Michelle Ward's January Crusade was #47- "It's a Wrap" and themed around Holiday paper.
The pure genius of this was that Christmas is over! I have no idea why it never occurred to me before, but I've always tried to do this during the holidays which basically just compounds the stress of an already too-full season. It's these simple concepts that sometimes stump me. Duh. This is clearly where I've been going about it all wrong!
I pulled down from my shelf a secret holiday box of shame and dumped it's contents out onto the floor and started sorting. For four years now I've been adding to the box while telling myself "next year I'll put it all together!" Which of course has never happened. Until now.
I've been sewing all morning. I've never assembled a journal in this order before. This time I cut the pages for the signatures and then immediately put the holiday stuff on the paper. No watercolor, acrylic or spray paint. Just scraps directly onto the plain white paper. At first I was freaking out that it was really boring and dull. But the sewing has added a lot over my selection of postage stamps, wine labels, wrapping paper, and small bags.
I'm not used to working on pages this way and find them really hard to turn in the machine. I'm not sure if single sheets are 'better' but I don't have a lot of binding options here where I live.
The good news about this Crusade is that I've managed to tamper with the evidence of my own hoarding crime scene and alter it into something more fun and tangible. So thank you Michelle for another great challenge. And a quick salute noting two fellow Crusaders who totally inspired me to actually make the book I've always wanted instead of just shoving all that extra ephemera back into a box: both Hanna's Holiday journal and Lay Hoons Christmas Spreads are total amazing eye candy!!
Great job to dig out all your "evidence" from that box! Good that you got started with sewing again. I think i will make a box or maybe a book a la Hanna for nrxt year - so many things we just through away... Great to hear from you - wish you a good start of feb 2011 - a crafty feb , ready for the next crusade??
Posted by: Lena | January 31, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Thank you Lena, yes I'm ready for February!! You too? Not that there's any shame in being the last Crusader, but it's starting to become a habit with me...! Maybe I'll try busting right out of the starting line this month...!
Posted by: TJ | January 31, 2011 at 09:30 PM
It sounds like this was a very freeing exercise for you, and I love your pictures. Looking forward to the next one!
Posted by: Jackie | January 31, 2011 at 09:32 PM
I LOVE that you tampered with your own evidence - hardly criminal, except in the minds of us hoarders. You are a clever girl. This is an awesome journal - fun to hear that you gained inspiration from fellow crusaders, and tried something new too - starting from scratch with your scraps and treasured clippings. Fabulous!! Thanks for sharing with the team!!
Posted by: michelle ward | January 31, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Such a wonderful evidence you have had during this Christmas.
There are beautiful when you put all of them together.
Posted by: Lay Hoon | January 31, 2011 at 11:44 PM
wow what a great job you should be proud of yourself....
Posted by: lee | February 01, 2011 at 05:28 AM
Pretty pretty, and well done! I am glad I've inspired you. I think sewing into paper is awesome fun and I could do it all day. I hope you get addicted too! :-)
Take care!
Posted by: iHanna | February 01, 2011 at 10:41 PM
what is this Crusader business? From the looks of these images and your links it sounds fun! - jeez I have so much hoarding myself. Now my friend you must teach me how to sew with paper! It sounds fabulous...lets talk ♥
Posted by: Ivy | February 03, 2011 at 05:19 AM
Great crusade, love the idea of stitching it all together.
Posted by: Helen | February 03, 2011 at 11:48 AM