Art Journal Cover

Fly!

This is the cover of the art journal.

I found the letters for the cover in my stash. 

I made them years ago for another project 

and never used them. The colours and the theme matched, 

so.... I  used the word!

For the cover I used:

chip board

gesso

paint

tissue paper

gel medium

stamps

distress markers

grunge board elements

rub ons

 I finished the journal by binding it with my Zutter.

The colours of the cover are happy colours.

That was what my intention was with this journal.

A bit of colour therapy.

It is like a pair of new shoes, you need to look at them.

This is half the pleasure!

So I displayed the journal in my studio so I can look at it.

Have a good weekend.

Colour Therapy III. Art journal

Through the whole process of creating this journal

I learned a lot and I enjoyed it a lot.

I handled the papers a million times and thought

maybe I should do it differently.

But then I stuck to my rule of: No RULES.

   

The next step is to journal in your own handwriting.

That needs a bit of practice, but I will definitely get there.

Between the other projects on my table and the ones in my head,

I am working on the cover of the journal. 

It is tissue paper, gesso, texture paste,

paint and more.

For the next class in August, 

we will be using mixed media on a canvas.

Hope you can join us.

Colour Therapy II

A few more photos of the pages that belongs 

to my colour therapy art journal.

The quote on the first page is so true, I love it!

As always a bit of glitter here and there.

The black ink was to harsh, so I over stamped with white ink.

I used some kind of mica flakes (to leave a little sparkle) 

and adhered it with Glossy Accents. 

Orange, Pink and Yellow!

What more do you need to get you going?

No Rules

As part of my Colour therapy, I decided to have no rules

while doing this project.

Rules gives us direction, but it can also

be very limiting. 

I have no formal art training so I kept my ears and 

eyes open when reading articles as I started on my journey

of paper crafting. 

So on these pages my only guideline was to keep it colourful,

If you look closely, you will see a lot of techniques.

It doesn't really matter what you do, the main thing is you 

need to enjoy the whole process.

I printed a lot of  my favorite quotes, cut the words out and

pasted it where ever I felt like.

I used stamps and stencils and inks.

Glitter, (as always) in many forms and ways.

Pens and sprays.

Everything that made me feel good and that looked good!

I chose water colour paper for the pages, because it can take a 

lot of beating and still survive.

Some places the colour from the back side came through, 

then I worked with it or around it,

but as I said, no rules.

This is a form of Art Journaling. Have a look at this website 

to see the professionals do it.

http://stampington.com/Art-Journaling-Summer-2014

Try this yourself and use all your "stuff "and techniques.

It is relaxing. It is therapy! Create with no rules.

I will post more pages and show you how I will 

transform these pages into a book.

Maybe sew it, or bind it.....

don't know yet.

La Vie book - Part 9

Page 16 and inside back cover.

 Another greeting card from Elise Grey Collections,

a flower and brad from Making Memories,

some flower trim and an angel dangle complete page 16.

I used the back of a greeting card from Cavania Cards 

as the focal point for my inside back cover.

The front of the card was used as part of my book's front cover.

Also on the page are ephemera by K & Company,

a metal quote by Making Memories and scraps of patterned paper.

La Vie

 Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is costly, care for it.

Life is wealth, keep it.

Life is love, enjoy it.

Life is mystery, know it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

 

 

After a few glasses of really good red wine,

a friend and I decided to translate the La Vie quote into Afrikaans.

Here is our version of it:

La Vie

 Die lewe is ’n moerse kans

Die lewe is die dood se dans;

Die lewe is ’n fuifparty

Die lewe is ’n spoelgety;

Die lewe is wel pragtig

Die lewe is ’n willewragtig;

Die lewe is ’n blye lied

Die lewe is ’n spergebied;

Die lewe is beslis begrens

Die lewe bly ’n blye wens;

Die lewe is die hart se seer

Die lewe is probeer maar weer;

Die lewe is die grys tristes

Die lewe is die runderpes;

Die lewe is ’n avontuur

Die lewe duur van uur tot uur;

Die lewe is die lewe!

(Vry vertaal uit die Frans met apologie aan Moeder Theresa) 

Click here if you want to look at all the posts

relating to my "Little Book of Inspiration".

La Vie - Part 8

Pages 14 & 15

(Love Simply theme)

Page 14
I used a few die-cut images from Fancy Pants Designs,
a bit of bling, more of the La Vie quote and some foil rub-ons to create this page.

Loads of layering, a butterfly pin, a foil rub-on and bits of paper make up page 15.

Here in Centurion, South Africa, it is drizzling with rain and a little bit miserable.
The perfect incentive to stay indoors and
"Play with Paper".

Thank you for visiting and may you have a weekend filled with joy...

La Vie - Part 7

Pages 12 & 13

(Roses at tea time theme)

"Vintage" lace, bits of paper, a watch-face, a resin paper-clip from
Making Memories and a synthetic flower are combined
to reflect my theme of roses at tea time.
The mini card tucked in under the paper-clip is from Elise Grey.

I used one of my favourite stamps (from Somerset Publications)
at the top of the page.
Another image from Elise Grey is the focal point of this layout.
More flowers and "a bit of bling" finish off the look.

Thank you for visiting!

La Vie - Part 6

Pages 10 & 11

If you look closely at the background of the page you will see that I covered it with gauze.  This is a trick my friend Claudene taught me and I like to use it when I want to give very bright patterned paper a "diffused" look.

Fabric, flat-back pearls, a fancy pin and clipart were placed on bits of patterned paper.  The two brads on the right are from Prima.

The background paper is from Daisy D's

(unfortunately they are no longer "with us").

Part of a page from a hymn book was placed on the right-hand side before I added a creative card from Fancy Pants Designs and a vintage postcard on top.

To complete the layout I added some flowers and part of the La Vie poem.

Here in South Africa we have a public holiday today, so I will be spending time in my studio with my creative muse.

I wish you a day filled with creativity...

Thank you for visiting.

La Vie - Part 5

Pages 8 & 9

Handbags and flowers - both images are greeting cards from a UK company Cavania Cards.

The focal point of page 8 is a greeting card that I've saved to use "one day".  I just loved the embossed lace detail on the sides.

I placed an envelope on the inside of the greeting card to hold part of the

La Vie phrase / poem.

The smaller image was cut from the back of the card.

A mini greeting card from Cavania holds a large paper flower from

Making Memories.

Torn ledger paper and some bling complete this layout.

***********

Here in our corner of the world it has been drizzling almost constantly for the last 24 hours.

Perfect weather to stay indoors and snuggle up with a hot cup of tea

(and a yummy cupcake?).

Also the perfect excuse to do some day-dreaming while paging through all the loveliness on Pinterest...

Have you joined this new phenomenon?

La Vie - Part 4

Pages 6 & 7

The sewing related images on the background paper on page 6 inspired me to use lots of fabric, ribbons and buttons on these layouts.

I placed 2 strips of quilting fabric and some polka dot patterned paper in the center of the page.

Mother-of-pearl buttons, a heart-shaped doily and more of the La Vie quote / poem finish off the layout.

(The strip of green fabric in the middle reminds me of

a dress my mom made me when I was 3...)

The vintage postcard is from a clip-art book by Anna Corba and one of my favourites.

More polka dot paper, fabric and ribbon complete this page.

The butterfly embellishment is a 3D sticker by K & Co.

Do you have bits of fabric, old buttons, lace or ribbon

that take you back to your childhood?