Art Journal #3: Prepping to start.

Over the last year I'm happy to say I've created two art journals. 

I love that. 

This blog is so much a story-teller for me. But there are some things you just need paper and glue and paint and washi tape to tell.  It's the same reason I need pages to fold over when I'm reading a book.  I need to touch and feel and experience a journal and book, beyond the computer screen.  

My first journal I started and finished last February was a Smash journal.  I think those are a great starting point for art journaling because the pages are already decorated somewhat.  You can get as creative or quick as you'd like.  You can google "Smash journal" or an even better option, search on Pinterest to see what kind of journal this is.  The options are endless with a Smash journal and there are some really neat examples out there! 

The second journal I created was more of an art journal, meaning I made the pages myself and got a bit more expressive with paint, phrases, my words, and magazine pictures I'd cut out.  I LOVED, loved creating this.  You can see the full story here.

This time around I wasn't sure what direction to go. I loved my last art journal so much I wanted to be able to experience that same freedom and creativity in my new journal.  However, I wanted more of a book feel, instead of the cardboard pages with holes punched in the top.  That tended to get a bit messy when looking through the journal which is something both Anna Ruth and I do a lot!  

Today I want to show you what I decided to use for my new art journal.  I spent some time yesterday organizing the random bits I had stowed in Ziploc bags in my journaling basket to get fully prepared to jump in with both feet.

 I looked at quite a bit of Project Life supplies and loved almost every bit.  Except for the price tag.  The albums are just so expensive and a bit out of my price range for now.  Instead, I found this album at Target.  It is the perfect size and was found on the office supply aisle.  

I also bought this pack of art supply paper and am going to cut each large sheet of paper in two to fill the binder with.  

 Even though I liked the floral design that was already printed on the three-ring binder I decided to cover the journal in fabric.  I've had my eye on this fabric, designed by Juliana Horner, for a long time at Joanns.  I just couldn't justify the cost of buying a bunch, but yet it was so, so pretty!  So this journal was the perfect reason to buy just a tiny bit.  I hot-glued the fabric to to the journal to fully cover the outside.

Not the most perfect job in the world, but a good enough job.  I'll show you the finished cover after I add a few more embellishments.  

 The next thing I did to prepare for my new journal was organize the things I like to journal with.  I pulled out my most favorite berry basket (EVER) and put Instagram pictures in the front (printed from Walgreens), and all the little random paper bits behind it.  I save almost everything when it comes to paper.  Even the junk mail envelopes, because the clear insert where the address shows through is an interesting feature that can be used for a pocket on your scrapbook page.

 This cute box was one I saved from party supplies at Target.  Good job Target (as always) on including colorful and fun design EVERYWHERE, even on your packaging.  It worked out great for tape and magazine cut-outs I like.  Words, pictures, ideas....

 This jar holds all of the chipboard pieces and tags/labels.

And this green container was perfect for holding the journaling cards I'll be using!

I set all the containers, along with my watercolors, alphabet stamps and stamp pad, all together in this favorite basket of mine.  

And guess what? I've already journaled!  My goal is to journal one page a day, preferably in the morning after I've read my bible. 

This morning I woke up earrrrrly and read my bible, drank some water, and journaled a page before the girls woke up.  And I have to say I was my best self when they woke.  :)  Or at least, as close as possible to my best self before coffee. 

I'll share more of my journaling process soon! 

Are you journaling?

I hope so. 

Finished: My First Art Journal

Remember how I started the PAGES series and was introducing you to the idea of art journaling? 

Well, I kinda have to apologize because I ran ahead and finished.  I hope I left you standing in your tracks, art journal in hand with your mouth hanging open.  Because that would at least mean you started the art journaling journey TOO and wouldn't that be a fabulous thing?!

But if not, maybe this post will inspire you to jump right in! 

Something unique about my personality is that I love to share.  As soon as I finish a project that I like or even love I immediately want to share it with someone.  Either by giving it to someone, sharing the idea on the blog, or by gathering friends together to give it a try.  Finding that many brave souls to clear schedules and expectations with to share each project hasn't really happened for me yet.  

So today, grab a cup of caffeine and something sweet and let's share, shall we?

