Papercraft Crystal

This is my page for the Junk Journal July prompt “framed.” Find all the prompts on Instagram and YouTube @megjournals.

There’s a little bit of an inside joke in my family that I’m Julie, your cruise director, since I’ve put together so many local outings. One such had us going downtown to the observation deck of the highest building, eating lunch at a top 100 restaurant (that my mother thought was a dive), going to the fancy downtown park, and touring City Hall and the tunnel system.

Dies

Crafter’s Companion Lyon Frame

Spellbinder’s July 2018 card kit Fun in the Sun small tag

Sizzix Tim Holtz Noted 664150 shield

Stamp

Papertrey Ink mini notebook

Current alternatives

For stamp

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz School Desk CMS057

Elizabeth Craft Designs Cosy Days Note Pieces

For shield die

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Labels

Ink

Stampin Up Brilliant Blue

Sprays

Homemade gold sparkle (water and mica powder)

Homemade white (water and acrylic paint)

Ranger Tim Holtz sprays 

Mini spray bottles

https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Gel crayon

https://amzn.to/3p0Q672

About stamping platforms: https://papercraftcrystal.com/2023/04/23/stamping-options/

The Love Boat (with the real Julie, your cruise director) is streaming on Paramount+

Things to see and do in Houston https://www.visithoustontexas.com

Short process video: https://youtu.be/HlO4UnB09Lk

This is part of my entry for the prompt “layers on layers.” Find all the Junk Journal July prompts on Instagram and YouTube @megjournals if you would like to craft along.

Today’s aspirational topic is a home edit. I need to clean out my closets and purge all the excess stuff.

Supplies for the inky side:

Supplies

Watercolor paper – Artist Loft

Watercolor paint – Prang

Crayons – Crayola Colors of Kindness, white

Gel Crayons – US Art

Acrylic Paint – Apple Barrel

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Glaze

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stencils Dot Fade THS006, Bubble THS002, Burlap THS007

Sprays: Ranger Distress Oxide Mermaid Lagoon, Broken China, Ranger Distress Salvaged Patina, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Bahama Blue, homemade gold sparkle, blue, white acrylic paint, walnut ink

Mini spray bottles – https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Watercolors –  https://amzn.to/3NgUEho

Gel crayon – https://amzn.to/3p0Q672

Short process video for the inky layers: https://youtu.be/YWjWY2uy9o0

Supplies for the paper side:

Sprays: Ranger Distress Oxide Tumbled Glass, homemade gold sparkle, blue, white acrylic paint

Homemade sprays are just mini-spray bottles with water + mica powder, water + acrylic paint, and water + dye reinker (in this case Stampin Up Pacific Point)

Mini spray bottles – https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Short process video for the paper layers: https://youtu.be/-jlvj-JJjQQ

This is my page for the Junk Journal July prompt “fold-out.” Find the prompts on Instagram and YouTube @megjournals if you would like to craft along.

The aspirational topic for today is getting more exercise.

Supplies

Current products

Stencils: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Dot Fade THS006, Bubble THS002

Border dies: Scrapbook .com Slimline Border Set of 6

Stamp and dies: Taylored Expressions Exercise Grumplings

Sprays: homemade gold sparkle (water and mica powder), Ranger Tim Holtz sprays

Mini spray bottles  https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Double-sided tape https://amzn.to/3PjHbbj

Inks: Altenew Evergreen, Volcano Lake, Lagoon

Retired products

Crafter’s Companion Provence Frame

Sizzix Originals Tag, Super Scallop

Sizzix Tim Holtz Noted 664150 (shield)

Spellbinder’s July 2017 card kit Tropical Paradise (tags)

Papertrey Ink notebook mini stamp

Stampin Up Stitchery stamp

Fun Stampers Journey Bam Notes

Current alternatives

For notebook stamp

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz School Desk CMS057

Elizabeth Craft Designs Cosy Days Note Pieces

For shield die

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Labels

For sewing stitches

Ranger Dylusions Sew Easy

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stitches

For the tiny stamps

Creative Expressions Woodware Craft Circles

Tiny planner stamps https://amzn.to/466aB2R

Blog post about stamping platforms, including a link to a DIY version using a CD case: https://papercraftcrystal.com/2023/04/23/stamping-options/

Short process video: https://youtu.be/38PxYG3_yPk

Longer process video: https://youtu.be/42zan41WZCw

This is my page for the Junk Journal July prompt “tickets and tags.” Find the prompts on Instagram or YouTube @megjournals.

The aspirational goal here is to see the attractions and museums in my own town. There are online options, though!

