A Page from My Life - Intro

I thought I'd share with you today a page from my art journal. I started this journal last spring after my mother-in-law passed away. It had been so long since I could get in my studio and play with the ideas rolling around in my head. I missed it pretty badly. (And, by the way, the word 'studio' is used in the loosest sense of the word, but I like that better than saying 'craft room'.)

The next best thing was to get online and see other people's work. As I was doing this I came across a site that talked about how to make a 15 minute journal page or entry. The idea was to use three different mediums and incorporate them into your journal page spending only five minutes on each medium. For instance, using pictures, ribbon, and markers or scrap paper, stickers, and chalk. What I liked about this is that it didn't allow time for perfection. The aim was to dive in and get a little messy expressing a thought or a picture or a quote.

I was intrigued because I tend to lean towards making my pages look just so. I challenged myself to let my hair down, so to speak, and not allow myself to think the outcome needed to be perfect.

As we were going through my MIL's belongings I came across her old spiral-bound monthly calendars. I thought it would be neat to repurpose them into my art journals. I'm not necessarily following the exact process I mentioned above, but I am trying to accomplish it in 15 minutes.

This is what the calendars look like. I haven't decided how I'm going to cover this one, but that hasn't stopped me from starting on the inside. I glue two pages together for more thickness.

This is my introductory page--what my journal is about. Ok now...don't laugh! Get in my head and work with me folks! Remember this is supposed to be random and quick.

Here's the items I used:

Christmas wrapping paper.

A very old return address from the 40's with my FIL's name. 

A sanded gold paint chip from Home Depot.

A library envelope from the inside cover of a book with 'discard' stamped on it.

The scared-lady picture was from an old science text book. My point was that no matter how random or messy the pages were going to be--even if it didn't turn out the way I pictured in my mind--this journal is meant to be a keepsake for me, a diary of sorts. Not to be discarded.

The ring and fuzzy yarn are random do-dad embellishments to give more dimension.

The note slips into the library envelope. 

This has been such a fun outlet for me!

It's All Good!

Brenda