Over the weekend I was inspired to do a bit of art journaling.
Not sure that it will actually become a “project” but it was nice to play.
Tag : journal
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After being inspired by The Art Journal Workshop, I started work on the inside pages.
I found the book that I disassembled for the covers at a thrift store quite a while ago. When I got it I hadn’t realized that all the pages were glossy which doesn’t work very well for altering.
I still loved the covers and knew I’d use them
in some way.
The inside pages are recycled cardboard from cereal type boxes. I obsessively save them to use as substrate for so many different projects. The pages are all a uniform height but the width is very random. I felt this might give the journal an interesting look.
So far, I’ve slathered leftover paint from other projects on a few pages and completed one from scraps on my table.
The journalling reads:
Forget the darkness behind you.
Turn your face towards the sun and bloom.
I just had to share my excitement about this book I checked out from the library!
I have major art journal envy of those who do it so well. I just haven’t been able to set myself free enough to do it I guess.
I feel like this book can help me.
It’s definitely going on my wish list…
It’s fully of step by step photos for some great background techniques.
Tip and tricks…
By the way…
I’m not being compensated in any way shape or form by anyone. I’m sure that Traci Bunkers doesn’t have a clue who I am nor do the publishers of this book.
Just wanted you to know that before I went any further.
I’ve gotten inspired.
First I did a quick, no thought page
in a practice book.
Not bad…not great but I’m working at it.
I’ve got an idea in mind for a bunch of recycled cardboard as well.
Just working on getting it prepped with my horrible gesso. I say horrible because it is some lame off brand and it’s so watery.
Live and learn then buy the good stuff.
With the long Holiday weekend, I finally took some time and felt inspired enough to do a bit of creating.
First I grabbed my “maybe some day” journal that I slap my leftover paint in. Then grabbed my scrap bucket. This was just sort of something to remind myself that I actually could make something again.
After that I felt like I could be on a roll. I was thinking about gifts for teachers, casual friends and just those “oh gosh I totally forgot about so and so” gifts. It’s always good to have a little stash of items around without breaking the bank.
These are a couple of altered composition books that I may keep for gifts or maybe list in my etsy store.
Yes, you read that right…
I finally got up the nerve to actually list some things in my storefront. I’ve been busy photographing items to list and then of course writing up the listings. I’m sure once I get a system down it will go quicker.
I can happily say I’ve made my first sale as well. If I’d known it would have happened that quickly I’d have listed stuff months ago.
After I finished up some more miniature terrain this afternoon, I had some leftover paint on my palette. Since I really hate waste anything, I grabbed my art journal and made a quick page. I left plenty of room for future writing or what ever my heart desires at the moment.
It felt really good to work with paper again! I’ve taken a bit of a break from it while working on my miniatures…which I also love but oh! the satisfaction of finishing something in one sitting..or standing, as the case was for me today. Miniatures don’t work that way…they are painstakingly slow.
A while back my good friend Elizabeth sent me one of her wonderful sewn art journals as a birthday gift.
You can see the first set of signatures here and the second set here.
She lamented over and over about how much she hated the cover she made for mine. She even told me that I should try and fix it.
I love the inside covers as much as she did but the covers were over-sized. We talked about how I might be able to salvage the insides while doing the remake.
Time passed…I did nothing.
But now I’m really wanting to start a journal so I figured I’d better listen to Elizabeth and refit the cover.
I carefully cut the “spine” from the rest of the cover salvaging as much as humanly possible of the gorgeous inside fabric.
Since I seem to have a thing for denim, it seemed the natural choice for a scrappy cover.
As you can see I used Elizabeth fun hand-dyed fabric with pen pockets on the front inside cover.
And her even more impressive bird mono-print with pocket on the back cover.
I made a flower from the lace to cover the sewing of the closure strap and added a vintage button for interest.
Now time to get writing…