Online museums 

https://www.thecollector.com/free-online-museum-tours/

20 Famous Art Museums You Can Visit from Your Living Room

https://www.nga.gov/open-access-images.html

Bank of America free museum days  

https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-partners

My favorite painter

https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain/display/jmw-turner

Supplies for project:

Dies

Elizabeth Craft Designs Planner Essentials

Sizzix Tim Holtz Collector 665926

Sizzix Originals Tag Super Scallop, Tag Scallop, Tag Set, Tag Traditional Combo

Alternatives

Paper Rose Tickets

Concord and 9th Just the Ticket

Lawn Fawn Raffle Tickets

Crafter’s Companion Tags and Tickets

Stencils

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Dot Fade THS006, Bubble THS002

Sprays

Homemade gold sparkle (water and mica powder)

Homemade white (water and acrylic paint)

Ranger Tim Holtz sprays 

Mini spray bottles  https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Double-sided tape https://amzn.to/3PjHbbj

Short process video: https://youtu.be/zM119aQX4Xw

This is my entry for the Junk Journal July prompt negative space. You can find the prompts on Instagram or YouTube @megjournals.

Since my journal is about planning my next step, I’m picking some aspirational goals and getting outside more is one of mine!

If you prefer to read about the outdoors, here are some of my favorite non-fiction books around this topic:

Bill Bryson A Walk in the Woods  https://amzn.to/3p4pYbo

Rinker Buck The Oregon Trail  https://amzn.to/3CT6hGR

Mark Twain Life on the Mississippi https://amzn.to/3Ni8VdM

Tim Cope On the Trail of Genghis Khan  https://amzn.to/3CBbK4U

John Gimlette Wild Coast  https://amzn.to/44aiFhf

Supplies

Dies

Stampin Up Rooted in Nature

Crafter’s Companion Rolling Landscape

Current alternatives

Paper Rose Gum Tree

Echo Park Forest Trees

Sizzix Tim Holtz Tree Line

Picket Fence Studios A Tree

Paper Rose Eucalyptus Tree

Penny Black Tall Trees

Masking with fully-adhesive post-it notes https://amzn.to/431Tf4t

And emboss resist using

Mofuny mixed media paper  https://amzn.to/444RN1R

Simon Says Stamp embossing powder in cream

Working on a silicone placemat from a set of four https://amzn.to/3qOJJ7f

Titles short video link: https://youtu.be/QKBgfGp_Fg0

Short process video for “get outside”: https://youtu.be/EM1buEqczjo

This is my journal page for the prompt for July 2, pop of color. The prompts are available on Instagram or YouTube from @megjournals if you would like to craft along.

Dotted line character paths from The Family Circus

https://comicskingdom.com/family-circus

Short process video: https://youtu.be/i0kAWtwGvMs

This is the first page for my July junk journal, following the Junk Journal July prompts https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce1WX9Qq8pn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Find her @megjournals on YouTube

Supplies:

Stamps

Spellbinders: Peony (good vibes only)

Fun Stampers Journey: Vintage Hollywood (happily ever after)

Club Scrap: Tapestry (September 2018) (my favorite age is now, kind heart fierce mind brave spirit)

Dies

Spellbinders: Pierced Word Bubbles, July 2018 Die of the Month (shadow alphabet)

Elizabeth Craft Designs Planner Essentials: small tag

Stencils

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Dot Fade THS006, Bubble THS002

Inks

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress mini cubes

Sprays

Homemade gold sparkle (water and mica powder)

Homemade white (water and acrylic paint)

Ranger Tim Holtz sprays 

Mini spray bottles

https://amzn.to/44nWeFt

Current shadow alphabet dies:

Tim Holtz Sizzix Alphanumeric Shadow Upper Thinlets Die Set 664729

Pinkfresh Studio Jeff Alpha Die Set 173622

Memory Box Twiggy Alphabet Dies 94581

About retirement

For young people, it really boils down to spending less than you earn and investing in something that will grow.  Make the magic of compound interest work for you.  Invest in mutual funds.  Use your employers 401k / 403b if available, or open your own IRA through almost any bank or brokerage.  Finish your degree.  Join the union.

The Beginner’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

For older people, these are some links about using the resources you have.  AARP is a great resource and you do not need to be a member to access their website.

https://www.aarp.org/retirement/planning-for-retirement/

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/retirement-planning-checklist/

Any age

Rather watch a video?  Here are TED talks on retirement

https://www.ted.com/search?cat=videos&q=retirement

Short process video: