lara

I can't believe i've found a way to take art journals further! hahahahahaha
So, it's what i'm calling an Art Journal Pre-Journal. If anyone has a better name let me know!

But the premise is is that it is all made of envelopes of different sizes, shapes and some have windows. You use it to put your little art journal collagy bits in! And possibly organize them. And on some of the pages I've put scrap paper which can be labeled, and in the middle is a set of post-it notes. The only thing I wanted to do but didn't have time was find a pen i could attach somehow.




Done with Glimmer Mist and chipboard alphas as masks. Also throughout the book are little things I've gotten in kits - a lot from Gauche Alchemy, actually, but other things i've collected along the way too. The cupcake brad is from GA and I believe the "shine" bead is too.



The back cover is the palette i used for the paint when i painted the book. I did it on a plastic file folder for durability :) Also each envelope hole is reinforced with grommets :) The glitter chipboard i am so in love with. My chipboard alpha collection is WAAAYYY getting out of hand people!



A couple of inside detail shots.
I put on my favorite quotes for inspiration - at least one on every envelope. Some envelopes have envelopes on them as well. Also, I put things into the envelopes for Sarah to find as she uses it (like collage images and other ephemera).







OK. So thats about it :)
I'd like to make another knowing what I know now - its definitely the sort of project you need to learn as you go. And Sarah's also giving me her invaluable input as she uses it. So i already know ways to make it better, or more usable perhaps. But, this project super invigorated me! Which is the point of creating, right?

This last spread is for the A Year in the Life of An Art Journal challenge. The letter L = Look. I used the technique from the Soul Journalling of writing from the heart then covering most of it up. The pictures are some of my favorite I've been holding on to.


This next spread is inspired by the letter K and the challenge blog A Year in the Life of an Art Journal:



It's quilty in that it's mostly fabric and ribbon! But since i don't sew it's just glued on :-p
And, yes, another Illustrated cut out from "the book," artist unknown.... (speaking of, man i feel like that's bad karma not attributing the artist!)

I've been working on a new journal for an online journaling group called "Soul Journal." It's a yahoo group run by Sarah Whitmore using these prompts from her blog.
Anyways, I decided to make my own journal to really "make it my own" :D

I got 5 of these blank book covers from Scrapbox last time i was there for 50¢ each! Imagine my giddiness at finding them!!!!



Here is the inside of the cover before I adhered the pages:



The base is dictionary pages covered with sewing pattern paper covered with paint and matte gel.

Inside cover after the pages were adhered:



This is the outside cover. It's a work in progress. But I didn't want to leave it just blank. I've discovered I like to do covers at the end of my journals! So I just took some paper I made last year in that collage class I took and covered the book and added a little paint and TONS of matte gel over it to protect it:



1st spread is the prompt "soul armour" - i.e. what protects my creative spirit:



Detail:



Photo from the Illustrated book :D The "Create" was done with Glimmer Mist on vellum. Background is dictionary paper, Gesso, tulle fabric glued on with Modge Podge.

two spreads in the Soul Journal, inspired by Sarah Whitmore's Soul Journalling Prompts:



This is called "Inchies." It's more of a visual journal page, than writing. Goal was to find images based on the prompt, cut them all into 1 inch squares and let that tell the story. It was harder than it looks believe me!!!!!!



This was probably the funnest and most therapeutic to do yet.
First we journalled on the spread using the prompt "I forgot to tell you..." then covered it up with tape and paint and sanded for effect. Knowing whatever I put down on the paper would remain a secret was really therapeutic. I added the photo as an after thought - something I did last summer in photoshop, but somehow i thought worked. Love the texture on this and will definitely be using the technique again!

Year In the Life of An Art Journal letter "H" is for Happiness. Look at me using bright colors :D :D :D




For A Year in the Life of an Art Journal - The letter I is for Imagine.
Went a little hog wild on the layers on this one - it was almost starting to turn shit brown! Sometimes it's so hard to just stop and walk away :)

Now J is for JUST!!!!



I didn't think this word would be so inspiring :)