Ocean Diary Junk Journal: A Vintage Inspired Creative Voyage
Embark on an inspiring journey into the world of creative papercraft with our latest feature: the captivating Ocean Diary Junk Journal, meticulously crafted by Sharon Coughlin of Mad Paper Crush. As one of our esteemed new Junk Journal Design Team Members, Sharon has once again demonstrated her remarkable talent by transforming vintage imagery into a tangible narrative, offering a treasure trove of inspiration for your next project.
Here at The Graphics Fairy, we are passionate about showcasing the incredible versatility of vintage images. Each week, our dedicated Design Team Members dive into the extensive archives of our Graphics Fairy Premium Membership Site, selecting from hundreds of unique Vintage Image Bundles to bring their imaginative visions to life. Their creations serve as a beautiful testament to the endless possibilities of incorporating these timeless assets into your own handmade journals, collages, and mixed-media art.
We are thrilled to present Sharon’s latest masterpiece, a conceptual journal that tells the story of Eliza Patton, the spirited daughter of a merchant ship captain. This project is not merely a collection of pages; it’s an immersive experience designed to transport you to the high seas and ignite your own creative spark. To fully appreciate the intricate details and innovative techniques, we encourage you to watch the comprehensive video tour located at the bottom of this page. Prepare to be utterly inspired!
Now, let’s hear directly from the artist herself as Sharon introduces her incredible project and shares the insights behind its creation.
Meet the Artist: Sharon Coughlin of Mad Paper Crush
Hello everyone! I’m Sharon from Mad Paper Crush, and I reside in the picturesque Eastern Pennsylvania. My love affair with paper crafting stretches back as far as I can remember. Finding junk journals was a pivotal moment; I was immediately hooked. It’s the perfect alchemy of art, vintage aesthetics, boundless imagination, and the tactile joy of paper. I’m absolutely delighted to share my very first journal as part of The Graphics Fairy Design Team. For this project, I envisioned and created a unique concept journal: the personal diary of Eliza Patton, a determined young woman whose father navigates the world’s oceans as a merchant ship captain.
The genesis of this entire project unfolded a few weeks ago. My Monday morning email from the Graphics Fairy Premium Membership arrived, unveiling a bundle titled “Sea Captain’s Voyage.” Instantly, the character of Eliza began to take shape in my mind. Her longing to follow in her father’s adventurous footsteps, to command her own ship, yet her father’s gentle insistence on her developing into a well-rounded young lady – these contrasts formed the core of her story. I delved deeper into The Graphics Fairy site, searching for other ocean or sea-related images that could enrich Eliza’s world, and I was astounded by the wealth of beautiful assets available. You’ll discover many of these treasures woven throughout the journal.
The journal’s cover began its transformation with two sturdy book boards, repurposed from a discarded book. These provided the perfect foundation. To achieve a stunning visual and tactile experience, I adorned them with a magnificent marbled image sourced from the “La Mer” kit. I printed this particular image onto canvas, which imparts a luxurious, textural feel, immediately inviting touch and setting the tone for the journey within.
Turning the first page reveals the front inside cover, a thoughtfully designed space featuring a layered pocket. Here, Eliza carefully safeguards some of her most cherished keepsakes and necessities from her travels. You’ll find a practical button card, essential for mending her blouse during long voyages, delicate tickets from a memorable opera performance during their last port visit, and even a piece of vintage crochet. This crochet, salvaged from a dresser covering, hints at a larger project Eliza might be working on, perhaps to bring a touch of home to her cabin aboard the ship. These small, personal details truly bring Eliza’s character to life.
Further into the diary, a particularly striking image captivates the eye: a majestic sea monster, rendered in exquisite detail. This image serves as a dramatic and evocative background, perfect for journaling. I can easily envision Eliza, nestled in her bunk, penning her thoughts while recalling the thrilling (and perhaps slightly exaggerated) sea monster tales spun by the ship’s crew during their watches. Such imagery adds an element of mystery and adventure, reflecting the vast, often unknown wonders of the ocean.
