Sky's the Limit Easel Card for Richard

Side view of Easel Card for Richard

Jessica made a card for all the loves in her life, all three boys and her dear hubby.  She had a fun time, was very proud of her accomplishments, as she should be.  I hope you enjoy them my friends:

Hubby's Outside Card

Hubby's Inside Sentiment

Son's Card 01

Son's Card 02 Inside Sentiment

Son's Card 03

Sons Card 03 Inside Sentiment

Someone Special Card 04

Someone Special Inside Sentiment 04

We friends that's all the Valentine Cards I have to share for today.  Thank you for dropping by for a peek.  As always I love hearing from you.  Till next time Make it a happy day!