Graphic 45 Traveler's Notebook with the Bloom Collection

Good Morning, Graphic 45 Fans! I have my second Graphic 45 project for June to share today! I was so excited to get started on this project, because I have not used the Bloom Collection yet, nor have I used the G45 Travel Album with Notebook Set! 

Let me just say that the colors in the Bloom Collection are stunning in person! I am not usually drawn to the lighter colors, but this collection is what I would call bright pastels! It is stunning - simply beautiful. If you loved the old Botanical Tea Collection, you will love this one, too! 

The album is 8 3/4" tall, 4 3/4" wide, with 1 3/4" spine. Inside are three notebook inserts, measuring slightly smaller. One of the notebooks has lined paper, one has watercolor paper, and one has grid paper. You can buy extra sets of the Notebooks, in case you wish your Traveler's Notebook to have all one type of insert.

While I kept the inside of my notebook fairly plain, I went all out decorating the cover!

If you are a long-time Follower of my blog you know that fussy cutting is not something I do very often. Because I am such a perfectionist, I never like my fussy cutting attempts. I have been trying to let go and just flow along with this technique! So, I fussy cut my little heart out! I used layers of foam tape to lift some of the fussy cut layers.

I used a few of the Bloom Chipboard elements and a few of the silver Matte Pearl Gems.

I also added an Ivory Artist Trading Tag, which I covered with one of the Bloom Ephemera Cards. The Ephemera Cards fit perfectly onto the Trading Tag and Regular Tag sizes! Nestled among the fussy cut flowers and butterflies is a Shabby Chic Metal Keyhole. I added some pink brads to the key hole. Sweet! 

I used one of the Shabby Chic Metal Door Knobs for my closure. Because I added so much detail to my cover, I did not want to wrap the closure elastic around the entire album. I was afraid it would tear my cover elements. I simply shortened the elastic string and looped it over the door knob to hold the notebook closed. 

I am simply in love with this collection. I used all but a few sheets of both the collection and the matching Patterns and Solids pad! 

I used some jewelry findings to dangle one of the Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Keys from the spine. I also added some beads and a few charms. 

A piece of the patterned paper, cut on each end into the ribbon shape, makes a great spine decor. I also added one of the chipboard elements and more of the pearls to decorate the spine.

The album has grommets where all the holes appear. I wanted to make sure that they were displayed, so did some fancy punching to make the paper go around the grommets! I decorated each area with hole reinforcers, punched from the decorative paper. 

TIP: When decorating your covers, it helps to "un-string" the album and set all the elastic cord aside. Once you have all the paper added to the covers, re-string the album. Here is a video I found on YouTube to help you figure out how to string a journal of this style, in case you get lost with the re-stringing step!  

I love that these journals have pockets already added to the inside front and back covers! The Regular Tags fit perfectly into the pockets.

I created a small waterfall in the front cover and another in the back cover. Placing the tags into the pockets keeps the waterfall from "flapping around" when the book is in use. To see the full Notebook, watch the video below.

Each of the three signatures is decorated with the beautiful paper.

I even added some fussy cutting to this one!

There are a lot of sheets for each signature insert so there is plenty of space to write, draw, or tuck ephemera.

Each signature insert has two pockets to hold tags or other items. To see all of the inserts, view the video below.

The back cover is the same as the front, with a waterfall element and a pocket for a tag.

I hope you enjoyed this walk-through video!

Thanks so much for looking!

Graphic 45 Supplies Used:
Artist Trading Tags - Ivory
Regular Tags - Ivory
Kraft Travel Album with Notebook Set
Bloom Collection: 12x12 papers, Chipboard, Stickers, Tags and Pockets, Ephemera Cards, 12x12 Patterns and Solids
Shabby Chic Metal Door Knob
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Keys
Matte Pearl Gems
Regular Tag and Gears Die
Large Tag, ATC Tag, and Flowers Die

Other Supplies Used:
Cardstock: WorldWin Natural
Ink: Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Jewelry findings, beads, charms: Tim Holtz clips, other from craft supply
Staples: office supply 
Chipboard: scraps
Dies: My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Circle Stax
Tools: We R Memory Keeps Hole Reinforcer Punch, Stampin' Up 1 1/4" and 1/4" Circle Punches, Kadomaru Pro Corner Rounder, Provocraft Postage Edge Scissors
Adhesive: white glue, ATG tape, Scor-tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares