Vintage Orchard Junk Journal

Hey, everyone! Ingrid Carlsen of Karatootie, one of our amazing new Junk Journal Design Team Members, created a fabulous Vintage Orchard Junk Journal for us this week. As you know, we feature one new Junk Journal project each week created by one of our creative team of artists. Our Design Team Members select from the 100’s of Vintage Image Bundles on our Premium Membership Site, for their creations, in order to show you beautiful ways to use those images. We hope you will be totally inspired by this series!

Therefore, please make sure you check out the video tour at the bottom of the page…please scroll all the way down to see it. Are you ready to be inspired? I will step out of the way and let Ingrid tell you all about her incredible project…

Step back in time with this enchanting Vintage Orchard junk journal project for The Graphics Fairy. I was hit with a wave of inspiration when I first laid eyes on The Graphics Fairy’s L’Orangerie kit. With its vintage images and vibrant colors, it was love at first sight!

Despite having already started on a different journal, I put out a poll on my stories and the majority agreed that I should use this beautiful kit. So, I started on it that very evening!

The journal tells the story of a retreat on a European orange orchard from days gone by. It reflects the sights, sounds, and even smells of a bygone era. I essentially created two journals, the first one constructed from a brown paper bag and bound with cream muslin. It features collaged artwork throughout and I even added a line art drawing of one of the images to give it a handmade and natural feel.

To add a vintage feel to the photos, I printed the images from the Antique Portraits (1 &2) kits onto cardstock paper and added packaging tape on top. The imperfections and folds in the tape
create a worn and weathered look, making the photos appear authentic.

Using crackle paint on the front cover of the main journal, I was able to give the portrait a weathered and worn feel.

A hand-painted leaf layered on some vintage fabric and attached with a vintage pin adds a touch of nostalgia, reminiscent of a vintage scrapbook that holds secrets and mementos.

I also used a photo transfer technique on some of the photo images. They were printed on copy paper, covered with packing tape, and then removed using water. This technique adds a unique touch to the journal and allows the paper to show through certain areas of the photo.

photo 13
Indulging in the allure of this kit, I was drawn to the exquisite collage pages. Every page was a feast for the eyes, brimming with vibrant and beautiful images that brought to life the enchanting
orchard. I was so inspired by the imagery that I couldn’t resist capturing the essence of the orange with a watercolor painting. It was as though I had been transported to the romantic European
retreat, where the fragrant aroma of orange blossoms wafted on the breeze, and the vibrant colors of the orchard beckoned me to stay forever.

I made sure to leave space for writing by including little notebooks throughout with paper for the recipient to write down their inspirations and dreams and to pour out their hearts into the cream
colored pages.

To create a more handcrafted, and romantic feel, I used a library card coated with clear gesso, to watercolor an orange split in half and an orange blossom with delicate petals.

Coffee dyed sketch paper always adds a ethereal and dainty feel to any journal. The beautiful images add a touch of romance and nostalgia.

Finally, I finished off the journal with one of the collage pages, layered with more images, and covered the spine with fabric.

This journal is more than just a keepsake, it is a precious memento that will inspire any artist to embark on their creative journey.

Take a tour of the journal here:

JUNK JOURNAL SHOW & TELL VIDEO TOUR

Premium site bundles used:

Antique India Designs paper
Antique portraits 1&2
L’Orangerie

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Thanks,

Ingrid

Check out the Graphics Fairy Premium Membership Site HERE!