Eliza’s days aboard her father’s ship are a blend of adventure and proper upbringing. Her father, keen on ensuring she is truly well-rounded, insists on daily piano practice, even at sea. You can see snippets of music sheet paper integrated into these diary pages, a subtle nod to her musical education. A charming drawing of a boy holding a fish creates an ingenious tuck spot. Here, Eliza keeps a delightful cake recipe she intends to try with the ship’s cook, alongside a useful newspaper article offering tips for cleaning shabby clothes—a truly practical find for life on a bustling, often grimy, merchant vessel. These elements showcase Eliza’s varied interests, from domestic arts to maintaining tidiness amidst the challenges of shipboard living.
Like many who live by the sea, Eliza possesses a deep fascination for sea creatures. She eagerly observes and learns about every marine marvel she encounters during their voyages. I brought this passion to life by printing exquisite images of various sea life onto authentic vintage ledger paper. This choice evokes the image of young Eliza, perhaps during her Latin lessons, letting her mind wander and doodling these beautiful creatures in the margins of her ledgers, combining her formal education with her profound love for the ocean. This section brilliantly incorporates elements from the “Sea Life Ephemera” bundle, adding authenticity and charm.
Much like myself, Eliza holds a special affection for paper. Demonstrating her ingenuity, she crafted a charming little notebook from a drawing of a sea urchin. This delightful mini-journal tucks perfectly into a belly band on the page, a clever design element created from a bookmark printable found on The Graphics Fairy Premium site. This ingenious use of a simple printable not only adds an interactive element to the journal but also underscores Eliza’s resourcefulness and creative spirit, making the journal an ever-unfolding discovery.
Eliza is depicted as quite the crafter herself, constantly finding new ways to personalize her diary. She enjoys taking everyday items and transforming them into unique collages and ephemera. On one page, you can see her creativity shine through a tag she fashioned using a beautiful drawing of a shell combined with snippets from old advertisements. This not only adds visual interest but also provides extra journaling space, perfect for jotting down observations or collecting small mementos from her travels.
In another captivating spread, I incorporated some delicate shell prints onto deli paper. This choice is deliberate; the deli paper subtly crinkles as you turn the pages, adding a wonderful auditory and textural dimension to the journal. These small, thoughtful additions contribute significantly to the sensory experience of flipping through Eliza’s diary, making each page turn a unique moment of discovery and delight.
The diary also features a charming fabric page, a delightful departure from paper. On its reverse, a clever pocket is sewn, ready to hold a notecard or additional small treasures belonging to Eliza. This mixed-media approach not only adds visual and tactile diversity but also further enhances the journal’s capacity for hidden elements and personal touches, making it a rich tapestry of textures and stories.
I find immense joy in incorporating authentic vintage items into my journals, as they lend an unparalleled sense of history and charm. Eliza’s diary benefits from several genuine vintage ledger pages. To further enhance their connection to her ocean-bound life, some of these ledger pages have been overprinted with enchanting images of ocean creatures and plants, seamlessly blending factual record-keeping with the whimsical beauty of the sea.
Eliza’s Ocean Diary Junk Journal is a carefully curated collection, bursting with an array of tuck spots, pockets, and exquisite ephemera, all meticulously designed to ignite your imagination and invite you on an unforgettable journey alongside her. Thank you so much for joining me on this creative voyage for my inaugural design team journal – I look forward to sharing more with you in a few weeks!
For a complete and immersive experience, be sure to watch the full video tour below:
OCEAN DIARY JUNK JOURNAL SHOW & TELL VIDEO TOUR
Graphics Fairy Premium Membership Bundles Used in This Project:
To recreate elements of this stunning Ocean Diary Junk Journal or to spark your own creative projects, Sharon utilized several exceptional vintage image bundles available exclusively through The Graphics Fairy Premium Membership. These bundles offer a rich array of themed images perfect for junk journaling, collage, and all your paper crafting needs:
- Sea Captains Voyage
- Sea Spray
- La Mer
- Sea Green Backgrounds
- Sea Life Ephemera
- Nautical Kit
- Seaside Holiday
Connect with Sharon and explore more of her incredible work:
- Sharon’s YouTube Channel
- Sharon’s Etsy Shop
- Sharon’s Instagram
A heartfelt thank you for joining us on this creative exploration.
Sharon Coughlin
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