If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I am a sucker for a good journal. I really am. I love literary journals (where I write my thoughts and poems) and art journals, where I can sketch and draw and such.
Since I just had the baby, and it’s been quite frigid lately, it has left me home, with no way to get to the art supply store, to buy a new moleskin notebook. And I like to start the new year with a new journal. It’s just a thing about me, I guess.
Anyhow, while browsing Pinterest, I found a very cool art journal that a woman made from grocery paper bags. Now, the problem I encountered is that my supermarket does not give out paper bags, and I usually bring my own bags (or I take the plastic ones, because I recycle them for other things).
So in my DIRE need for a new journal, I decided to make one. Here’s what I came up with, since I don’t have blank paper to bind it with.
Inside, the pages are from a vintage children’s music book. It’s an educational book that was used in schools and such. I figured, I can just gesso the pages (or rather, use the poor man’s gesso, which is just white paint. Or, if you’re REALLY broke, use that left over white house paint).
The over has a little collage of magazine clippings, which my daughter made me. I love it so much, I put it on the cover! Oh, and for the cover, I used a Ritz Cracker box in place of chipboard, which I cannot find. I could in theory, since I do know where it is, but eh. With two children, I do not feel like spending the little time that they nap, on locating my chipboard. So I recycled, instead.
Then, I used some pretty paper by Crate Paper, and tissue tape by Tim Holtz.
What do you think, you like it? You can totally make this. It’s EASY! Just learn to do a good and simple book binding. You can learn on Booklyn’s website. Then, save your cereal box, or cracker box, or any sort of packaging that is made of chipboard.
It’s easy! Find some cool paper to bind. Maybe some newspaper? Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have paper grocery bags? Whatever, man. Bind it with whatever.
I used embellishments from the Sampler Kit. I love that little butterfly!
The flowers are also from the Sampler Kit. The Ballerina, I bought years ago from Hannah Grey. I saved her all this time, and here she is.
I love them, don’t you? A bit of ink and PAN pastels really make the tags “sing”, don’t you think?
For this piece, my husband and I worked together. I used my envelope template on regular artist sketchbook paper. The background stamp is a retired stampin up stamp. The ink is Stampin up as well. The frida is from my collection of print outs.
I did this one.
YES. It’s so true, isn’t it? Be yourself and you’ll feel at home anywhere. That little sun/moon embellishment was made with a glass slide from Ranger Ink, and a rubber stamp, colored in with copic markers. And then, the edges are finished with copper tape. I love that stuff!
So that’s my little book!
Now, I know that it is not typical of me to have a lot going on, as I love to lean towards the simple side, but today I was in the mood for a lot going on. I used purple acrylic paint by Plaid Crafts, Pan pastels in purple, typewriter font background stamp, and fusible glittery fibers, by Art Institute Glitter. The flower is by Prima, and is hiding a smudge. Damned inky fingers.
The quote was stamped on some textured stampin up cardstock, then inked on the edges with blue ink. I put it right over the part of the box, where it says, Godiva so that you can’t see it. It’s not a box of chocolates anymore, it’s a wish box!
I lined the inside with cardstock. All her little trinkets are wrapped up inside.
Cute, right?
I love this! It’s so adorable.
Oh, and here’s the hair clippies. I made her a few, because her mother really likes the ones I make for Dakota.
Hello Kitty, because all little girls love it. At least all the ones I know do. 