91 posts
This page started for me with the “atomic” paper and a handful pf photos from a local antique store. This little boy, Tony, looked to be up to some mischief.
Evidently it was Saturday morning cartoon time and someone forgot to turn it on. 
I put together some found text to tell a little story after finding a couple other papers that seemed to fit that mid-century vibe.
Today, since it’s the first official day of summer, I thought I’d share a salute to summer journal page.
The page began as so many do with a piece of what I like to call mop-up paper. Basically copier/printer paper. I have tons of it in various colors that came in a lot of scrapbook supplies I acquired several years ago. Working in loose sheets allows me to use thinner substrate knowing that it will be adhered to an existing page in the final journal.
For background interest I glued book text in random places before covering the whole sheet with tissue paper. I love the texture tissue paper provides plus it softens the background.
I used gelatos to colorize, blending with a baby wipe.
After the background was settled, I chose a photo I had taken while on vacation a couple years ago. After resizing by tearing, I used my trusty sewing machine to stitch it into place. While I was at it I created a stacked fabric and paper collage embellishment for the top edge of the page.
Next it was time for the words…the oh so important and vital part for me. Warm in the summer jumped out at me. I layered the words over script stamped tissue and fabric. At this point I thought I was done, until I noticed a tiny pinwheel charm in my box of bits. It was the finishing touch that the page needed.
Won’t you join me for Words to live by on Art Journal Journey?
Last week I found this image I’d printed ages ago…I knew immediately that it would become a focal point in an upcoming journal page.
Since I’ve been using the term “mop up paper” quite often lately I thought I’d share a bit of a process post to give visuals to my words.
This is where my page started. A sheet of blue copy paper 8.5 x 11 inches. I used a glue stick to adhere it to some lightweight card stock.
After the glue was dry I cut it down to my desired size of 7 x 7 inches. Next I got out craft paints and used my favorite tool…my fingers…to spread several colors of paint over the page.
Some of the colors are more transparent than others allowing the original color and marks to show through.
Look at that yummy texture… I decided to let this air dry overnight instead of drying it with the heat gun.
Of course this is where my process failed…I totally forgot about the fact that I was taking photos step by step.
I used rubber stamps to create some background texture. The black ink harlequin was super subtle…I felt I needed a bit more color and shape. Since most of my stamp pads are pigment ink I used clear embossed powder to set the ink.
I also took the completed background to my sewing machine to stitch a funky border in black to contain everything.
Next I created some layers with paper and fabric to give an anchor to my image.
Last but not least was the words of wisdom to a little girl learning to tie shoes with her daddy’s shoes. I love that they are on the wrong feet too.
Not only am I linking up with Words to live by on Art Journal Journey guest hosted by yours truly….
but I am also linking up with Try it on Tuesday for Make a Mark.
I was inspired to create this journal page after reading a college student’s first hand account of why he was walking for suicide prevention on his college campus. I was moved by his very eloquent yet heartbreaking words describing his journey. I couldn’t help but think of all the young men and women in my life, especially my own children. 
Often when I have high emotions, I turn to creativity as an outlet. I let everything go and work by intuition…not over thinking anything. Eventually I get to a place that the page starts to take a shape in the direction my mind was subconsciously heading.
I’ve always been told I’m a good listener by my friends. They often will turn to me to vent, gab, or problem solve. I may not always have a ton of advice but I do always have a shoulder to lend.
It is my wish that my children will find someone in their lives that will be able to do the same for them even if its not me. And that they have learned the skill of really listening. It is the key to so many things.
I am finally finished….as in completely finished with another journal. 
The inside pages have been done for a month or so but I had not been inspired on how to pretty up the outside until now.
As you can see this was a big improvement from the original.
The pretty paper came from a flower Mini-me received at the end of her first campus tour.
They have a cool tradition there that every Friday local florists bring single flowers for the students to purchase and place in each others mailboxes. Since it was a Friday, each of the kids on the tour got a flower. Hers was wrapped in the lovely pink floral kraft paper.
I wanted to keep the original inscription so I used washi tape to adhere the paper like a book jacket. Remember covering textbooks with grocery bags…same concept. Just prettier.
Mini-me and I are both a little obsessed with washi tape. Sometime I’ll show you our collection.
I received some happy mail from a dear friend of mine the other day. She was doing a major purge and thought of me. Yay! Thank you!!
On a recent thrifting excursion I picked up a couple goodies for my stash. The journal is really cute but a little small. Not sure if it would work for me to art journal with as my original thought was for it. I’m always on the lookout for a new book to journal since I don’t work cover to cover in a methodical manner. I tend to jump between several journals. The one I shared today was started Nov 2016 and considering there are only 8 spreads…I definitely jump around.
Mini-me and I had our first taste of Fall with a Pumpkin Iced Crafted Press. So yummy!!
Tuesday we both head back to school. I’m ready for the schedule. I almost feel more productive at home when I’m working.
What are you doing today?
Life. Family. Memories. Adventure.
The journey.
I was inspired to sit down to create this morning. I didn’t have a specific theme in mind but as I began to pull interesting pieces together I realized that I did have something in mind. 
Over the last two days I’ve exchange emails with cousins from both sides of my dad’s family. A genealogy message board connected them even though they aren’t related, but I am to both of them. My “new” cousin was looking for photos and info on her Grandpa…who was my Grandpa’s brother. I was able to provide her with a photo she’d never seen of 4 of the brothers. As it turns out we live within 10 minutes of each other and plan to meet sometime after school is done. So cool!
Anyway…all this digging into the past. Thinking of stories told to me by my parents. Old photos. Genealogy. Family. Memories. All came together to inspire the page you see. 
vintage stamps and lace
Blue chip stamps and vintage trim
B&W photo and flower embellishment
All of these pieces coming together as a vintage inspired tribute to my ancestors. Their life was a great adventure. 
Ours is too. This is something I think we often forget through the drudgery of everyday life. Live your life…make it an adventure.
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I’m linking up with Art Journal Journey for Recycle and Collage.
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