It's been so much fun to be a part of a Circle Journal with nine other women....scattered all around the United States!! This is my first time in participating in such an event. . . and I hope it won't be my last!
A circle journal involves a group of folks who each choose a theme for their journal. . . then create the front and back of their "book", along with various other pages determined by the organizer. "You" interpret you your idea of the "theme" of your journal by creating a two page spread that tells the other participants what the theme means to you. THEN....you mail it off to the next person on the list....and anxiously await the arrival of a new journal from the person before you on the list. I'm making this as clear as mud, I'm sure, but the idea is the journals make their way around to the various participants...each adding their two pages , then sending them to the next person. . . and THEN you get yours back in a few months and it is FILLED with so many completed pages, thanks to the other folks in the circle!!
OK.....so the idea is to first, come up with a theme.
I had a lot of trouble with this. . . I had so much trouble, in fact, that I changed it THREE times. Finally, I settled on a theme that involved "WORDS that Describe You" . They were to choose five words that they feel describes them!!
Brilliant idea....right?
Well, I thought it was at first. Then I hit another road block. . . .a couldn't think of a TITLE that worked with my theme.
FINALLY, in a total panic last week, I got in touch with Nancy of MY CRAFTY LITTLE PAGE and asked for her help with the title. We chatted for quite a while and I asked her to let me know if she came up with any suggestions, then I headed to Hobby Lobby to get paper for my journal.
Not being a "scrapper". . . I was overwhelmed with the enormous selection of paper! After a bit, I was sweatin'. . . anxiety was setting in. How was I to POSSIBLY settle upon paper when I wasn't sure about the title...and there was SO much PAPER to choose from.
While I was quickly adding "sheets of this and sheets of that" to my cart, I got a text from Nancy that read "how about KNOWING ME...KNOWING YOU?"
OMG....I was overjoyed with that title!! Not only did it hit the nail on the head of my intent of the theme, (getting to know each other) but it was an ABBA song and Nancy KNOWS how much I love their music in "Mamma Mia"!!! The lyrics don't work with the theme idea, but the title sure does and that's what counted in my book.
SO....I grabbed lots of sheets of brightly colored and perky patterned paper. . .and as an afterthought, I picked up a huge tablet of paper that had a more vintage look!
My first attempts at creating the "look" of my journal didn't exactly light my fire.
I used my CRICUT to cut out mini-people ( ten to be exact...to represent each of us in our "circle"), but the more I messed with it the more it looked like a kindergarten project, so I ditched that idea and started trying to find inspiration in another direction.
I had really leaned toward a more "retro" look, but didn't have luck finding what I had in mind. However, when I found photos of late Victorian ladies, I knew I had the idea I was wanting to convey. . .groups of women....friends!!!
SO....after spending HOURS and HOURS of trial and error and printing and cutting and taping and gluing and Mod Podging and "cursing"....yes, I did, I'm ashamed to admit that. . . I finally finished my project.
Here's THE STONE RABBIT holding the journal just before I packed it up and put it in the box to be mailed Kay Ellen of KAY ELLEN DESIGN !!
The colors of the papers I used were brownish, taupish, PINKISH. . . ones that went so well with the antiqued Victorian look that evolved as I progressed through the pages.
I adhered vintage buttons to a vintage belt buckle with the wonder glue "E 6000". The button/buckle dealy was placed atop vintage hat ribbon that I've had for a long time. For good measure, I Mod Podged the front and back covers. . .and nearly PASSED OUT when I saw my papers bubbling up with the application of that stuff. After it dried, however, the bubbles went away....well, they didn't on my "title page", but by that time, I didn't care...I just wanted to finish the journal and get it in the mail!! So, yes, I lowered my "finished product bar".....first on the title page and on a few other spots, too, but I was OK with that. . .this was a "handmade product" and little "blips" just proved it!! :)
Here are photos of the inside of the front cover and the title page (with the bubbles).
On your left is my introductory page. . . how I came to choose the theme and the title. . .and on the right is my page of directions. . .how the other participants are to complete their pages!
Next, I have my two "sign in" pages...I'm just sharing one today. All proper "ladies" used to leave their "calling cards" when they paid a visit. . . so I asked the Circle Journal Ladies to create their own calling cards (I had blank ones stuffed in the envelopes for them to use). . .and to leave me a note on the backs of them! Ooooooh....I'm looking forward to their little messages!! :)
I learned that using "Tacky Glue" on the vintage PINK ribbon, seen below, leaves marks. . yep...lowering that bar some more!
The next two pages were My Pages. . .of how I interpreted my theme of "what are 5 words that describe you". I put a little explanation of how I came up with my words and two of them on this page....and the three other ones on the opposite page (you don't see that page as I wanted to leave a bit of a surprise for the Journal Gals).
You can see that I did not carry that Victorian Look out on these pages. I struggled trying to figure out how to do that (I was down to the final wire at this point of the journal)....so when I spied my stash of tags, I decided to make them work for me....and I did. The tags "flip up" with little messages beneath them. :)
I purposedly didn't include photos of the back cover designs. . . so there's a little bit of "mystery" for my fellow Journal Ladies! :)
My kindhearted hubby took my journal to the post office on Thursday.
I really can't believe I did it. . . .but I'm so glad I did!!!
The Circle Journal has been great fun for me, a newbie to scrapping. . .but most importantly, it's allowing me the honor of interacting with nine other bloggers....getting to know them a little better. . . while also providing me a bit of "therapy" , at a time when I needed the distraction.
Be sure to visit, Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND, where you will find a long list of other bloggers who have lots of PINK ready to share with us!!
Happy PINK Saturday!
DANA










