Instructions 
The Dina Wakley MEdia Blue Edition Journal’s denim pages invite the artist to experiment on the pages with new techniques and of course, some stitching. In this project we will add some circular “bubbles” with paper and stencils to create a unique page for your journal. Follow along and find out how to add sewn elements to your pages without actually sewing them on. Yes! This can be done!

Step 1: Turn to a denim page in your Blue Edition Media Journal. Either side (dark or light) will work for this project. Go through the Collage Collective and find some images that all speak to each other in a complimentary color scheme.

Step 2: Cut out the images into circles of differing sizes. Be sure to cut extra, allowing yourself some room to experiment with for your layout.

Step 3: Using a Mini Ink Blending Tool with Foam, stencil some circles across your page with the Large Halves stencil in White Gesso (although other colors would be fine).

Step 4: Place the circle images on your denim journal page. Space them out in clusters on top of the stenciling.  Have some of the circles come “off” the page and trim the excess, this will give your “bubbles” a more natural flow. Take a picture with your phone so that you will have a reference of your layout.

Step 5: Sew around the circles several times with slightly uneven lines. In this project, a sewing machine was used, however hand sewing would work just as well.  Be aware, the stitches would be larger if hand sewing. 

Step 6: Using your phone as a reference, glue the stitched “bubbles” back onto your page as per your previous layout using Ultra Thick Gel Medium. This trick allows you to add ”stitching” to your pages in places where a sewing machine may not be able to sew.

Step 7: Cut circles out of some glitter cardstock. Using the same layout techniques, layer them onto your denim page. You can make your page as simple or complex as you want. Once you have a desired balance, take another picture as a reference before gluing.

Step 8: Glue the glitter “bubbles” onto the page with Ultra Thick Gel Medium. You will now have a beautiful and unique page with stitching without ever having to put your book through the machine!