Art Journal Page - Background Bonus No 5

Blessings for you and yours, welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.  This is the last day of the 31 Art Journals.  I hope that you have managed to see something that has pricked your interest in creating your own art journal..

Over the month you have been shown a series of art journals made from different materials, and 31 different tips to encourage you to work in your art journal.  On top of that you have also been shown a series of background videos to give you additional tips to creating backgrounds.

When you think about all the Art Journal tips, decide which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to, you don't have to do them all at once it can be done over a period of time.

Check out today's background video to see how you can create those backgrounds using a few simple materials, and as you look back over the posts it will give you a great place to start.  If you need to check out the 31 Art Journals you can go HERE

The Video

Here is another easy way in which you can create your own background pages. Just add color and play with your supplies on the page and before you know it you have a great surface to work on further.  Enjoy!

Art Journal Page - Background Bonus no 4

Blessings for you and yours this Sunday, and welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.

If you didn't catch the background bonus from last week you can see it HERE and HERE

Here is a reminder of yesterdays tips, see which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to.

Check out today's background video to see how you can create those backgrounds using a few simple materials.  In this video I am using pastels and gesso.  I do like the effects you can get with pastels but don't like using them in the traditional way, so I use them to create backgrounds and blend with the gesso.

I also show you how you can change your mind when working on a page, to suit, don't be afraid, now therwill be no excuse not to start!

The Video

Stay blessed and be a blessing, now go and create something!

31 Art Journals Weekly Tips No 4 - Recaps, Giveaways and bonuses

Welcome to the 4th recap for the month.  We are coming to the final countdown of Art Journals in the Series, and I hope that you have been inspired and managed to make the most of your time and to incorporate some art journaling for yourself.  Remember to check out the Sunday Background videos to give you some really quick ideas for creating a background that you can build on.  

Today we will recap on the videos for the week, think about what might have been your favorite style of journal.  If you haven't had time to check them out during the week and catch up below. 

Lets look at some Art Journal Tips that you can put into practice, I hope that you can find something that will encourage you.

Art Journal Tips

1. Gesso is your best friend, and has many uses in your journal, become familiar with it.

2. If something isn’t working the way that you want it to do some research and find out what you need to, there is so much information and examples, teaching, tutorials online you are spoilt for choice.  Use your journal to help you grow and work through these times.

3. Do not be afraid to try something new

4. Push your boundaries in your journal, this is the perfect place to experiment.

5. Select materials and tools you’re not familiar with and experiment, get out of your comfort zone, you might actually like them.

6. Think about why you want to cover something up, is it part of your process or are you running away from a truth that needs to be expressed on your page

Now for the Video Recap...

Check out these videos if you missed them during the week.

No 21

No 20

No 19

No 18

No 17

I would love to hear from you.  I have one space in the 'Hacking the color Wheel course' that I am teaching on to give away.  Leave a comment here on the blog or on my Youtube channel on your favorite Journal.

I will also be giving away a series of bonuses 

•  31 Art Journal tips - printable
• 5 art journal background for you to keep 
• How to make 4 Art Journals as part of the 31 Art Journal series pdf
• 4 Background videos for extra journaling ideas

when you sign up for the Hacking the Color Wheel course HERE. 

31 Art Journals - No 20 - Miracles, Recycled Directory

Welcome to today's Art Journal.  It is amazing what can be done with a bit of imagination.

This journal has been made from recycled material - a telephone directory, and is part of a series of 3.  You can see how they were made HERE

There is lots to see in this journal, I have added quotes and tags that messages, or journaling can be done

Check out the video below and get a better look at each page.  I hope you enjoy, and are inspired.

The Video

31 Art Journals - No 19 - Directories Journal

Welcome, today's Art Journal was made from an old A5 telephone directory, and there are three that you will see made in slightly different ways over the next few days. 

Art Journals as I have said can take many shapes and forms and the only thing that will stop you is your imagination.  You can go from really complete to ultra simple

The pages to this directory were stuck together, gesso was added and then the pages were embellished with textures and lots of other vintage materials.

