Art Journals - Journaling - A Healing Balm

Journaling is one of those exercises I have practiced for years and years. Even though I was also Art Journaling, I did not know that is what I was doing until several years ago. Recently I have been allowing myself to expand my art journaling into not only a creative expressions but also a healing tool - a healing balm so to speak for myself. Years ago, I began a scrapbook about myself. It was a very difficult task. In fact it has been awhile since I have actually gone back to the unfinished pages, mainly because it is very painful. The art journalings has opened back a door to pick up those painful pieces of my life and be healed of the past. I expect before long you will also see my scrapbook pages of me. . . .

Somerset Studio publishes a Mag call Art Journaling. It is one of my favorite publications. And I do mean one of many - their publications by far are the best to gather inspiration, knowledge and become aware of other artists. I absorb each one mag from cover to cover.

Within my Art Journaling mag, you will find my notes and highlights and more notes. There is volumes of inspirations within each page. Each artist that is featured usually has a blog and/or a web site that must be checked out! All I can say is WOW - Thanks Somerset Studio! Most major bookstores like Barnes and Nobles/Borders carry these publications! Or you can go to their website at www.stampington.com.

Last week, I took a day to have all my med appointments, while waiting I was reading in the AJ Mag an article on Composition Book Journals done by Paula Bogdan (www.littlescrapsofmagic.typepad.com). Check her blog out it it great!!! Totally beyond awesome. I was inspired. It took me back to over 50 years ago, when my mother was covering these Composition books with felt and broken jewelry - using them as a telephone/address book. Who would have thought! I also had to laugh at a statement that Paula made was about the memories of elementary school "Sister" demands perfection. Well for me it wasn't a Sister as such it was a teacher, Mrs. Coleman!!! She probably should have been a Sister!!!!!!But I would love to have those composition books now to journal over and around. . . .

The other article was on Silhouettes by artist Diana Wakley - she rocks!!! - Check her blog out at (www.dinastamps.typepad.com). Using the ole cut up the magazine to produce cool silhouettes to use in your journal pages.

As soon as all the med exams were, I made a be line to the Dollar Tree and grabbed a couple of Composition Books ($1.00). When I finally got home, I carefully spread out with scissors, paints, a Vogue Magazine and a brand new composition book. It was great! (Yes, I have many journals - many - many unfinished projects of homemade journals, and scrapbook pages that need to be finished), but this was one of those, I must try this now moment whims just to see what I could come up with. It was like a kid in the candy store! I had so much fun. . . . I had one fab time - So let me share with you a few pages to wet your whistle.

Don't you just love the yellow with red polka dots.


This one is my all Southern Belle fussy page! I know it is a sin to cut up a brand new Vogue Mag but I just could not help myself. . . . .


There are a couple of new fun techniques I learned:
1. I put a manila envelope behind my paper before I begin painting the page. When I am working on a two page spread I put a manila envelope behind both pages.

2. If you have an ole credit card or a gift card, you can move the paint around easily and smoothly. I found this worked better than the little sponge brushes.

3. I have put droplets of two colors down and when moving the card through the paint, it give you a mixed color.

Here is one that I did spreading the two colors of paint.


I have completed about 40 pages, they are now ready for embellishments and journaling. Each will be a unique to where ever my profound mind leads me. The ideas I have in mind are really endless and I think this process will help me finish some other projects that have been sitting around waiting for me to pick them back up.

As I complete my pages, you know I will be back to share - so as always, stay tuned for some fab journal pages!!!! And with some more great tips! So go run over to your Dollar Store - grab a couple of Composition Books and get to painting! Let me know what inspiration you have come up with!