New Paper, New Books

I had to make a trip to Reuel's Art store in Salt Lake, on Saturday. I didn't have any more book board. The sole purpose of the trip was to buy ONLY book board. Forty dollars later, I came home with book board, bees wax and four new sheets of paper. Buying paper is a lot like my sister's obsession with shoes. I have to touch each sheet of paper. It's a texture thing-- thin paper doesn't always work well for covering the book board. Ok, that's my excuse, actually, I just love the feel of paper.

I made this book to give to a corporate VP for his wife's birthday. The VP is visiting in November and I'm excited to share my art with him. We've always been connected with work and as this is a special trip, I've created a special book for him to give to his wife.



I secured the book with a butterfly clasp and brown ribbon. The ribbon is threaded through the butterfly's wings and glue to the bookboard.

I placed envelopes on the front and back cover as well as on several  signature pages inside the book. 

The book is sewn with a Coptic stitch. I made my own wax thread using bees wax and embroidery thread.  The bees wax helps keep the thread from stretching over time.  Each of the signatures begins with a sheet of handmade paper.

The second book that I made this weekend is a garden book. The green paper reminds of of the green grass in Ohio. As we are heading into winter, I miss the green of Springtime that renews my spirit. I am not looking forward to the dreariness of winter.

This book also contains interior envelopes and handmade paper. It is secured with a Coptic stitch.

My final weekend project was to work in my art journal. I added three new background pages in color pencil. As I find song lyrics, or special quotes, I'll insert the quotes on these background pages.

I'm still practicing letters. I love my handwriting, but when I put it on a page, it almost seems flat. So, I've been researching methods of writing letters. It's funny, because when I'm at work, I doodle during phone calls. I need to bring my doodles home and insert them into my art journal, OR, I need to take my art journal to work and doodle in it during phone calls .

This page from the journal is my attempt to draw and use watercolors again. I like the primitive look. I think I need to do more of these pages. My art journal contains pages of watercolor paper, as well as drawing paper and writing paper. When I paint on the writing paper, it crinkles and gives a unique look.

As I look back over the weekend, I feel good. I spent Saturday working on art and baking cookies. I'm ready to start the work week again.... and anxiously awaiting my next art day.

Repurpose Art

I love to re-purpose an old item into something new. Most people wouldn't think twice about tossing an old, used cardboard box into trash. I'd rather save the old box and make it into something useful. Saving the planet from another piece of garbage in a landfill is only second to my reason for saving this box. I thought it had a unique character and feel to it. Today, instead of tossing an old box, I re-purposed it into a keepsake.

The entire box is covered with scraps of paper. To give the box and the paper durability, I covered it with two coats of matte medium. I added two Velcro strips to help secure the lid. The box can be used to store note cards, or keep sakes.

My second project this weekend involved note cards. During my bi-weekly trip to Michael's, I found a pack of 25 plain note cards (with envelopes) for $4.99. I also found some vintage scrapbook paper. I used stripes of hand-torn paper to enhance the plain note cards. I'm really happy with the outcome.

I love paper. Of course, its primary purpose is to use for communication, but when we use paper for embellishments the possibilities are endless. With just a little bit of paper, these plain note cards take on a new life with color. The box, above, goes from a piece of trash, to a piece you want sitting on your desk.

The third re-purposed project involved wire, a wooden bead, glass beads, and paper. I saw this project in a magazine. I've never attempted jewelry making, and after trying my hand at bead making, I remember why. My clumsy fingers and my lack of patience are two hindrance to working with small objects.

I like the idea of taking the wooden bead and covering it with paper and enhancing it with the glass beads and wire. I may try this again, sometime.
My art journal is filling up. I've been writing quotes/quips that I've heard from my colleagues, as well as continuing to add favorite movie clips and lyrics from special songs.  My favorite addition is a piece I drew by accident. I wasn't paying attention to the position of my book and actually drew the flowers the wrong direction on the page. When I realized that I was drawing upside down in the book, , I knew exactly which of my favorite quotes would work best with this mistake.

Worry Is The Misuse Of Your Imagination

Here are three other additions to my art journal. The vampire quote was overhead during a work meeting. The last entry is a quote from the series Twilight. And, for debate sake---I'm a fan of the books, not the movie.

I love my art journal. The release it gives me is keeping me sane in a very sanity deprived life. At first, I thought this book was something that I would not share. But as the book takes on a life of its own, I love sharing my pages. I was showing the book to a co-worker and telling her the origin of several pages. She said "I hope someday I say something that will make it into the book." 

My art journal is now re-purposed into a collection of sanity in an insane life.

Time for Me

Finding "me" time has been on my to-do list, unfortunately, I keep moving "me" time to the bottom of the list. Finally, I moved "me" time to the top of the list and spent some time in the art room, doing what I love to do; create!

I made three new journals with blue handmade paper. These three journals still need envelopes inside. I really like the journal that has hidden compartments for storing secrets and special memories.

I also worked more on my art journal. The idea of daily entries in any journal is too overwhelming for me. I don't care to be on a regiment or a schedule. When I feel like being creative, I make an entry.  The journal to this point has been a collection of quotes.

I've attempted drawing, but I am not an artist. The whole idea behind an art journal is that it can become an outlet to try new mediums.

I was skimming through a library book on creative ideas with photographs. The artist crinkled and torn a photograph and then puzzled it back in place. Here's my version:

I love writing my feelings, my thoughts and special stories. Often times, I find writer's block stopping the creative process. I wanted to put my thoughts on paper, but just couldn't find the right words. So, I took an old magazine and cut out words that floated through my head. I laid them on two sheets of the journal and the story came to life.



Any of my journal can be used for an art journal. I highly encourage you to let your creative mind flow on to a keepsake page. Whether you think you're an artist, or whether you think like me that you have no artist talent, use of an art journal is very gratifying. I still can't believe I chose psychedelic pink for my cover. I just know that I'm glad I took this weekend for some much needed "me" time.