Notebook Journal – Gold and Pink Peonies

I’m often asked what made me start creating. The answer is quite simple really. Therapy.

A few years back I finished grad school and was interning at an adult rehabilitation center as a Marriage and Family Therapist. As a means to help recovering addicts cope, they were asked to write, draw, or create in their journal. Behind every entry was a story. A story they were willing to share.

I decided to practice what I was preaching. I started with modern calligraphy and it evolved from there with card making, dot grid journaling, and doodling. Creating relaxes me.

Anyway, one of my favorite layouts is where I use floral stamps and a touch of gold paint. For previous floral and gold layouts, click one of these months – July, January, April. Otherwise, check out my layout for this week.

Supplies

Step One

I started this layout by placing washi tape on two sections of the notebook (I rubbed the tape on my jeans to make the tape less sticky). The reason for the tape is so to confine the stamp from going past a certain section of the notebook (aka stamp blocking).

Step Two

With my Peony Stamps from The Ton Stamps and several stamp pads colors (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), I stamped the layout with the flowers. With the leftover space, I used the leaf stamps from the same peony set and used this stamp for an additional filler. Just an FYI, The Ton Stamps has an amazing assortment of stamps and die cuts, an absolute must see!

Step Three

Then I divided the page into four sections with my ruler and drawing pen.

Step Four

Next, I lettered the month. To make this as easy as possible, I lettered the word June with a light colored brush pen. Then with my brush and gold paint I lettered right on top of it. I did not dilute the paint. Just an FYI, the pages in my notebook are thick (100 gsm) and did not seep to the other side of the page. Also, the page does curl up for a bit but will flatten over time.