Hello crafty friends! Today I’m here to share my Summer Traveler’s Notebook Junk Journal, highlighting the Deco Foil Transfer Sheets, Glitz Glitter Gel, Transfer Gel Duo and Pretty Pink Posh!

Every once in a while, I create a project that comes out EXACTLY how I picture it. Well… this is one of those projects and I can’t wait to journal in it during our upcoming Smoky Mountain getaway. Follow along and see exactly how I created it.

Summer Junk Journal

Junk Journal Supplies:

iCraft Deco Foil Transfer Sheets –  Glass Slipper, Teal, Jade, Lime Satin, Gold, Turquoise Satin, Aqua, Denim, Ocean, Emerald Watercolor and Lapis Watercolor  

iCraft Ultra Bond Liquid Adhesive

Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo

iCraft Double-Sided Adhesive Foam Tape

Gina K. Designs Glitz Glitter Gel – Brilliant Blue, Turquoise Sea and Grass Green

Pretty Pink Posh Stamps, Dies and Clay Confetti

Other Supplies: premade travel journal, fabric, cardstock, black ink, summer stamps, patterned tissue paper or collage paper, ribbon, watercolor paints or markers, envelopes, dies and die-cutting machine, scissors, mini stapler, stencils and modeling paste.

Summer Junk Journal Step One:

Start by pulling some junk journal supplies together. You can see that I tend to go overboard and always pull more than I will use.

Next, you will want to either purchase or create a small traveler’s notebook. I purchased mine at a local dollar store and painted the cover white to give me a neutral base (the cover was a bit colorful). The one I purchased has two notebooks inside and was a perfect size to take along on weekend getaways.

Once your paint has dried, mix a little Ultra Bond Liquid Adhesive with water (1:1 ratio) and use it to collage tissue papers onto your cover. I used two different patterns of tissue paper.

Hint: If you can’t find a traveler’s notebook, you can buy two small booklets and make your own cover from medium-weight chipboard. 

Summer Junk Journal Step Two:

Next, use your desired mixed media products to add layers of texture and color to your cover. I used modeling paste and a stencil to add some dimension. Towards the end, I splattered both black and white paint over the other colors. I probably applied 10 layers of color, drying in between with a heat tool.

Hint: I used a small stamp block to add my ink colors. Just swipe it with ink and spritz with water. I love to apply at the edge, spray with more water and let it drip.

Summer Junk Journal Step Three:

While the cover looked really cool at this point, it just didn’t look finished. I knew I needed to add a border and some extra sparkle.

I started by adding some Transfer Gel Duo around the edges and then dabbed it in various places over the cover.

Once the gel is dry, use Foil Transfer Sheets to add sparkle to the cover. Do this by pressing the dull side against dried gel to transfer the foil to the cover. I used leftover scraps of foil because I hate to waste anything!

I will include a video clip at the end of this post because photos just don’t capture how gorgeous the sparkle is!

Hint: If you are impatient like me, use a heat tool to dry the gel. Once it turns clear it is ready for you to apply the foil.

Summer Junk Journal Step Four:

Set aside your cover and let’s create the cover embellishment.

Choose what items you will use to create your cover décor.  I used die-cuts, stamps, ribbon and Glitz Glitter Gel.

To create the base tag, I used a die-cut covered with pattern tissue, ink and Glitz Glitter Gel in blues and greens and then added fussy cut stamped images using double-sided adhesive foam tape.

Hint: Use a scrap piece of foil behind a view master die for a really great effect. Because it’s a scrap and some of the foil is removed, it looks a little like old film or mercury glass.

Summer Junk Journal Step Five:

I added some glassine pockets to my two notebooks to give me room for two tags. If you don’t have the right-sized envelopes, you can simply glue two pages of your notebook together to create a pocket.

My favorite thing to include in pockets is a tag with a file folder tab. I love, love, love these tab dies from Pretty Pink Posh. Because the die is the tab top only, you can make your tag as long as you want! My tags with the tabs sticking out gave me that pop of bright white at the edge of my journal.

If your notebooks are a solid color or a design that coordinates with your cover, then you can use as-is. Mine was a plain kraft chipboard, so I covered them with more of my base tissue paper and small embellishments. The Pretty Pink Posh Summer Drink Stamp set was perfect to add a few fun drinks to my cover and interior.

Hint: If you are going for a monochromatic look as I did, small pops of bright white really help to create additional interest and break up the color a bit.

I absolutely love the way this journal came out and hope it inspires you to create a fun project with your foils and glitz!

Take a closer look at the shine you can get using foils and glitz:

It would not be a collab week if we didn’t have a Giveaway and this is another wonderful one for you to enter to win! Both Pretty Pink Posh and Therm O Web are offering a chance to win a $45 Gift Card to shop with each brand! Amazing right? Just follow the giveaway software to get entered and the more actions you take…the more chances you’ll have to win! After you finish the entry be sure to visit the Pretty Pink Posh Blog and see the projects from their talented team!