2 page spread

Here's a 2 page spread from my art journal, I think I never like the 2 pages as well as just a single page. I guess I need to work small!

- Susan

Bird in a tree

This layout started with leftover scraps from my Butterfly on Squares page. I have to say, I like the squares one better!  

The bird here was meant to be the focal point, but the background was a bit too busy and the bird was lost. That's why I added the circles around it. And I may have gone a little overboard with the punchinella circles and white paint.

I do like how the vertical strips of paper in the background give a bit of an impression of tree trunks.

- Susan

Dragonfly specimens

This art journal page is a simple background made with direct-to-paper ink pads and some dragonflies out of a large scrapbooking pack. I wanted this page to look like a butterfly specimen layout, where all the different types are laid out in a grid and pinned.

Very simple, but pleasing in it's own way!

- Susan

(posted at Art Journal Every Day)

Image transfers gone wrong

I've been experimenting with various image transfers, and so far I haven't had good success! All the tutorials make it sound so easy, but so far I've just made a mess!

I think what I need to try is to get some LIQUID medium rather than the GEL medium I have been using so far.  Not sure if that is the issue though... because sometimes the transfers seem too wet and sometimes too dry.

Must keep experimenting!

- Susan

Butterfly on Squares

I really like the symmetry and organization of a background composed on squares and rectangles. This one is various washi papers, paints, inks and gesso on mixed media paper, with a few strips of magazine and a butterfly thrown in!

- Susan

Calendar Journal

In January I started my first calendar page, and here it is now nearly complete!

My February page is ready to go and I'll be added the journaling on heart shapes that I punched from various papers:

(Sharing at The Kathyrn Wheel and Art Journal Every Day)

Thanks for looking!

-Susan

Wake up!

The longer I am a stay at home mom with my kids, the more I need caffeine in order to function!  Here is my ode to the morning cup of coffee that gets me moving:

- Susan

(posted at Art Journal Every Day)

Man and Woman

I started 2 art journal pages with similar backgrounds, then took them in different directions with very different images:

Mr Washington Irving is feeling a bit stuffy, but you know he's got mischievous streak hiding in him:

And this gorgeous gal is ready for some fun, but I think she doesn't quite know where to start. Bingo!

Do you ever feel that way? I know I do!


Thanks for looking! Susan

Handmade journal

I didn't make any art journal pages this week, instead I made my own journal!

Using directions from The Complete Decorated Journal and Cover to Cover, I bound some of my painted and prepared pages into a journal:

Now, the first thing I will say is that the author of The Complete Decorated Journal calls this style a "30 minute" book and that is CRAZY. I spent WAY more than 30 minutes on this binding! I guess she's made a lot of them and can whip them out in 30 minutes, but I sure can't!

The cover of my book is watercolor paper, decorated with water color crayons and glimmer mist, then spray with a fixative. The ends and spine are covered in washi tape.

Inside is a mix of vintage and new papers (most are painted or gesso'd), as well as some envelopes.

I used a variety of sizes of paper & envelopes, and definitely learned that that makes the binding really hard for me to sew. It was hard to clip everything firmly together when there are so many different sizes. As a beginner, I will definitely stick to same-size papers for now!!

This was a great way to use some of the pages that have been sitting around waiting for a purpose, as well as try out some paints and embellishments I have on hand.

I hope you like it! Thanks for looking!

-Susan

P.S. This is linked at Art Journal Every Day

Last of the trial & error journal

Here are the last of the pages from my trial & error notebook-turned-journal:

See the rest of my art journals here.

Thanks for looking and Happy New Year!!

Susan

Trial & Error notebook journal

This is a hardbound notebook that I converted to a journal by using gel medium to stick pages together then gesso-ing the resulting thicker pages. While I liked it for what it was - trial & error - I ended up preferring the mixed media notebook (or a watercolor notebook).  Gluing the pages gets tedious, and I used up so much gel medium!!

More mixed media art journal

Lots of experimentation going on here.....

Mixed media art journal

I'm loving this Strathmore art journal, particularly the 5 1/2 x 8 size which is just right for me. I am planning to start a larger size journal in January for a monthly calendar journal page, but generally I like this smaller size.

More art journal pages here and here!

Posted at Art Journal Every Day

More art journal pages

Here are a few more pages from my 5 1/2 x 8 mixed media art journal:

Art Journal Pages

A few recent art journal pages from my 5 1/2 x 8 inch mixed media notebook. I really like this small size, but the spiral binding does get in the way a bit when I want to to double page spreads.

Stash swappers

I recently participated in a stash swap with the Altered Book Swap Group.  These 2 pretty little gals are images sent to me by my swap partner Karen.  They found a lovely home in my art journal!

Thank you Karen for sharing!!

- Susan