Gypsy

Still working from the archives this week due to CHA projects...today one of my favorite journals, Gypsy. 

I made this journal when the sticker 'G is for Gypsy' came out.  I thought it was the perfect sticker to tell the story of junk shopping over the years.  The journal itself introduces the cast of characters, then is split up into "chapters" or states where we have gone junking.  This was an easy way of organizing my photos since they were from multiple trips so no worrying about whether a picture is from 5 years or 5 minutes ago, they just go in under the chapter heading.

The journal structure was created with 2 pieces of black book board, 6 x 8" for the front and back covers then punched with the Binderie Punch.
Paper: Gypsy Market
Cover flocked paper: Tobar

One of my favorite parts of this journal is the plaque on the cover.  In person, one might think it is old leather because of the texture but it is just plain ole brown chipboard. 
I cut a piece of heavy book board to fit what I wanted to spell.  Then glued the patterned chipboard letters to the board.  I painted the entire board with two coats of red acrylic paint and let dry completely.  After the paint was dry, I used a foam brush to paint a heavy coat of Golden Gel Medium (matte).  Golden is thicker than the multi-medium I normally use.  For this project it is necessary since it is the stuff that gives the texture to the board, multi-medium will not give you that texture.  So as I said, apply a good coat of gel medium, work it into all the crevasses.  If there is buildup at the edges of the letters, that is good, don't wipe it away.  Now set it aside to dry.
Once completely dry, paint the entire piece black, let dry.  Use sand paper to take a bit off the top to reveal the red underneath.  Ink with Vintage Photo and add one more coat of Gel Medium to the top.  Let dry.  I admit the process has a lot of steps and drying time but it's well worth the extra effort.  I added the tiny brads to the corners to finish it off (they do not go through the book cover).
Chipboard Letters: Gypsy Market

Ephemera: Gypsy
Ribbon: May Arts

Transparencies : Gypsy and Vintage

Transparency over a 6 x 6 envelope.

 Card inside the envelope.

 Introduction to the chapters

 Each state has a start page of sorts, made from chipboard covered with paper.  It had to be wide enough to be punched with two holes.

 A pocket made from a folded up file and gaffer tape.  Perfect place for extra pictures.

Tags sewn to vintage flashcard

 Flip out page

 a mix of 7gypsies ephemera, stickers and cut up photos of signs.

I will be back tomorrow with more pages...

cheers!

paula