Junk Journal

I made this junk journal for a swap in one of my art groups.  I spent about 3 months pulling it all together and really had a lot of fun with it.  The cover evolved as I worked on the project.  I added the cross stitched bluebird, and even a little face made from a piece of an aluminum can that I embossed.

I made several handmade charms to attach to the binding coils.  I have a closer view of the charms & how they were made posted on my hobby site, here:  http://www.hobbyloco.com/charms.html

You can see from the top view that I made the book really thick and chunky.  It is full of all types of papers, pockets, tags, postcards, and random bits of this and that.  There are easily over 100 pages, many are undecorated, but I did embellish a few to get the book started.

I have already posted several of the pages on my Journals & Sketchbooks blog here: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/ - however the pages posted below weren't included in that post.

These pages all feature needlework - crochet or cross stitched motifs:

 

The beach scene on this page was cut from a piece of a junk mail ad.  This seashell is one of my original cross stitch patterns, and is available as a freebie here:  http://www.hobbyloco.com/XSpatterns2.html#seashell

This page has a watercolor painted background and features a cross stitched squirrel.  Also a freebie pattern of mine, available here: http://www.hobbyloco.com/XSpatterns1.html#squirrel

 I couldn't resist adding a small crocheted doily to the book.  I crocheted this doily from a free pattern found here: http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/free-doily-pattern/spool52/five-point-star-doily

If you are curious to see more pages from the junk journal, be sure to visit my other blog here: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

Have a fun & creative weekend!

Spotlight Artist at ATCsforAll

I was selected as the Spotlight Artist at ATCsforAll for the month of June.

ATCsforAll is a wonderful site with a great group of artists who participate in art swaps of all types.

Whatever projects you are working on (inchies, ATCs, chunky pages, art journals, art dolls, jewelry, etc...), you can usually find a swap in which to play.

The weekend art marathons that happen often are pure fun! Artists from around the world, arting it up around the clock for 3 or 4 days and trading with each other. Fun! Fun! Fun!

See more of my art & journal pages in my other blog here: 
http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

A Journal to Wreck

I love crazy little things ... and here's one of them: Wreck This Journal. It looks like a fun thing to do when I am having a creative block -or- just to help me loosen up with my art.

There are a few Flicker groups documenting others' progress through this book.

Here is the largest group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/how_to_wreck_a_journal/

I am trying (very hard) not to look at the photos so that I won't be influenced by what other folks have done, but I must admit ... I occasionally sneak a peek or two & find it fascinating to see the different takes on each concept.

I think I will branch off this blog into a journal blog, to document my journey of destruction: http://cherylsjournals.blogspot.com/

Junk Mail Journal Page

I finished a page in my Junk Mail Journal. I didn't plan anything in advance. I just let the page evolve on its own, which is always a fun and surprising journey.

a Junk Mail Art Journal

I am always doodling, drawing or jotting down random thoughts in a variety of notebooks and journals. I have never completely filled a notebook or journal ... I just seem to start new ones and keep going. In that spirit, I have decided to start yet another art journal.

This one will be different, though. This art journal will be finished (I swear!). It is small - about 4-1/2" x 6" and just 11 pages (22 if your count fronts and backs). I made this little art journal from my junk mail. I gathered all the little postcards and cardstock weight ads that collected near my computer, cut the larger ones down to size, and punched and bound them into this little book.

Currently I have begun gesso-ing random pages. I will continue to work in random fashion and just start gluing, painting, drawing, and adding to it as I feel the urge. I will post updates here as I progress.

Care to start journaling along with me? Grab some of your junk mail and punch & bind, stitch or staple it into a little book and get started. It's just stuff you were going to throw away anyhow - so you can't mess it up. Send me a link or photo or comment about it (I really would love to see it.).