 I don't know what it is about art journaling that is so incredibly soothing and relaxing to me.  A perfect Friday night is me, tucked away in my craft room, with easy listening music and visits from Brett, popping in to see what I'm up to.  He is tremendously interested in MY interests.  Sweet man that he is.  

 I used a lot of magazine pages, photographs, paint, tape, and art journaling cards for this particular notebook.

 Some of the journaling cards were left blank, so that I can go back and jot a note down later.  A lot of the pages have my current dreams, realities, hopes, prayers, etc.  for this current phase of life.  

This art journal is a piece of my heart.  It shows exactly who I am, entering 2014.  

I've read thoughtful post after thoughtful post the last few days, beautiful and broken summaries of 2013.   Goals, ideas, words for the year for 2014.  

I always say that photographs say things to me, that words can't. 

These photos are my recap of 2013 and my "hello" to 2014.  

It's going to be a giving year, full of imagination, wonder, surprises, and probably some brokenness.

I'm ready. 

I journaled! Whoohoo-the creativity is back! (PAGES series)

Y'all, I just have to be honest, like seriously honest.  A week or so ago I was thinking about this lovely little PAGES series I'd started on the blog and inwardly groaning.  Thinking, why oh why did I start something I surely don't want to finish?  

Isn't that dramatic? :) The truth was I just wasn't "feeling it".  I didn't feel like running into my craft room like a crazy lady just to snatch a few minutes to cut, paste, and glue pages together.

And then our lovely snow days happened.  In case you aren't aware, our section of Arkansas (and maybe all of Arkansas?!) got some major snow.  We're talking stay in the house for six days straight snow.  And suddenly, the idea of being shut in my craft room was just lovely.  I knew I had days on end to complete my chores and to do list  So, I felt freed up to journal.  

And journal away I did.  I created these pages in just a couple of days and loved every minute.

I showed these pages to Brett and after he showed a bit of enthusiasm (remember most things I'm into he doesn't get at  all) he said "What do you do with them?" 

lol. So if you're asking that too, my answer is you enjoy them, for fun. I create because it relaxes me and makes me a better mama.  It's fun for me. I enjoy having thoughts and pictures documented for this season of life.  I'd hate to look back and only have snippets of memories here and there. 

These pages are my story. 

Do you art journal?

Pages lately.....from the PAGES series!

 My friends, I must be honest. 

With the arrival of Christmas season, Betsy Grace's first birthday, Christmas cards, photography sessions.........I just haven't gotten around to my art journal pages quite as much.  But, I did pull a few pages together here and there over the last few weeks and I definitely intend to get back to this more regularly.  It's something that soothes and makes my eyes happy afterwards. :)  

Here's a look at what I've been up to lately! 

I used my newest pack of Instagram photos from Origrami on some of these. 

Journaling any? 

Now what? Choosing a theme for your PAGES

Have you joined in with the art journaling series I'm doing?  Sometimes it's rather lonely on this side of the screen because I don't know if anyone else is interested in the ideas I'm posting or not.  But as the great Julia Child once said "Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."  And this my friends, is something I am tremendously excited about. 

So you all know how much I love creating and jumping right into projects.  But I'll admit, this art journaling even had me stumped at first.  I had all my pages assembled (catch up here!), a ton of magazine clippings and other supplies but just didn't know where to start.  I mean, what was I supposed to do with it now? 

So, I decided to think of one theme and gather pictures and words that related to it.  For this particular theme I was thinking about this autumn and how rich and lovely it's been.  Anything that had kind of an orangey/yellow color scheme or words that reminded me of where I am personally this autumn I chose.  I laid it all out on the counter like this, before I ever made my first page.

It was much, much easier to choose from these items to create a few pages than look at ALL my supplies at once.  Here's a look at the pages I ended up creating. 

Some are left with extra room to write, like this particular one.  I can always go back later and write down my thoughts.

See, that wasn't so hard!  

My only criteria for myself is that I must make each page to the best of my ability and LET GO of perfectionism.  No being too hard on myself! 

These pics were taken with my phone because I'm working on this journal most often at night or for a few minutes while the girls nap.  It's such an easy little breather to fit in.  

So tell me-are you art journaling yet?  

Assembling an Art Journal (PAGES series)

Hi there!  I'm so excited about the possibilities presented in this PAGES series....

