Imperfectly Perfect...

....that is what I like to call my journals.  Why you ask?  Stay tuned.

For now, my story will begin where I left off on the previous post. The second bundle...

Suzy, being the angel that she is, also included a wonderful bundle of vintage goodies to inspire me...and that she did! 

She knows me, she really really knows me! 

This book cover though...🖤🖤🖤

As soon as I saw it and the folders papers, I knew what I was going to do!

Do you think this is what she intended?

Are you wanting to get your hands of some of Suzy's goodies?  Head over to her Etsy Shop PaperHarborCo and don't forget Instagram @PaperHarborCo.

I pulled out all the papers and sorted them into sizes and started stacking and layering them into position.

I just wanted to point out these next two images - these are held together by a grommet....yes, a grommet! Is that not the coolest!!

As much as I didn't want to dismantle it, I had to for the sake of the journal! 

There she be, folded and almost ready to bind it together...

There are about twenty sheets, papers, tickets, receipts, stubs, tags, labels and more folded up and ready for the sewing machine.

Making sure it was all lined up on how I wanted, I set up the machine and hit the pedal!

Due to some of the papers being older (and in this case, this one was brittle), I added a couple pieces of white washi tape to secure the papers and the stitching.

Front and back.

This will also aid in securing the signature to the book cover in my next step.

Centering the signature on the book cover, I measured out where I needed to punch my holes for stitching.

The one thing you need to make sure when binding your own books, it that when you measure and punch your holes.... you need to make sure your have the cover and papers going in the correct direction....

Needless to say, I thought I did, checked...should have checked twice! So out the stitches came and I flipped it over and stitched it back up. So this is what happens when you don't double check!

But you know what, now it is officially a member of the Perfectly Imperfect Journal club....welcome!

I don't have an issue with my binding stitches not always being straight.  I knew I wanted the inside to be clean and the knot to be on the outside, so I covered the stitching and the knot with a strip of printed duct tape

It is not a thick journal, but it is a loaded up with fun papers that I will get lots of fun add ins with the remaining papers, tags and such from Suzy's bundle. It will no doubt get bigger and better!

It's looking perfectly imperfect so far isn't it?!

This is the point in which I would normally sell, gift or start another journal.  Most of my journals are what I also like to call a Jumpstart Junk Journal, they just happen to be perfectly imperfect!  Allowing the individual the opportunity to add their own personal touch is pretty epic in my option, it provides ownership as well as pure gratification.

Speaking of ownership and gratification, I have continued playing and adding to this journal.  One of the most wonderful aspects of creating in this format of a journal, is that it is only done when you say it is done.  The above photos where from what I created in a matter of maybe 90 minutes.  The following, are from me playing for about two and a half hours.

But first, I want to give you a brief how to and what for when I create in my paper journals.

These are my basic go to must haves tools: 

• YES! Paste - it is an acid free, water based, archival and allows me to get zero wrinkles;
• Metal Palette Knife (my favorite for this work is an angled);
• An old catalog (in this case, a Uline) to use as your mat for applying glue. you simply just turn the page when you've used all areas;
• Bondo Spreader (multi set) for getting out excess glue, bubbles and wrinkles. I picked up my three pack at the local Napa Auto shop for under five bucks;
• Baby Wipes, for quick clean ups and wiping off of access glue on your collage papers and substrate.

Here I apply the back side of the vintage paper carefully with the palette knife being sure to get all of it.

Then I use the bondo spreader to smooth it out and get excess glue, bubbles and wrinkles out.

I will then use the baby wipe to carefully wipe away excess glue.

Now it is just a matter of picking and choosing what you want to add to your page.  I will often build layers of papers, washi and tags. I tend to overlap items and wrap around the edges.  I will also clip and/or staple along the way.

It is often a hit or miss on what I add, take away, include and discover as I create in these.  I do not feel that I need to have a theme per se - it is just stuff that makes me happy.

I started added goodies to the pages I had included in the main signature...

This was an old school computer card, that had been overlapped with another that created a mini pocket that I secured with washi tape and tucked in a few ticket stubs.  Since this was the back of the card (blank), I added a cute little vintage Sierra Railway Company ID Slip that I will no doubt add doodling to at some point.

This is the inside cover, I loaded it up with a shipping label that I included some journaling on, then proceeded to cover most of it up with these awesome Luggage Labels I snagged from RubyDogArt Etsy Shop (p.s. she's Canadian, for all my Canadian viewers)!

You can see now that I do not work in order either - it seriously is so much easier and freeing if you just allow your self to just create - the only rule is to have fun.

I won't bore you too much with silly details, you can simply peruse the images and take it all in - there are so many interesting and unique bits and pieces I have added in along the way.  I do want to give a shout here though to Esther of BadAssPaperLover (based out of Amsterdam) as I have several of her items on the page on the left.  She also can be found on Instagram and has an Etsy Shop too.

I wish I had looked closer when I was assembling this journal as I would have included the letter that was tucked inside this envie....

But now, I simply glued the envelope to the page and now I can pull out the letter and read it!

I grabbed a stack of receipts and used a  prong fastener to secure some to each side of the onionskin page.  I can add lots more at any time! Talk about making the most of one attachment!

I liked that so much, I did it again further in the journal, the other side of the file folder.  This time, I layered the papers in  size - large on the bottom and small on the top.

She's starting to bulk up, and I must say, I am really loving it.  

Thanks for sticking around.  I will be back next week with something new!

In the meantime, be sure to check out my feed(s) on Instagram and Facebook

@w2studioarts