Hello there Lollipop friends!

I was super excited when Lisa asked me if I’d be a Guest Designer using the October kit ‘Here’s the Story’  especially when she told me it included fabric and a stencil!

It was the first time I’d seen a kit with papers designed by Katie Moody and wow, they’re gorgeous! I was immediately drawn to the paper with the little leaves and fountain pens so that was the starting point for a page in one of my journals.

I wanted to tell the story behind my most favourite childhood photo! I don’t know what it is about this photo in particular …. It shows myself, my Dad and my baby brother. I’m standing defiantly with my arms folded (I don’t think I have any another photo where I’ve adopted that pose!) My brother was born in March so I’m guessing this photo was taken late summer in our garden. I love the colours and thought it would be perfect for this project!

The journal I’m working in was made by me from a vintage children’s book and whilst the pages are thick and take mixed media well they are a dark reddish brown in colour so I started by giving the rhs a thin coat of white gesso. Inspired by the colours of the leaves I put down a mixed media background using watercolours and Caran D’ache Neocolour II water soluble wax pastels. Next for a bit of fussy cutting……………..

I inked the edges of the fussy cut leaves with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and arranged them down the rhs of the page and for balance added a cluster to the lh page which I’d torn down the edge. I also added a bit of Tim Holtz tissue paper because I liked the berries on it!

I love the kraft tag with the cut out leaf shape! I added gesso and more of my chosen colours on the tag as well as the actual cut out piece. I put a piece of the music manuscript paper behind it, added some of the twine from the kit and a teeny tiny piece of fabric because I’m stingy and really wanted it for another project! I used ‘The Story’ sticker which I mounted, inked the edges and raised with a sticky pad. It’s held in place with a vintage brass fastener. My journalling is on the reverse.

I added a cluster on the bottom lh page using strips of the kit papers, a sticker, threads and a piece of the music manuscript. I didn’t cover the text on the lh page because it’s a part of the history of the journal. I also tucked bits and pieces behind my photo including an inked fabric snippet and some dark red threads. Finally I added a few stickers.

I love the vintage, grungy look to my pages! I can’t wait to see how you use your kits!

Those of you who know me will appreciate that I try and get as much as possible out of the kits so I’ll be back with another project and I’ll be sure to post pics of other things I create in the LBC Facebook Chat group.

Until the next time, Happy Crafting

Love Philippa x