Plenty More Fish In The Sea?

(starting to play with the Gone Fishing Bundle)

fishing, n. 1. the art or practice of catching fish, 

2. a place or facilities for catching fish

fish story, colloq. an exaggerated or incredible story

Hello!  Today I am sharing a junk journal/notebook and storage/gift box project I worked on this week using the new Stampin' Up! Let's Go Fishing 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161534), and Gone Fishing Bundle (item 161542) - which includes the Gone Fishing photopolymer stamp set (item 161535) and the co-ordinating Gone Fishing dies (item 161541).  As with all stamp/die bundles, the Gone Fishing stamp set and Gone Fishing dies can also of course be purchased separately - however, when purchased together using the Bundle item number there is the 10% Bundle Savings!

Gone Fishing stamp set - 161535

(Bundle - 161542)

Gone Fishing dies - 161541

(Bundle - 161542)

Fishing is by no means just a masculine activity - and whether a fisherman is man, woman or child they need a place to keep photos, fishing tips, directions to the perfect fishing locales, and, maybe most importantly, record their favourite fish stories!  And, of course, a box to present and store the journal!

I was lucky enough to find two books on a trip to a local thrift shop last weekend that I was able to make good use of in my project: Ultimate Freshwater Fishing by John Bailey (Firefly Books - 1998) - for photographs, fish descriptions, and assorted information sheets; and Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (published 1906) - for illustrations of the frog, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, at his fishing hole.

Just a quick note about the standard tools and supplies I used to complete my project this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and paper (also used to score the center fold line on the journal cover);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• Bone Folder (item 102300) for burnishing the fold lines in the journal's pages; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

All Gone Fishing stamp set images were stamped on watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406), and coloured with a combination of the following Stampin' Up! inks (including colours used for the two-step stamping images):  Pumpkin Pie (item 147086), Daffodil Delight (item 147094), Granny Apple Green (item 147095), Sweet Sorbet (item 159216), Lost Lagoon (item 161678), Misty Moonlight (item 153118), Old Olive (item 147090), and Basic Gray (item 149165).  On the two-step stamping fish images I added additional ink colours after stamping the "fill in" image.  I used Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to sponge all edges of the journal's pages, edges of Designer Series Paper and cardstock pieces/panels (including mats), and edges of imagery from the books.  The two main tackle box die cuts used on the box lid were also cut from watercolour paper - the base die cut sponged heavily with Pecan Pie ink and spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), and the overlay die cut coloured with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).

Additional dies and stamp set used:

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - to cut the square opening in the journal cover panel, the semi-circle on the top edge of the pocket on the inside cover of the journal, and the circle images of Mr. Jeremy Fisher and his fish;
• Tree Rings dies (item 159888 - which includes the Hybrid Embossing Folder) - to cut the four branches with leaves used on the journal front cover - cut from watercolour paper and coloured with Pecan Pie and Old Olive inks;

Tree Rings dies - 159888

(also includes Hybrid Embossing Folder)

• Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) - to cut the rounded corner rectangle mats from Pebbled Path cardstock (item 161722) and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045);

Nested Essentials dies - 161597

• Gorgeously Made dies (item 161202) - to cut the torn notebook edge from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) used on the journal front cover - I sponged the edges with Pecan Pie ink and scrunched up a few of the "teeth"; and

Gorgeously Made dies - 161202

• Beauty of the Deep stamp set (item 161233) - to stamp the wavy leafy stems used on "The Fish's 'Sixth Sense'" and Mr. Jeremy Fisher catching his fish journal pages - I used my Paper Snips Scissors to trim these stems as I had temporarily "mis-located" my Beauty of the Deep dies (item 161236)!  The stems were also stamped on watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black Ink and coloured using Granny Apple Green and Lost Lagoon inks.  The Beauty of the Deep stamp set and Beauty of the Deep dies are also available together in the Beauty of the Deep Bundle (item 161237).

