Tagged: envelopes

Junk Journal Swap Part 1

Just for fun my friend Camilla and I decided to do some arts and crafts swaps with each other. Our first swap consisted of mini Christmas albums. You can see my posts from December 12 & 29, 2013 to see those.

This time we opted for something a little more fun and relaxed so we decided to exchange junk journals. The rules we had to follow were simple. First, they had to be at least 1″ thick and second, we were not allowed to buy anything new to use in the journals. The idea made us use up stuff we already owned and to collect other junk papers as fillers. It’s amazing how every piece of paper takes on a new life when you are making junk journals. You turn every box, bag, envelope and scrap of paper over and over in your hands wondering how to incorporate it into your journal. 

I changed my mind a ridiculous amount of times as to the theme for Camilla’s journal. The more I looked at Pinterest and YouTube the more overwhelmed with themes I came. Finally I decided on an “elegant” junk journal. I called it “A Ladies Junque”.  I actually made it so thick I think Camilla will have to take some pages out as she adds her stuff!  To spare you from having to look at every page, I only photographed a couple random pages. Enjoy!

I hope Camilla enjoys this album and has lots of fun filling it up. I will show you the journal she gave me, probably as my next post. If you would like to get yourself a junk journal to fill (here comes the shameless advertisement) I have several in my Etsy shop right now. The address is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MossyCottage. I also can make themed junk journals on request.

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Remember December

Wow! I know it’s been a while since I last posted a blog but this lady has been very busy making, taking and selling. I had a great show in Richmond and now that the dust has settled I am ready to make some great Christmas memories. The problem is, I won’t remember all the great stuff I did even a year from now, never mind 20 years from now. So I found a wonderful and easy way to keep my memories for each December. I will have to add this to my “day late and a dollar short” list of paper crafts because apparently this specific type of journal has been around for many years. I’m talking about a December Daily which has a page, or space, to write a little bit about what you did for each day in December.

Most of the December Daily journals I’ve seen on Pinterest and Youtube use nice new paper lines with all the coordinating embellishments. If you know me, however, you know that is not my style. I decided to create my December Daily in the Junk Journal style using only stuff I already had on hand. I won’t bore you with a page by page description because it would be January before I got it all written down. Instead I will just let you look at the pictures “gallery” style. 

Before you look, however, I just wanted to mention a few things. First, the cover is made from the top of an old ornament box that I layered over some vintage wrapping paper. Second, there are envelopes, manila file folders, a piece from a box of cards, a manila mailing folder, a brown paper bag, a little white paper bag, old Christmas cards, a coin envelope, old book pages and tons of embellishments in this journal. 

I had a lot of fun making it and plan to add more embellishments and doodles each day I write in it. Even though you won’t be able to make your own December Daily for this year, I encourage you to grab a notebook and write down the highlights of each day this December so you can remember all the good, bad and ugly times you may have. I guarantee you will be glad you did in the years to come! 

Neat New Stuff

My brick and mortar shop, Mossy Cottage, in old town Fredericksburg carries all things girly. By that, I mean rosy, shabby, blingy, shiny and pretty vintage goods. Many of you may not know that I also rent a small space upstairs at that same location. Until recently it also was full of pretties. Well my friends, times have changed! Mossy Cottage Too, which is how I refer to the upstairs space, now if full of really neat and different vintage things. I want the upstairs to appeal to the more “artsy and boho” crowd. So here are just a couple pictures of my redone space, Mossy Cottage Too!

neat5Here is a big wooden box stuffed with handmade tags and envelopes. See the red and yellow milk carton holders next to the box. Do you remember having one of these? I couldn’t believe it when I found these. The memories just came flooding back. So fun! And the aqua ice bucket is cool enough to make me want a cocktail and I don’t even drink!

neat3

Here are two nice vintage train cases on the bottom shelf and on the floor. Above are a cool red tool carrier and a white wire drinking glass holder. You can see a part of a handmade fabric banner dangling down.

neat4Here’s another red tool carrier with some vintage office binders, ledger paper and two complete 1950’s bingo games.

neat2How about a vintage Girl Scout uniform?

neat1A little boy’s genuine Hawaiian shirt. I love the sea turtles on it!

neatThis cool rusty box has such a great patina. I just thought it needed a little something because, well, you know me. I can’t leave anything alone!

neat6And here’s just a picture of one wall at a distance. I really love Mossy Cottage Too because it let’s me sell neat vintage stuff that just doesn’t go well with my pretties downstairs. So now I am blessed to have the best of both worlds. Lucky me!!!