This is a great way to experiment with ideas and take it as far as you wish.  You can see further how they were made HERE

See if you have got any directories laying around and use them to create an art journal.  You can always if you wish practice with the different materials in the journal, and you can try and manipulate the pages.

Thank you for checking out this journal, check out the video and let me know what you think. 

The Video

31 Art Journal - No 18 - Fabric Journal

Welcome to today's Art Journal.  

This particular Art Journal has been created from recycled fabric combined with paper to give you a firm surface to work on.  Some of the fabric is recycled school uniform, so those who have lots of fabric around you can create an art journal.

I experimented with stitching.  Usually the pages were stitched on one side and then I created an image on the other side.  

I do a lot of faces in my journals and their surroundings, and expression often says so much more than you can say with words.

Working with fabric Journals you can use a variety of material, and they each have different properties and take paint differently so it is worth playing around and experimenting.

Using recycled materials definitely helps the environment and gives the fabric and new lease of life!

Check out the video to see the flip through of this Art Journal.

Remember the Art Journal is for you to do with as you choose and is a great way to work through things that you cannot put into words.  I hope you enjoyed looking at some of the pages in this journal.

The Video

31 Art Journals - No 17 - Soul Restoration

Welcome to today's Art Journal, part of the 31 Art Journal Series.

This Journal is made from an altered children's book, and has you can see the hard back books come in all shapes and sizes and are great for altering.  It has a lovely chunky feel and was a great surface to work with.

I did this Art Jounal as part of the Soul Restoration course with Melody Ross and Brave Girls.

Another great course that really got you reflecting on your life and direction and helped you to see what were not only the limiting believes that you held but also how we stopped ourselves from doing those things which edified and nourished.

what was then called for was a total overhaul and restoration.

The pages were sanded down and gesso added prior to completing the exercises that we were given.

You are responsible for the things you allow to remain in your life and you have a choice in the decisions you need to make no matter how small - each step leads to growth.

Do check out the video where I give you a flip through and more in-depth look at the pages.

The Video

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Art Journal Page - Background Bonus No 3

Blessings for you and yours this Sunday, this post is slightly later than I had hoped, but welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.

If you didn't catch the background bonus from last week you can see it HERE and HERE

Here is a reminder of yesterdays tips, see which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to.

Check out today's background video to see how you can create those backgrounds using a few simple materials, and so there will be no excuse not to start!

The Video

Here is an easy way in which you can create your own background pages. Just add color and play with your supplies on the page and before you know it you have a great surface to work on further.  Enjoy!

31 Art Journals - Weekly Tips No:3 - Recaps and More

Welcome to the third recap for the month.  Where has all the time gone well we know that it passes quickly, I hope that you have managed to make the most of your time and to incorporate some art journaling for yourself.  If you have been watching the Background videos that come out on Sundays you will see that you can find even the shortest moments to spend some time creating a background.  

Today we will recap on the videos for the week, think about what might have been your favorite style of journal.  If you haven't had time to check them out during the week you can make yourself a cup of something and catch up below. 

First lets look at some Art Journal Tips that you can put into practice, how many of them do you already do?

Art Journal Tips

1. Do not be afraid to work in more than one Art Journal, you might decide to have a different journal for a different project, course or theme that you want to work with
2. Don’t compare your journal to others
3. Give yourself time to play in your journal, you’ll appreciate it more
4. Think about making/buying a travel journal for when you move around, with a few supplies that you can take out and use wherever you are.
5. See your journal as an extension that you can take anywhere, this takes the fear about using it
6. Do not be afraid to make a mistake in your journal, in fact there are no mistakes that you can make in your journal.

Here are this weeks Art Journal videos

It would be lovely to hear how you have been working in your own art journal and any insights or Ah-ha moments that may have surprised you.  Remember to check in tomorrow for the Art Journal background video to inspire you to create backgrounds for your art journal

31 Art Journals No: 16

Welcome to today's Art Journal as part of the 31 Art Journal Series.  I really like this journal and the idea of making it from a recycled children's book.  You can get some lovely designs that they just don't seem to make when you get to a certain age. 