Are you into art journaling?  Or at least intrigued?  

We are all such story-tellers.  I am truly fascinated by people.  I think we all have a marvelous story to our lives.  And art journaling is an awesome way to record it.  That's no disrespect to the fast-paced blogging world.  But when I art journal....I adore.  I adore the moments that are heaven on earth, instead of focusing on the earthly moments that aren't heavenly  at all.  I see the hand of God in my journal pages, a thread connecting one graceful moment after another.  

And it is with that conviction that I hope you'll jump on board and create your own journal.  Last week we talked about gathering the supplies you'll need for your own journal.  Of course you can feel free to stick as close to the list as you want....or stray as far away also.  Today I want to show you how to create your pages so that you'll be ready to create the layouts on top.  Basically, you're creating mini canvases that you'll layer things on top of later.  

The first way you can cover your cardboard pages is with scrapbook paper, found at any crafts store.  I brushed a thin layer of ModgePodge (a white craft glue, found at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Target, or Joann's) onto the cardboard and then glued the paper on.  Next I trimmed the paper to fit the cardboard.  

I used the same method of gluing to adhere old hymnal pages to some of the cardboard as well.  I found the hymnal at a thrift store.

I also decided to leave some of the cardboard pages plain because I like the look...

and last, I painted some of the cardboard pages with regular acrylic craft paint.  You can paint each page fully, or just paint shapes  and patterns here and there like I did.  

See, wasn't that easy?!  And now, we're ready to begin the really fun part-making the art journal! 

Whether you choose plain, paper, or painted pages,

I can't wait to see what you're up to. 

Email me a pic (sunshinebysara@hotmail.com) if you've jumped on board! 

Art Journaling 101: Gathering Supplies (PAGES series)

Hi everybody!  The new Wednesday series I'm thrilled to start is PAGES and it's all about art journaling!  I've always had a love of journaling and am happy to say my journals have evolved from emotional junior high rants to the more artful kind.  Lately I've taken an enormous interest in art journaling.  I realized after pinning a million journal pins that maybe I was onto something and I should follow where my brain was interested.  I've recently finished up my first SMASH journal (google this!) and was ready for something with less boundaries.  

As I browsed and pored over different art journal blog posts across the web I noticed a similarity.  Most of the inspiring posts showed what materials they used, but not necessarily how to jump in for a beginner like myself.  Although I found myself admiring all the supplies it just isn't possible for me to purchase 10 or 12 different tools for one layout right now.  And really, isn't where my heart is anyway, creatively speaking.  

So, this is where I come in, with the rosy view. :)  I'm going to show you how I create my first ever art journal.  And you get to come along for the ride.  I'll be using some store-bought things, but the beauty of being on one budget means I'll also have to stretch my creativity and see what other resources I can use that would have otherwise been thrown away. 

For today's post, it's all about gathering your supplies.  That's it.  We'll jump into creating the bare bones pages next week.   Let's take a look at what I've gathered, bits and pieces here and there. 

These little packs of paper/journaling cards I bought at Target.  They were all reasonably priced.  The paper pack on the left cost $5.99 I believe, the larger pad on the top right was around $3, and the one below $2.  They are double-sided which is double the use.  Hooray!

This is my one splurge of the whole post because this paper isn't cheap at all.  I saved a long time for it! I think it cost $14.99 for the whole pack and as far as I can tell I haven't seen it on sale anywhere (or at Joann's or Hobby Lobby to use a 40% off coupon....please correct me if I'm wrong-and I hope I am!)

The designer of this lovely paper (and more) can be found here. I adore all of her paper and have used it for more things than just scrapbooking. (more on that later)

Old book pages (found at thrift stores or for free from friends and family) and hymnals also work great for pages! 

I'm always on the hunt for interesting magazine pictures or words like these to use for pages or creating layouts!

I've also been saving cardboard boxes from my pantry because if you take the ends apart and cut them they make an excellent page as well!  I plan to cover these in paper or paint them anyway so you don't have to worry about them having words/pictures on them. 

Are you ready to gather your art journaling supplies yet?! I hope so! I'll see you next week to show you how to assemble the bare-bones book...and then let the creating begin!