Mixed Media Journal

This YouTube video inspired me to make a journal out of envelopes. I didn’t have the same size that Marta (in the video) used, but I went ahead anyway. My envelopes were made out of kraft paper and were a rectangle size. They didn’t have very long flaps so I had to use adhesive to keep the pages together. I used gesso, paint, and stains on the front cover and liked the way it looked. I taped the binding with some flowered washi tape.

I decided to try some smudging/outlining and I hated it. Then I had the bright idea to add glue through a stencil to have clear dimension. That was a fail – you couldn’t really tell I had done anything. So while the glue was wet I added some silver glitter. Now it was really really ugly! But Marta says to keep going so I did. I found this paper stencil-like piece and added it with gesso to the front. I tried to re-create the original colors that I liked with some stains and paints and came pretty close.

I couldn’t decide whether to cut off the top part that didn’t have the stencil on it, and I still might. I think it looks funny like this. If I cut the top off the envelopes would be open but if I wanted to put something in the envelopes I could just tape them shut with washi tape. Or I could just leave them open. No, I won’t just leave them open – too loosey-goosey for me! Anyway I added the little heart paper and it looks a little better, but I still think it looks unbalanced.

On to the back. First I put down some tissue paper with gel medium as the glue. Then I gessoed lightly over that. I had cut some feathers on my Cameo and decided to add those. I thought they should be colored to go with the tissue paper, although that doesn’t show up in the photo. Next I splattered some white paint and added a little Ferris wheel with the same colors. Now I guess I won’t cut off the top because it would mess up the back. Sigh.

This is a practice journal so I guess it doesn’t really matter what it looks like. I am just a beginner at art journaling and the process is the fun part. Although it is weird not to have an idea of what I want the final result to look like.

Hooray It’s Your Day card kit variations

The Hooray It’s Your Day Card Kit comes with tons of cool supplies:

The dark stencils are re-usable and there are enough supplies to make 20 cards and envelopes. There are photos of each of the cards, but I made some that were a little different.

For the first one I used the resist background and some sponge daubers with ink. The white chevron lines are already on the paper and they resist the ink which is a fun effect,  much as if you had heat embossed the design with white embossing powder. I colored the clear rhinestones with the Blendabilities markers to match the flowers, I love that I can customize the embellishments that way.

For the second card I used the sunburst stencil and another sponge dauber with ink. I really like the way it turned out. Just a little washi tape and the wooden hello finish of this simple card.
So even if you get one of these kits don’t feel like you have to make all the cards the same as the directions – play around a little bit and see what you can come up with!

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