This book was made as part of a course I did on Willowing Check out some of her courses, and when you sign up for her newsletter you get access to here free 4 week course

This Mini Art Journal was all about us, our friendships, and more.  We had to include an image of ourselves when we were small and write out encouraging words.  What would you liked to have said to your 5 year old self?  What encouragement would you give, what would you have liked to have known.

What would you say about your friendships, we did a whimsical page of and example of our friendships.  Its funny when you think you usually have a small core of people that you really connect with, as opposed to the hundreds/thousands of friends you may have on Facebook

Take a look at the video and see what else I put in the Art Journal, let me know what you think.

Tomorrow I will be doing a recap and sharing some tips for your Art Journal, and on Sunday I will be sharing a video with you to get your creative juices flowing.

The Video

31 Art Journals - No: 15 -

Today's Art Journal sees us half way through the 31 Art Journal Series, and I have double news to tell you today!

This Art Journal has been made entirely out of recycled materials, from envelopes, magazines, cereal box and was something I wanted to create to experiment with what I had to hand.

I also used it as a way to practice particular techniques, like the one below layering foil with foam letters beneath to create a message.  This page is still to be completed.

Check out the video of the Art Journal below to get a better look

The Video

NEWS JUST IN!!!

I am one of the guest teachers in the online class Hacking the Color Wheel Art Journaling for Creative Rebels!  I have a great class to share with you and I am really excited to be part of the guest teachers for the 2nd session

For more information check out the link, I will share more about the course tomorrow!

31 Art Journals No: 14

Welcome to today's Art Journal which I call my Healing Journal and is part of the 31 Art Journals Series.

This as with all my Art Journals are always fun to create, and each one has its own purpose as a journal.  For this one I wanted a fabric and paper journal.  The signatures inside are paper, and contain a mixed size which then impacts on the message on each page

The front page has modeling past over a stencil and it gives a great texture once it was all painted.  I put a tassel border on the edge of the journal and I really like the way the journal feels in my hands.

This Art Journal is about sharing truths and being clear about what is important.  When you write these things down it helps to reinforce the message.

Some pages are waiting for their final message, or layer and that is the great thing that you can still dip into the art journal and say what is on your mind.

Check out the video below to get a closer look at the Healing Art Journal

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals No: 13 - Cereal Bag Journal

Welcome to Art Journal No 13, which is part of the 31 Art Journal Series.  This Art Journal started off as an experiment, but I really enjoyed putting it together and the final result that was achieved.  If you don't experiment then you don't know how things can work together and in some of those accidents amazing results were achieved.

You can see the inspiration for the journal HERE.  I started out with a collection of images, background papers, embellishments that were going to be added in between the cereal bag and heated to seal them in.

When you know what you want to put in between the layers which is a different way of working as you are creating the journal pretty much in one sitting before sealing, so the though processes are slightly different.

I had a lot of vintage images and small postcard samples and I wanted to give the feel of  a vintage journal.  I added embellishments, stitching on some pages and created some tags.

I really enjoyed how this one turned out, and I would in the next one include more stitching as after time and use some of the embellishments come loose.

The Video

Check out the video to see the Journal close up

31 Art Journals - No: 12 - Background Paper Journals

Welcome to today's Art Journal which is part of the 31 Art Journals Series.

This Art Journal is made from papers that had been created as backgrounds, which meant they were filled with colour and texture prior to being used as signatures for the journal.

The decoration of the wool was added once the Journal front page had been painted.

I wanted this journal to be an encouraging reminder, and I got a selection of quotes and added them on each page.  Journaling was added in select places, and there were also pages that were left blank for additional journaling at a later date.

I really enjoy painting faces and you will find in practically all of my journals characters that not only speak to the emotion whilst creating the page so that you don't have to add words, the face and eyes say it all.

Your journal can have as little or as much as you want to have within it depending on your mood or intention.

The Video

Check out the video to get a better look at the Art Journal