Gratitude Journal | Ulrike Dold

Hi FJ Friends,

Welcome to the Friday favorites here at the FJ blog today. My favorite product from the gorgeous new Taylor collection is the Floral Sequin Mix with all these super cute flowers and leaves in pink, red and green. When I held them in my hands the first time I totally fell in love and I knew I would focus on them for my first Taylor project. I’ve made a gratitude journal with the gorgeous new Taylor Kit and decorated the cover and another page with these super cute floral sequins. Here you can see the cover.

I love to document the things I am thankful for and this year with Covid-19 it's more important for me than ever before. First I wanted to use the new FJ book rings , but with my eyelets the holes were to small in the end and I had to use another ones. But I know my next book ring mini will have the adorable pink book rings in it.

I cut two pieces of chipboard to 3.75 x 7.5 inches. Then I used the Taylor "Floral & Stripe" paper and cut two pieces to 9 x 5.25 inches and covered the chipboard pieces with them. For the inside I’ve used the "Floral & Stripe" patterned paper and cut two pieces to 3 5/8 x 7 3/8 inches and glued them over the chipboard.

I punched two holes on the left side of the cover and fixed two eyelets in aqua there. I used small white book rings to hold the book together. Then I punched a big hole in the back of the book and fixed a pink rubber band with a knot there. So the cover is fixed together easily.

I stamped the cute hearts in a row on the border of the bottom of my cover and glued the word "Gratitude" in two lines a little bit over one of the cute Taylor die cut shapes with leaves and flowers on the cover. I’ve used the Taylor Chipboard Alphabet and I love the font and the gold foil accent on these alphabet stickers. They are so beautiful! Then I began to fix little sequin flowers and leaves on glue dots and I began on the bottom. I clustered them from the bottom to the top and mixed the three colors. I really love the soft and playful look from these cute embellishments. In the end I added some Tori Epoxy Dots in aqua here and there.

I glued two of the tabs from the die cut shapes together and glued them on the inside of the cover. Its a very small detail but the mini book looks more special with it and the aqua tab matches perfectly to the epoxy dots on the cover.

I used the first page for another title again and stamped the word from the FJ Hannah Stamp "gratitude" on a white page in 3.75 x 7.5 inches. For this page I’ve used the FJ Essentials Cardstock - I don't know a cardstock which is whiter and more beautiful!  If you haven’t tried it out you have to. The thickness is also perfect for every kind of project and to use with your electronic cutting machine. I used the wonderful Bailey Puffy Alphabet in Soft Pink to add the word "Journal" and decorated the dog rose die cut shape with the epoxy dots from the Taylor Epoxy Stickers. On the top I’ve stamped the scalloped border from the Taylor stamp set.

As my first point in my gratitude journal I wanted to add the 1st day of school from our little daughter. I was afraid of this day all the months before because I didn't know how this important day would be in the end with the virus in our world. But all the fear was unfounded. The celebration was small and we had to use face masks when we entered. But when we sat down on our seats at the schoolyard we could remove them. We had the perfect weather - it was sunny and warm and the celebration only with the children, their parents and the teachers was so wonderful. Other children from higher classes sang two songs - because the celebration was outside this was possible. And later we celebrated in the tight circle of our families. Our daughter was so happy and I still have her smiling eyes in my mind when I think of this day. I have a cute picture of my husband and me and with our daughter with her school cone filled with gifts and sweets. I used it in the size 3.75 x 7.5 inches and it filled a complete page. On the other side I documented this wonderful day.

First I glued the picture on the back of the white cardstock and punched holes for the book rings on this page. Then I added the scalloped mint border from the die cut shapes on the left side. I added the date on a pink label from the Taylor Essentials Label Stickers. I used my beloved FJ Date Roller stamp to stamp for the date. Then I glued it on the bottom of the page. I used two pink and two soft pink sequin flowers to decorate the right border and glued them alternated on the picture. I used glue dots again and also added one leaf to every flower, alternating on the left and the right side. I also used my Taylor favorites here to set some cute accents on my page with the big picture. They are the perfect eye-catcher!

I typed my journaling and printed it out. I glued it on a page of white cardstock and used an epoxy heart in pinkish from the cute Taylor Epoxy Stickers and added it on the top. On the bottom I glued the little brown house on the left side and added the words "1st day of school" with the Bailey Puffy Alphabet and the small black Madison Puffy Alphabet.

I can't wait to fill this little book with more pages. I hope you like it and I could inspire you to do your own Gratitude Journal with the Taylor Kit or to do some cute things with the fantastic and beautiful Taylor sequins. I can't wait to see how you use them.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xx, Ulli

SUPPLIES:  Taylor Paper Pack | Taylor Floral Sequin Mix | Taylor Chipboard Alphabet Stickers with Gold Foil | Taylor Stamp Set | Taylor Die Cut Shapes | Essentials Label Stickers No. 2 - Taylor | Taylor Epoxy Stickers | Tori Flexible Epoxy Dots | Bailey Pinkish Puffy Alphabet Stickers | Madison Black Puffy Alphabet Stickers | Harper Stamp Set