Evolution Of An Art Journal Spread

Hi everyone! Today I am going to share a bit of my process and a few techniques with you.

Really...I'm just going to show you how my brain works when I am creating. So when I pull out my art journal, I always cover my pages with some gesso to create a rough blank canvas.

The book I am using is from Fancy Pants Designs and it has a photo sleeve in between these two pages...in case you were wondering, and that second page in my spread actually has a folder. 

 My next step was to add some patterned paper to my pages. I pulled out the fun School Days collection from Ruby Rock-It for this part. 

 Because these serve as my background, and I like my backgrounds more subtle, I covered my papers with gesso.

 Next, I pulled out some fun treats from our swap partners at Ruby Rock-It. I used a die blank from Spellbinders (the Birds One set) and some Mayan Gold velvet dimensional paint from Art Anthology. I used the die blank as a stencil and painted around it: 

 Leaving it like this: 

 Then on the second page in the spread, I hand cut petals out of patterned paper from School Days and adhered to my page to make flowers. 

 I painted around my petals and hand wrote the word blessed: 

 I decided I wanted to tone down the black a bit, so I added stitching around the flower petals and painted more gesso over the word blessed. 

 I was much happier with that look. :) 

 Then I went back to my first page. I decided to make the third bird in that row stand out, so I used my Birds One dies and cut a bird from patterned paper and added it on top of the third bird. I added paint around the edges and wrote the words "stand out" underneath it. 

 One of my favorite things to add to my pages are ink rings. So I took some Watermelon Colorations Color Spray from Art Anthology and sprayed some ink onto a small plastic tray. I then took a random lid and dipped it into my ink to create my rings: 

 I actually think I went a tad overboard on the rings. I usually like to add 3 to a page or 5 to a spread. I did more. :) So here's the second page with the rings and I also tucked some school photos from the boys into the pocket. 

 And then I also created some 4x6 cards to slide in the photo sleeves in between the two pages. So here's what it looks like: 

 Well there you have it. :) 

 Thanks for stopping in today!!!

Some Art Journal Pages

Hi everyone!!

Well, awhile ago I mentioned that I use my Brag Books as Art Journals.  I was going to share some new pages with you in a new book and I was looking through my blog and saw that I never posted any of my other art journal.  Not sure why.  I will probably come back and post some of my older pages, but for now I'd love to share some of the new stuff I have done.

I just started a new book.  Here's the cover:

The cover is pretty simple.

It uses a Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs, as well as their Trendsetter and Artist Edition collections (both the cover and the pages I share today all use these).  I think the Trendsetter is my favorite collection right now...I just can't stop using it even though I have other cute collections waiting to be used. :)

I pretty much do my art journal pages in the same way.

1.  I start with gesso and brush it over the page (doesn't have to cover it entirely).
2.  Add ink and paint...this is the part where you just PLAY.  :)
3.  Embellish with drawings, paper, and journaling.

Here are three pages (spreads) I have done:

This first page actually uses my current sketch, sketch 235!  :)  Which, of course, there is still time to play along with.  ;)

The thing about Art Journals is that they don't have to be perfect.  You generally don't show them off or try to sell them.  They are for YOU.  At least mine are for me.  I love that.

So just remember...I'm just playing here.  :)

Thanks for stopping in!!!
Have a FANTASTIC day!

My Favorite Journal EVER

I used to journal when I was growing up.

A lot.

But in my adult years, that is simply something that I never really had time for I guess. But with my world being turned upside down this year, I am finding the desire to start journaling again. I am wanting to be honest, real and raw...and a journal is an excellent way to do that. So I made it my project this week to create a journal and start journaling again.

Enter the fabulous Artist Edition Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs:

This book is seriously amazing! It was designed with the busiest of scrapbookers in mind. This book has everything you need to store your most cherished moments. With a customizable cover, 50 scrapbook/journaling pages, 15 - 2 slot photo protectors (holds up to 60 - 4" x 6" photos), and 15 pocket folder pages for storing your favorite memorabilia, you can't go wrong. You can buy the book at Scrapbook.com here or at 2 Peas here.

But instead of using it as a brag book...I am using it as a journal. A fun...totally my style, personal journal. In it I WILL include some photos along with some Bible verses, art, scrapbook layouts in the size of 4 x 6 and more...whatever I am feeling at the moment.

Here's what I made:

It uses the AWESOME It's The Little Things collection from Fancy Pants. It includes lots of layering and fun...and a bit of artsy-ness. :)

It uses a lot of rub-on's too. I love rub-ons. Always have.

Here are some close up's of the cover:

And inside this book you find several pages already ready to journal on. I threw in a few rub-on's or embellishments just to add a little to the pages, like this:

And I wanted to make several 4 x 6 cards with Bible verses on them that I could stick in the photo pages. Here's some:

And finally...I altered ever so slightly the folder pages, with a little bit of rub-ons...

I actually really like how the journal turned out. And I am excited to start journaling and getting personal.

Don't worry...I won't share it all with you. :)

And before you ask...because I know someone will ask.

HOW I MADE THE BACKGROUND FOR THE COVER OF MY JOURNAL

What you need:

* Journal

* Gesso

* Lid or Random Object to make circles

* Ink or Paint (or both!)

I slathered on Gesso all over my cover.

I got messy.

I didn't care.

Then I took a lid (happens to be a lid to one of my Glimmer Mist bottles) and made circles in my Gesso before it dried.

THEN I ALLOWED IT TO DRY.

After it was dry, I covered it with ink (Pink Glimmer Mist). Then I took a wipe and wiped off much of the ink.

It looked kinda like this afterwards...

I went a step further and added a bit of pink paint...

And totally got carried away. I was trying to take a picture of my putting on the paint and ended up putting WAY too much paint on my cover...so don't worry...you don't need to waste that much paint.

Anyways...then I took a baby wipe and wiped off a bunch of paint.

Leaving it looking like this:

As you can see...when I was putting on my Gesso, I also splattered some to give it a bit more of a messy look.

Sometimes I just like being messy. :)

And before you leave I do have one other quick thing to share with you. :)

Yesterday on the Fancy Pants blog, they shared a bunch of projects using the new Baby Mine collection....here's a sneak of another new layout from me...

So check out that post HERE to see the full layout as well as what others did with the line. :)

Ok...

That was a long post.

Hope you have a FANTASTIC week!