Mini Art Journal

The start of this school semester started with a bang!

 

I found this cute mini composition notebook at Target, while shopping for school supplies

 

 

It is sitting on a regular sheet of notebook paper, so you can see how small it really is.

 

Since I couldn't resist buying a couple, I decide could use it

 to jot down reminders of assignments, to-do lists etc...

 

But I also found it makes a realy great pocket art journal!

 

And for those of you who know me well...you can see in the background real school work...

so I am only doodling between classes, lol, see I know what yall were thinking...

This page is a little bland, but it has alot of journaling...I decided to keep it simple and just utilize pen or pencil...I considered trying to prepare the pages and spray them with colorful inks... 

 



But, that just seemed like alot of work for such a small booklet, and besides, by then I had already started to scribble lists and notes inside...above is the school supply list for one of my high-schoolers.

 



 

On this day it was raining...lucky for me, ALL my classes are in one building!

 

 

I like this page the best...

as I was waiting for class to begin, sipping my coffee,

 I thought of my son Evan...we stop at the corner store every morning

 and he gets my coffee for me so I dont have to get out!

 

xoxo

PK



Week 2 of LifeSimply Art Journaling

Here are a few of my Completed Art Journal Pages

This page started out with a layer of gesso, pink and green acrylic, and the bubble wrap for texture...I love bubble wrap!

I added washi tape, stencils in black ink, rub on's, chip board letters, and text.

 

This page started out with a gesso base, then Glimmer Mists {a pink and silver} were sprayed over the background. I then added pink, red, and white acrylic paint, hand drawn black marker doodles, washi tape, collage items, and hand lettering along with stamps and rub on lettering...I also added a picture of my Mother and I.

 

So for Week 2 {a little late} our Inspiration

 is "Back To School" with a simple Crayon Resist Technique

 My kiddos are already back in school, and most everyone will be in school within the next 2 weeks...so we are all out bargain hunting for new school supplies.

While you are are snapping up those bargains, pick up a few new items for yourself to use in this weeks inspiration and technique.

 Because for this week, I will be using an ordinary white crayon to make a really cool background for my next page.

I love a new box of crayons

On this page I simple made a grid, using a stiff piece of craft paper as a guide, with a white crayon...I went over each line several times...them brushed away the flakes of crayon that are left when you press hard...

I then sprayed the page heavily with Glimmer Mist...and let it dry.

You can see that the crayon lines resisted the mist, and saturated the squares inside the crayon lines. And because it was Glimmer mist, it left behind iridescent spots also...however, you don't have to use Glimmer Mist, that's what I had within reach...watercolors, or thinned acrylic works well also.

I am having fun with my journal, making a few "mistakes"...

I got really messy with my red paint and managed to get on pages I had not intended too...but ya know, I just let it go and added red to all the pages...see above, the red splotched on top and bottom, so added the red circles on the left bottom...

There is no right or wrong with Art Journaling!

xoxo

PK

Summer of Solder

Several years ago, I bought an inspirational craft book,

Pretty Little Things 

by Sally Jean Alexander

Actually, I was intrigued with the cover and art, not realizing it was a how-to for soldering charms and all manner of beautiful things.

I eventually bought a soldering kit

But was afraid to use it...I was scared, actually, of trying something new.

So the book, and kit sat un-used until this summer, when my Uncle David Chris offered to teach my Aunt Jane and me how to solder.

Uncle David Chris was an excellent teacher, and soon we were happily soldering away.

One of my first pieces...not perfect but, 

Soldering is addictive, the more you do it, the more you want to.

Which is a good thing because soldering takes much practice, practice, practice.

My son Evan has the soldering bug also!

I hope to eventually be proficient enough to make charm bracelets with my own art.

xoxo

PK

More Blue Jean Journals

Using all my blue jean pockets making more cute Blue Jean Journals

See how {here}

These were made for my blogging friend,

 Kimberly Sminkey over at Tiaras and Bowties, and her daughter, Alexis.

I had a really good time making and filling these with lots of journaling spaces!

xoxo

PK

This project linked with these linky parties:

Life on Lakeshore Drive

Sew Can Do

Brag About It

Denim Re-do's

I gathered up my denim and old blue jeans and got busy making a few of my favorite projects from my Pinterest board {Upcycled Denim} and Blue Jean Top Ten to do list.

