Tag : Art Journal Journey

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This tale is about the “right way” and the “wrong way” to be creative…at least this is how it went for me this weekend.

Saturday in an attempt to kill some time while waiting for some laundry to finish, I decided to challenge myself again to create for the Art Journal Journey theme of Collage~no wings, no leaves, no faces. To begin, I tore a page from a vintage basic electric manual figuring it had some good background to it already. In addition I snagged a couple of random scraps from my worktable and took the works to the sewing machine.

a tale of two pages

I then did a bit of journalling along the edge of one of the scraps. Ok…still feeling it…the creative spark was there but dim.

a tale of two pages

I added some color…still good. Then I sprayed some black mist through my circle stencil. It was as if the mist put out the spark. Instead doing the smart thing and walking away at that point to regroup…I was still waiting for the stupid laundry cycle to complete so I just kept throwing more crap at the page.

a tale of two pagesI’m still not excited about this one but that’s ok. Challenges are just that…a challenge. Otherwise it would be called super happy fun time.

Art Journal Journey

On Sunday while cleaning up my workspace I felt that creative spark again. This time I made a deal with myself not to push through if I wasn’t feeling it. I noticed a freebie art paper I had pulled from an old issue of Somerset Studio. So I had a great starting point…maybe an easy way to redeem myself.

a tale of two pages

Given the fact that this page has an eye on it it wouldn’t count for the challenge away.

a tale of two pages

I didn’t do a tom to the background…I used gelatos to intensify the colors in certain places, some outlining in white gel pen, lots of stamping, gesso through a stencil and heat embossing…but all in a very subtle way. After deciding on some layers of goodies including ink stained babywipes I adding stitching over my layers and around the page in a random fashion.

a tale of two pages

Some black paint splatters and added “eyeliner” were my final touch before looking for words. see possibility everywhere was just perfect.

So my lesson to myself was to know enough when to walk away. You can’t force it. I suppose it’s something like writers block…you can stare at a page but you can’t will the words or art to flow.

This art journal page truly was a journal page…although after I spilled words all over the page in random thoughts I covered it up or at least obscured the writing enough as not to be read.  The words were just for me and once written they could be forgotten. A mind dump, if you will.

escape from memory art journal page

The page has so many layers…I went in with a thought and then took it too far…way to busy of background. I just kept at it until it felt right. I used a Pitt pen and white gesso to create the striped lines.

Washi tape has been a go-to supply lately. I like to tear it before applying to the page so it appears more random…spreading a bit of paint over the washi helps to push it into the background and make a more cohesive look.

escape from memory art journal page

My love affair with circles shines through on this page. I have saved caps from bottles and jars in a variety of sizes that I dip into paint for mark making. The imperfection of these marks is the beauty to me.

Linking up with Art Journal Journey.

Art Journal Journey

I had so much fun making this page! It didn’t go the way I planned…like at all but in reality I didn’t have much of a plan. I’m really enjoying blue and orange lately. I used gelatos over the top of a scrappy background that was glued down with ModPodge. I’m not a fan of this glue but I’m using what I have. The thing I do like is that once the surface is sealed with the ModPodge the gelatos move and blend so beautifully. That being said…if you don’t then seal them down with something they will just keep on moving and blending with subsequent layers. So I tried something…I used a foam brush and gently covered the page with another coat of the ModPodge. Shockingly it worked…other than the surface is a very plastic feel. Yet I pressed on.

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I added black craft paint through a stencil then some washi tape. I ended up using the washi tape to cover some words I was originally planning to use. They fit in the beginning but by the end my thoughts had changed.

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This sticker felt right and I couldn’t agree more. I added a bit of scribbling randomly around the page and a bit of journalling before calling this page a done deal.

Art Journal Journey

Linking up with Art Journal Journey today for the November theme of Collage….but no faces, wings or leaves are allowed. It’s funny how often those things are used in my collages…and I’m sure many others have that same issue. :)

Our beautiful maple tree that is valiantly attempting to hang onto its leaves long after most are bare…

maple

inspired me to create another art journal page yesterday.

amazing beauty art journal page

I was also inspired to try some new things after watching several Journal on Monday videos by France Papillon. In some of her videos she uses a page from outside her journal just as I am…then attaches it later. This leaves you open to much wider possibilities.

amazing beauty art journal page

Of course not being able to choose just one new technique to try…I did several.  I love the added texture and dimension. The more I work on loose pages for my scrapbook journal, the more I like it. I’m not saying it will be my only way of journalling but it does provide me more freedom.

I’m linking up for the last time this month with Art Journal Journey.

Art Journal Journey

Over the weekend I decided to dig deep into my supplies for a bit of “use it or lose it” type of editing.  Not surprisingly my inner art supply hoarder found use for these items so I wouldn’t be able to justify getting rid of them.

fall is marvelous art journal page

I used torn bits of scrapbook papers, book page, mod podge, craft and distress paints, glimmer mists, fine glitter and embossing powder to cover the textured card stock. Honestly I wasn’t sure at this point if I’d gone WAY too far with it.

After layering the fabric, scrapbook paper and silk leaf I knew the page could be salvaged.  I dug out some leaf shaped brads then heated and dipped them in several shades colors of embossing powder until I achieved the desired look. The framed letters were leftover from the title I made but never used on the cover of my Vintage Fashion altered book. The “L’s” are in reality “I’s” but you’d never have even known that had I not blabbed it to you.

fall is marvelous art journal page

Once I adhered the page into my scrapbook journal I noticed how great these two dark pages fit together…love it when things work out like that.

Linking up with Art Journal Journey again for Autumn.

Art Journal Journey

While sorting through photographs I came across one of a Hen-n-Chick succulent that I snapped a couple of years ago. Actually, right about this same time of year. The colors were reflecting those of the great outdoors even though they were that color all year long.

everything has beauty art journal page

Now these succulents aren’t necessarily what one would consider “beautiful” in the classic sense. I do feel that they have a certain beauty especially in the mathematical sense. Or perhaps that would be more of a fractal. I’m not sure anymore other than I know that the pattern is pleasing to the eye.

Once again I have layers upon layers. I started with a piece of scrapbook paper this time. I kind of threw the proverbial “kitchen sink” at this one. I have book page, washi tape, salvaged cardboard that was run through my Cuttlebug, glimmer mists, leather, printed tag, paints, phrase sticker, staples and white pen…oh an let’s not forget the photograph.

My colors fit into the Autumn theme over at Art Journal Journey again. Did I mention I love Fall?!?

Art Journal Journey

Since yesterday’s “art therapy” session went so well for me and left me in better spirits, I opted to book another appointment for myself in my artspace. I grabbed the second sheet of scrap, drip paper on my workdesk, cut it down to 7×7 so it would eventually fit in my scrapbook-turned art journal.

Fall, warm colors are my go-to palette. This could be part of the reason I love Fall so much. The outside reflects my favorites.

Sight and Sound of Fall art journal page

I layered torn pieces of my scraps until I was happy then added paint in layers over the top to blend.

Sight and Sound of Fall art journal page

I did a little bit of journalling off to the side about my love affair with Fall.

autumn art journal pages

Two pages in two days…I like how they complement each other yet have a very different look to each.

Once again, linking up with Art Journal Journey for Autumn!

Art Journal Journey
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