When I travel, I keep all of my postcards, brochures, receipts tucked in a shopping bag. It’s not pretty–merely functional. For this month’s theme, I envisioned how Victorian people traveled to Paris and where they would tuck their keepsakes. This tri-fold journal has a small pocket and lots of space to attach the remnants.

I created this postcard using Canva. This was my first time incorporating the Gecko Galz stamps, and I love the versatility. I clipped the cat stamp and overlayed it onto a Parisian woman. The background is another stamp of the birds on a faux postcard. I glued the image onto a painted book page. Then I sewed around it. I browned the page using the Tim Holtz distress oxide in Vintage Photo. I added a bit of washi tape and rounded the corners.

I created the ATC using Canva. I added the Eiffel Tower background, overlaying a ticket and clothing tag. I then added Puss in Boots. I printed out the card and then glued it onto a book page. I selected this page because of the title: Warning. This was probably from an old Nancy Drew book. I distressed the page using Vintage Photo, added washi tape, and rounded the corners.

I think the image I had the most fun creating was the bookmark. I attempted to recreate an old photo booth filmstrip where Victorian people posed for the camera. I created the individual vignettes using Canva and then inserted them into the feather-adorned filmstrip. I printed the strip and fussy cut. I glued it onto a paper bag remnant and then added a piece of washi tape. I added a stitch for fun.

For the travel journal, I cut and folded a paper bag using a junk mail envelop for my guide. I glued scrapbook paper on the outside and inside. I folded up the bottom to create a pocket. I sewed around the edges using the thread that was already loaded. (That’s a great way to minimize the pressure of sewing!) I added a piece of ribbon to set off the pocket. I glued two doolies in the background and then added some leftover scraps from the Gecko Galz sheets. I found an old Paris map online and tea bag dyed the paper, dried, and crumpled up for effect.

I was hesitant in using the stamps and found out I shouldn’t be. They’re awesome! Take a look at the beautiful digital images on the Gecko Galz Etsy page. They’re inexpensive and make every project pop!

Images used:

Paris Flea Market Stamps: https://www.etsy.com/listing/471478171/paris-flea-market-digital-stamp-set?click_key=0183fbd84f54251cf1b0dca957e2b29100d73e13%3A471478171&click_sum=0e2cb2e8&ga_search_query=paris&ref=shop_items_search_2&pro=1.

Parisian Garden Craft Kit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/514725961/parisian-garden-craft-kit?click_key=6f6fb6c48f7eabfe4080ecef0b4e841a57c5211e%3A514725961&click_sum=7373ca6e&ga_search_query=parisian&ref=shop_items_search_6&pro=1.