So, here she is. The finished but blank journal. And I love her like a sister. She's a bit big and cumbersome. Won't actually fit into my journal bag and her binding has already taken a beating being lugged upstairs, back downstairs, outside, to the park, to the lake, thrown in the trunk. She's really starting to feel lived in by now, and that's the best part. If you can't live in your journal, really crawl into its pages, then what's the point?
The insides of my covers were damaged a bit when I cut apart the postage stamp book (I cut out the text block and cut off the spine) so I trimmed a piece of vintage fabric and glued it to the inside of each cover. I usually do this anyway because it gives the journal a more finished look. When I put together my signatures I take my time arranging them so that I have a variety of paper types and sizes in each signature. Usually I save a smaller page for the outside of each signature because I like the being able to see the next page behind it, but for this journal I kept the pages mainly the same size and opted for my prettiest pages to serve as a kind of signature wrap for each one.
I like to use as many found papers as I can in my journals. Since I know I will change them a lot or even completely cover over them, it doesn't matter much what is on paper; here I've pulled apart an old pamphlet on weaving that just had a good feel it. I especially like recycling old papers but am careful that they are not so old that they crumble after a while. My journals have to be sturdy because they will be dropped, thrown, shoved around, mistreated and--you know--lived in.
Sigh. Not sure how I'm going to adapt this page...seems pretty perfect just like it is. But I'm sure I'll think of something.
Here you can see how varying the page size adds instant interest by giving a sneak peek of what's coming next.
Double sided scrapbook paper works perfect here. You don't have to chose one or the other but can take advantage of both designs.
Sewing together strips of patterned paper with blank watercolor paper makes a more interesting surface for journaling than either one would do on their own. Plus, I can't get enough of the stitching.
These are some of the old scrapbook papers I've been hoarding for ages. I loved these quirky photo realistic pages by Mustard Mood (Are they even around anymore?) but never quite knew how to use them in my scrapbooks. They seem to fit perfectly into this journal.
The lengths that I will go to for journal fodder: spray painted newspaper.
My 10 year old son Soren is obsessed with The Spiderwick Chronicles and insisted I read them. I'm glad I did because besides being good stories, the artwork is amazing. I printed a copy of one of the maps in the book to add to my journal for fun. Instead of trying to integrate the map into a journal page, I used the copy as the page itself.
I came across an extra large book on heraldic designs at a thrift store and decided to frame a few for my son's room. The rest of the pages I kept for journal paper.
Cut up catalogs can make fun and colorful journal pages, too.
My plan: get some colorful socks & tights so I can wear my favorite sandals into fall! But I digress....
I always get confused when printing photos--which way does the paper go again?--and end up printing over what I just printed. So frustrating! But these ended up looking pretty cool so I saved them to add to a future journal.
I hope I've given you some ideas for your own journals and maybe belabored the point that anything has the potential to become a really cool journal page if you're open, and maybe especially the unusual and unexpected things you happen to stumble on every day. Keep a file of interesting papers that come through the mail or a portion of your bookshelf for thrift store treasures and keep going back to them. If it doesn't work in one journal, it might work in the next one. Instead of just thinking in terms of how you might incorporate daily ephemera into your journal pages, consider using it for the page itself. Even if you completely cover over it, it can add depth to your art not to mention adding another story to the journal itself.
Over the next few weeks as I show you some of my finished journal pages, hopefully you'll get even more ideas on how to incorporate these different kinds of papers, no matter what your style of journaling. So if you haven't taken the leap to make your own journal yet, why not try it this weekend? And send me pictures!
wow... so so amazing.. would love to sit beside u as u piece it all together.... your book is amazing! I hv scores of vintage books and the entire collection of childcraft encyclopedias waiting to be used plus other vintage books, music pages, sb paper, oh yes! I hv a question.
often when i take the pages out of the book... it's only one page so half of that page would only be about 4 inches.. so do you cut page strips of other pages then sew together to make a large enough page for your journal? I know this is what MAM teaches in the ROTD class... sometimes, I wanna be lazy and just turn the page around horizontal and use it that way??
love your work!
Posted by: bonitarose | October 07, 2011 at 02:37 PM
love love love the way your creative wheels spin AND produce AND inspire! thank you much for sharing :)
Posted by: donnalee | October 07, 2011 at 03:52 PM
I have just started art journaling via an online workshop at http://www.iheartrunwithscissors.com/ and i am loving it!!! I somehow stumbled across your Blog and have spent the last two hours scrolling through it. Everything is just gorgeous! You have inspired me to put together my own journal for my next en devour. Thanks a bunches!!!
http://sara-simplymehappeninguponme.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Sara | October 07, 2011 at 11:21 PM
The journal looks amazing! I didn't get the chance to start mine yesterday (toddler on the rampage) but reading this in the mean time has given me so many more ideas! Especially the pages being sewn together. I have loads of wrapping paper and stationary samples from wedding invites crying out to be used. Thank you!
Posted by: Lianne | October 08, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Love your journal. Thanks for showing how to put it together, very inspiring.
Posted by: Helen | October 08, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Yummy pages in a very pretty journal. Love this and the previous post. Great way to present a journal in all it's richness!
Posted by: iHanna | October 09, 2011 at 08:42 AM
You excel in so many medias, my friend. Your paperwork/journals are so inspiring. I love how you incorporate so much of yourself inside these pages. Once again, I am inspired and off to find the bones for my pages. xoxoxoxoxo
Posted by: pilar | October 09, 2011 at 01:54 PM
I so LOVE these pages - can't wait to see how you journal on them too....I am very inspired by you and shared you on my own blog love today :-)
Posted by: Lynette(NZ) | October 09, 2011 at 03:48 PM
Wow, this is an awesome tutorial! Thank you SO much for writing it up! The journal looks amazing. I LOVE all the different sized pages, I will have to try that.
Posted by: Rachel Kennison | September 08, 2012 at 08:15 PM