Collage!

I love collage! 

The act of simply sticking bits of colourful and pretty papers to a page is one that I find tremendously rewarding and lots of fun. I like that you never know exactly how it will turn out, but the end result is usually always a pleasant surprise.

I usually always begin art work, especially in my art journal, with a bit of collage, as it acts as a catalyst for the rest of the page in terms of colour choices or even the overall feel/emotion of the page.

I have started a mini journal just for collage. I made it using the cover of an old book, and have been using it for pages devoted solely to collage.

I also use collage to decorate the covers of journals, that I use, or sell.

The front cover of one of my art journals.

back of the art journal.

A journal that I sold on Etsy.
The cover was completely collaged with different papers.

Here are a couple of boards that I'm going to use for a journal cover. 

I really love how these turned out.

Here are some of my art journal pages that have collage as a feature. I love the combination of the papers with acrylic paint.

So there you have it!

 A celebration of collage, the simple of application of paper and glue to paper. 

Have a go, you'll love it!

 Allow yourself to have fun with it, without overthinking. Approach it in the way a child would do. There's lots of freedom to be found.

Till next time.

Much love.

xxx

More Journaling Fun ~ Vintage Style Junk Journals.

I love junk journals! They originally came about as a way of using up junk paper, like old mail, packaging etc, but the concept has developed into journals that are full of lots of beautiful inserts, tuck spots, and lots of interest. I love the creativity involved in creating these journals and the fact that each one is unique and has had so much thought poured into it.

I've started a You Tube channel!.. and guess what the current focus is, ...junk journals of course!
I made a vintage style junk journal with tea dyed papers and with tea as the main theme. So all the added design papers are tea themed and I've even used emptied out tea bags as decoration. I sewed lots of lace trim to the pages, it's really pretty.

Here is the video if you are interested in seeing more...

I also made another vintage style journal with birds and roses as a theme. This junk journal was more true to its name as I used some old amazon packaging for the cover, onto which I collaged lots of pretty papers and varnished with mod podge to make it more durable.
There is also lots of stitching in this journal.

The Front

The Back

Here is a video if you are interested in seeing more...

There is also a speeded up process video for this journal. You can view this on my Instagram page.

Both of the journals in this post are listed in my Etsy Shop.
Hope you've enjoyed the glimpses into my recent creative ventures.
Much love.
xxx

Journals and Notebooks

I have always been a lover of notebooks and anything to do with paper and stationery. I learnt a couple of years ago how to make notebooks using a simple bookbinding technique and have been completely hooked since!

I recently went on a songwriting retreat in the beautiful East Sussex countryside with our worship team from church, and I led a notebook making workshop. We made notebooks which we then wrote our songs in.
It was so much fun!

I have also been beavering away making fabric covered journals for my Etsy Shop. These include some junk journals and larger art journals. It has been a joy to make these. I kinda wish I could keep them all, but that wouldn't be very practical, seeing as I am trying to build a business too.

Large Art Journal with a variety of papers, mainly watercolour paper.

Another Large Art Journal..

Fabric Covered Junk Journals, with papers mainly A5 in size..

Here is a video of the junk journals in more detail and how I use mine.

Here is a Youtube video of the fabric covered art journals in more detail, as well as an art journal page in progress. I really enjoyed filming this.

I love journals because they keep a record of our lives, of the everyday things and simple moments which could so easily be forgotten. I resolved this year to keep a record of each day and it's a practice that I am enjoying doing. It helps me to savour my life, to become more aware of the present and to  appreciate the precious people around me. 

So here's to journaling in all its glory!

Much love.

xxx