Graphic 45 French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial for Frilly and Funkie Harvest of Gratitude

Hello, Friends!  I once read that thankful people are the happiest people and I believe that to be true.  So every year as the US Thanksgiving holiday draws near, I like to create a new gratitude journal.  This year I have a Graphic 45 French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial to share with you.  Perhaps my tradition will catch on with you.  I’m also the hostess for this 2 week challenge on the Frilly and Funkie Blog, so before I share the gratitude journal with you, I’ll share the challenge guidelines:

Challenge Theme: A Harvest of Gratitude
There is always something to be thankful for.  In this gratitude themed challenge we are asking you to create a vintage or shabby chic project that portrays something that fills your heart with thanksgiving. Use harvest colors and be sure to tell us how your project reflects your thankful heart.

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial: The Inspiration

The older I get, the more thankful I am for the gift of memory.  Often while I am in the process of creating, my mind wanders back through time.  I remember people, places, and events that have enriched my life.

This 5 1/2″ x 4″ journal reminds me of an old, old book of Bible stories that my dad used to read to me when I was just a very little girl.  The book was on my grandmother’s shelves and had an embossed cover.  The photos were all black and white prints of wood engravings on thick papers with unevenly cut edges.  I would curl up in my father’s lap (I couldn’t have been more than about 4 years old) and he would read to me in his deep, smooth voice as I snugged in as close to him as humanly possible.

Those books are now in my possession. They are one of my great treasures for they remind me of the comfort, warmth, joy  and safety of those moments in my father’s lap so many years ago.  I wanted to capture that memory and the thankfulness I feel for it in this little volume.

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial: The Album Base

The base of this gratitude journal is a 13″ x 4″ strip of heavy kraft cardstock.  I buy this in bulk at envelopes.com.  But you could substitute Dina Wakely’s Media Kraft Cardstock from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and achieve the same results.  The album base is my own design. Page tabs and cover are made from the same strip of kraft card.   You’ll learn how to do this in the video tutorial below.

Old books fill my heart with joy.  I wanted to capture the worn patina and elegance of a truly ancient tome.  I cut two pieces of the same heavy kraft card to measure 4 7/8″ x 3 7/8″ to layer over the front and back covers.  A third piece (4 1/2″ x 4″) was scored at 1 1/2″ and 3″ to serve as a cover for the spine.

Add texture by placing those pieces inside the amazing Sizzix/Tim Holtz 3-D Botanical Texture Fade Folder.  I am so happy that I purchased this folder, and I can’t wait for more to be released.  Then perform a bit of paper alchemy with Seth Apter Baked Textures, Emerald Creek Embossing Powders, Distress Paints and Distress Mediums.  You’ll see all of this in the video as well.

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial:  A Peek Inside

Before you add the pages to your gratitude journal, distress and ink the edges.  To make quick work of this, use Ground Espresso Distress Stain.

I’ll add measurements below the post for your convenience.

The front cover is a pocket with a little insert folio.  Page one is a pull out/side pocket page.

These tip in pages have some fun surprises built in.

Here’s a peek inside the right hand tip in page.

TIP:  To add extra layers to your pages without adding extra bulk, line the edges with Tim Holtz Design Tape (washi tape.)  I also used this to cover the kraft spines, and I love the wonderful finished look and vintage feel this creates within the album.  It’s a small detail, but it makes a bit impact.

Both page units follow the same design “recipe”: pull out page with pocket,  double tip in page, side pocket, flap/insert page.

The insert pages look like a flap page, but actually pull out from between the kraft pages.

Throughout the album, I’ve added sentiments from Tim Holtz quotes stickers.  These little folios, tags and inserts provide space for small photos and journaling spots.

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial on YouTube

This is a rather long video, but it takes a while to build an album from start to finish.  I’ve edited to make it as concise as possible.  Even if you don’t want to build an entire album, you will find lots of techniques and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  I hope you enjoy!

Now it’s YOUR turn: Harvest of Gratitude Challenge at Frilly and Funkie

You are cordially invited to play along in this Harvest of Gratitude Challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Blog.  To do so is easy: simply create your own vintage or shabby chic project that follows the challenge theme and guidelines.  Then link your project up on the Frilly and Funkie blog by 11:55PM EST on Tuesday, November 20th.

The design team will invite the creator of our favorite project to join us for a Guest Designer spot at the Frilly and Funkie Blog.  Our top 3 favorites will receive a badge to display proudly on their blog.  And, everyone who enters and follows the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to receive a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique, the sponsor of the challenge.

You can find all the challenge guidelines and link up your project HERE.

Thank you so much for joining me today.  I hope I’ve shared some tips and tricks that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

And, if you are interested in purchasing this gratitude journal, or any of my other creations, I invite you to visit my Kathy by Design ETSY shop.

Cheerio,

kathy

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial: Product Links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique

 

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial Other Products:

Little Birdie Fall Flowers: Micro Roses, English Roses, Beaded Micro Petals, Monocle from my stash (Canvas Corp?) Petaloo Botanica Pearl Sprays, Little Birdie Craft Twine, Mustard Seeds

French Country Gratitude Journal Tutorial: Page Measurements and Score Lines:

• Cover: 17″ x 4″: Score at 5″.  Then score every 1/2″ all the way down to 11 1/2″.
• Inside Covers: 4 7/8″ x 3 7/8″
• Pocket for front cover: 5 7/8″ x 2 1/4″
• Page Units: 2 sheets of kraft cardstock cut to 9 1/2″ x 7 1/2″
• Accordion/Pocket Page: 12″ x 3 7/8″ scored at 4 1/2″, 9″
• Tip in Pages: 7 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.  Score left hand page at 3″ .  Score right hand page at 4 1/2″
• Insert Pages: 4 1/2″ x 3 7/8″
• Inserts and folios: 4″ x 7 1/4″.  Score at 3 1/2″