Beauty of the Deep stamp set - 161233

(Bundle - 161237)

The box measures 7 3/4' X 6" x 2" deep - the lid 7 13/16" x 6 1/16" x 1" deep. The journal measures 7 1/4" x 5 7/8", and I used a variety of coffee-stained/stenciled papers, old school scrapbook pages, grid papers, notebook papers, and an 8 7/8" x 5 15/16" brown envelope (folded in half and ends cut to form two pockets) for the pages - 14 papers, including the envelope - making a total of 56 pages - lots of room for the fish stories!  The pages (in one signature) were secured to the cover using black embroidery thread and the 3-hole pamphlet stitch (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-few-projects-using-ranunculus-romance.html).  

Additional supplies used to complete the journal and box:

• for the journal cover - an 11 3/4" x 7 1/4" piece of Basic Black cardstock - I used a leftover piece from the retired Basic Black 12" x 12" cardstock (item 124267 - from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue) scored in half on the 11 3/4" side (5 7/8"). I also used a sheet of the Basic Black 12" x 12" cardstock for the box;
• Pebbled Path cardstock for the "posts" on the two die cut floats - around the "post" on the front cover float I wrapped some Linen Thread - item 104199 - securing the ends with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue;
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the small pieces for the two die cut floats;
• Misty Moonlight patterned paper from Earthen Elegance 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161503) for the matting panel for the front cover - after sponging the edges with Pecan Pie ink I scraped the edges with the blade of my craft knife'
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) to add splatters to the front panel and several journal pages by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• for the box - an 11 3/4" x 10" piece of Basic Black cardstock scored at 2" on all four sides;
• for the box lid - a 9 13/16" x 8 1/16" piece of Basic Black cardstock (Basic Black 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock - item 121045) scored at 1" on all four sides;
• reinforcing panels for the sides and bottom of the box (Basic Black cardstock) - for the sides 2 @ just under 7 3/4" x just under 2", and 2 @ just under 6" x just under 2"; and for the bottom a just under 7 3/4" x just under 6" piece;
• a just under 7 13/16" x just under 6 1/16" piece of Basic Black cardstock for the reinforcing panel for the inside of the box lid; and
• a 5 9/16" x 4 5/16" piece of Basic Black cardstock for the matting panel for the box lid - I used a small corner rounder punch to round the corners to mimic the rounded corners of the tackle box die cuts.

For the two lures (with red hearts) in the middle section of the tackle box I used four 1/4" silver coloured jump rings - these certainly do not have to be the highest quality, and can usually be found at either Dollar Tree or Dollarama.

In decorating the journal pages I had a lot of fun using strips and torn scraps of the Let's Go Fishing Designer Series Paper (and a torn strip of Pecan Pie cardstock!) - I thought the small torn DSP strips looked like washi tape!  In a few places I made small pockets by double folding a piece of the DSP - a good way to display both sides of the DSP and create another place to tuck a small treasure!  For the pocket on the inside of the front cover I used a 6" x 4" piece of DSP - scored at 1/2" on both sides and bottom - the fold over sections glued to the inside panel which allows for a little expansion in the pocket.  

Junk journals are great to work on because there are no rules - they can be simple or more involved, any size, with as many or as few pages as you like - you just have fun and decorate to your heart's content!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  As always I had a lot of fun working on this junk journal and box - I am not a fisherman but I am beginning to see the allure - particularly of the fish stories - and I am quite familiar with the "catch and release" technique, having practiced it in a few aspects of my life!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business! The digital version of the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue is available for browsing at your convenience on my website.  Don't forget to also check out the good deals on the Clearance Rack and the full selection of the products available as Online Exclusives!  Don't forget that the 15% Off Selected Designer Series Papers Promotion is on now until June 30, 2023, and includes the Let's Go Fishing and Earthen Elegance Designer Series Papers!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Another selfie!  Star quality is undeniable!