Above, I created two Blue Jean baskets from blue jean legs...I pilfered a few toile scraps from my mother for the lining. I really like how they turned out, although I didn't follow the tutorial to the letter, mainly because it was a little too involved for me as a beginner.

They do stand up nicely, even without the batting I left out. I plan to utilize the baskets to store my markers and pencils within easy reach on my desk.

I also made a bag out of a blue jean mini skirt with a kitchen towel for the lining. I picket up both pieces for 2 dollars at my favorite thrift store, Treasure House, in Beaumont.

I love the colors in the towel, red, blue and yellow...although this picture isn't the best.

 The skirt was a junior size and just right for a purse.

I utilized a pair of boys size 12 jeans also...the legs became the baskets above; the waist band the shoulder strap; and a pocket went inside for keys, etc.



Here you can see the lining and inside pocket.

What projects are you completing before school starts?

xoxo

PK



A New Journey

Introducing a new weekly feature

 LifeSimply Journaling

Each week I will be posting a topic of Inspiration and Technique for Art Journaling, and posting pictures of my art journaling.

Everyone can participate at home, and each week post your link in the comment section so we can share ideas and our work.

I have never been one to keep up a sketchbook or journal, I just never seem to have the darn thing when I want to draw or jot down an idea...rather I have doodles, ideas, plans, etc all over napkins, school notebooks, old envelopes...well you get the idea, I'm a tad unorganised...

Most recently, I have found several inspiring blogs related to Art Journaling. Donna Downey and Balzer Designs .
This summer I have been creating with my Aunt Jane, we have similar interests in art and creating. She really inspired me to take a closer look at maintaining a journal/sketch book. Jane belongs to a group that creates and exchanges "molies" ...What is a "Molie" you ask...

Well, a molie is a moleskine sketchbook. Jane's group decides a basic theme, and a timeline...then they begin mailing the molies to each other in order, and each person creates a part, transitioning from the previous artist to their new part...At the end each is returned to the owner, and the result is a beautiful, unique book made just for that person.

Well, although I love the idea, and result of a molie...Its just not for me...I am too unorganized, I'd probably lose one, or postpone mailing the item and get everyone upset! (Procrastination is my middle name)

Of course, you all know I love Pinterest {see my Mixed Media Board here}...and I have been curating pictures of mixed media art for a while now...being off this summer has allowed me time to look behind the pin, see the blog and read about what, why, and how people are making all this beautiful, inspiring art.

I think I have found an inspiring way to get my journal on! Not too much pressure, a place to try new ideas, products, and practice collage art.

I hope you will explore art journaling along with me!

 1st week the Inspiration is "Family"

I have chosen to write about my relationship with my Mother and Grandmother. The pictures above are from the journal. I am starting my journal in an altered book {a project started and never finished}, first doing fun backgrounds on several pages, and then I will go back and add pictures and my thoughts and memories. Some of the actual journaling will be covered up with other media, because I intend this journaling to be expressive, rather than something that will read like a diary.

1st Week Technique is "Bookprint"

Because this was a book, I am leaving some of the print uncovered...this page is about making a doll house and furniture out of found objects around the house, which is something we did when I was a child.

Another way I am using bookprint, is printing a strip of "photo booth" pictures onto the bookprint and using it on this collage page

These were taken when I was about 12 yrs old, and I don't think they are terribly flattering {lol} but...printed over the book print, I really like them!

I love to read, and I love old books. The prints on this page are from books I found at Goodwill, an old sewing book, a copy of Popular Mechanics, an old hymnal, and a cheap copy of The Three Musketeers. At first, I felt guilty cutting up the old books, but then hey, I rescued them from Goodwill, and I love the art I create with them, so I figure they are being loved in a different way now.

One tip I have learned using old print in my work, is that plain ole Elmers school glue works best to adhere the book pages to my art. Matte Medium and Modge Podge are expensive, and don't give as nice a finish on the really old print.

Post your links in the comment section so I can see what type of Art Journaling and Mixed Media projects you are doing!

xoxo

PK