Art Journal All Year {my first page}

I mentioned before I really like journals. Back in college I kept one that was half drawings and half writing. It was my way of making it through certain classes I found uninteresting. I enjoyed being able to combine art and writing….I’ve missed it. I didn’t realize I missed it until my friend Rachel announced her new art journal e-course she wrote with Elise Larson (of A Beautiful Mess). She sent me the login info and it only took reading the intro for me to know I wanted to make time to create my own this year. (Rachel did not ask me to write about this…I just really like it)

I wasn’t sure the format I wanted…a bound journal, spiral ring notebook, etc. I decided to just go with a half inch ring binder and create each page differently. The course is set up with 52 prompts…you can do them in 52 days or take your time. I’m going to do it in 52 weeks..one a week, all year. The binder will let me make some pages with thick layers, some out of fabric, some out of canvas, etc. I’ve got to figure out a cover, the white plastic is ugly.

The first prompt was “Day Dreams”. I like having the prompts because life is chaotic at times and it gives me something to focus on without coming up with it on my own. I gathered a bunch of random supplies and just started layering my page.

My day dreams land in one place right now ~ China. My little one in China.

I didn’t have a map to cut up, so I googled “China silhouette”…found a google image and then used my iPad like a light box to trace the shape.

I used double sided tape to stick everything together.

A little embroidery thread to add decorative stitching in one spot.

So 1 down and 51 to go…I’m hoping to create some canvas pages with mini paintings in the future.

I’m excited to use the prompts to artistically journal this year!

Supplies: Lace from an old curtain; Floral paper by Amy Butler; Stamps from Hobby Lobby; Amy Tangerine “Date” tag c/o American Crafts; Knock Out border punches c/o American Crafts; This to That double sided tape c/o American Crafts