Scrap Border Journal Page Tutorial

Every tiny scrap of scrapbook paper, painted paper, lined paper, junk mail and doodled paper is fodder for a scrap border art journal page.  An artist tends to see the potential in unlikely sources and materials...even the grocery list.

This is a technique that beginning journalers can use, but  also appeals to veteran journalers as well. The scraps, colors, patterns and textures you choose make it your own.

THE PROCESS:

1.)  Apply a light watercolor wash to your page.  I just use Prang watercolors. Artist grade watercolors would be even better. (I don't recommend Crayola brand watercolors for this, as they seem to have a more waxy content, and it's difficult to get a pen to write over them.)

Light watercolor wash-didn't show up on my scan very well...
Yellow, red, blue, and a bit of orange. Green created by overlap of yellow & blue.

2.)  Collect your paper scraps. I sort through them picking scraps which have colors that coordinate, but also include scraps for contrast as well.

3.)  Some scraps of painted papers (from when I am cleaning my brushes off) may have just a few strokes of paint on them. (below) Add some highlighter to them to make the colors on the page really pop.

4.)  Arrange some of your scraps along the outside edge of the page. I don't usually put collage in the 'gutter' side, as this makes the journal more difficult to close with the addition of extra thicknesses of papers.  Choose different sizes and shapes, coordinating and contrasting colors. Try a variety of 

arrangements before gluing down.

Cut and tear an assortment of colorful papers and arrange
them into a border. Try different arrangements before gluing.

Hint: If you accidentally disarrange the scraps and can't remember how you had them placed, (as I invariably do) take a picture with your phone when you find an arrangement you like.  Refer back to the photo for the original placement of the scraps!

5.  Glue down scraps. Add more highlighter if you like bright colors!  You can add highlighter to the background or the scraps, or both.

6.)  Then doodle and shade the border arrangement.  You can add all types of swirls, patterns, dots and shading. I use a Sharpie pen (not a Sharpie permanent marker-- it will bleed through the paper. A Sharpie pen will not) As I was gluing the scraps down, I came across some leaves that I had drawn and painted; so I cut them out and added those to the border also.

7.)   The result is a lovely decorated page that you can journal on.  Add text in your own handwriting, with stamping, or computer generated text.  Journal your thoughts, a quote, or whatever you did that day. 

script added in the top border; hand-drawn text on the page
is a quote from Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

When my grandson was little, an "adventure" was when we would put a few toys in his wagon, along with a blanket, and some snacks. Then we would go outside for a walk, stop to play on the swings, and find a nice tree to play under. We would read books and play with his little cars. We still like to have adventures, but they have to be a bit more exciting the older he gets! This page makes me think of those times with my own children, and with my grandchildren.  Memories captured in a journal...

Please let me know if you try this technique, I would love to see the results!  You can also see other tutorials in the side bar~ click on the tea cup.

Linking to the Art Journal Journey Challenge for March 2016:

"If You Go Down to the Woods." 

Morning Coffee and Collage

Starting my day with some coffee

and sketching is a winning combination.

Linking up with Bleubeard and Elizabeth

for T Tuesday, and Show Your Face.

I thought I'd share this double page spread

with you, and try to arrange the scans

side by side in the post.  Either the limitations

of Blogger, or the limitations of the blogger (me!)

will not let me arrange them that way.

Some days things just don't work out the

way you had hoped.  And sometimes a 

bit of a 'shake up' is good for the

variety of life! 

The entire two pages will not fit onto

my scanner at once. Above you can see

how the pages fit together.  I am actually

rather pleased with the 'empty' space on

the left, (shown in the first image on the

 left) which allows the layers of papers

and colors to show through. It is so

 difficult for me not to fill up every

inch of space with images! Click on

any image for a closer look.

The days are getting cooler.

 I've been enjoying the gorgeous

blue skies and temperatures in the

70's and low 80's F. this week.

I remind myself to appreciate being

able to walk outside. It won't be long

before it will seem too cold. Perhaps

this will be the year I bundle up despite

the cold and walk outside in the winter.

Maybe. In the meantime, I love to 

see fall color emerging.  And I do

enjoy the Halloween season.

Stay tuned for some fun Halloween

projects and decorations next month!

♦  ◘  ♦

Listen To The Page

Do you listen to the page?

Minimal.

That's what  I  had in mind for an

Art Journal page.  But today it just

wasn't happening.  Probably because

the materials in front of me call out

to be used, reacted to. What was

laying out in my work space was scraps 

of complex doodles. Responding to the

shapes, colors, movement of lines,

texture of motifs and the spaces between

the shapes...one must listen to what the

page is telling you.  There is always

the next piece for minimal. 

Maybe.

Marblehead Lighthouse, Lake Erie, OH

There are also

drawings and collages in my 

Calendar/agenda.

Sometimes I make sketches about

what we did or where we went...

sometimes there is a general impression

of a hectic, chaotic day. Regular

 visitors to this blog know that I

have several journals in process

 at the same time.  How about you?

Above is a sneak peak of a tutorial

for an Art Journal page. I will

post it on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015.

Stop by for step-by-step instructions

on how I created the journal page!

Linking up with

Art Journal Every Day

over at Balzer Designs.

What makes a Good Day for you?

Tabs on Tuesday

I am still keeping up with the

The Documented Life Project~

I can't believe the year is nearly over!

Above, the challenge was to add Tabs

to the page. I used some scrapbook

papers and a Loteria  card to make flaps

with tabs.

Click on the image for a better view...

I did a bit of collage on the underside of the flaps,

and added my own handwriting on

 the watercolor paper beneath the flaps.

The spread beneath the tip in shown above...

additional collage with scrapbook paper,

another loteria card, and things I've drawn.

You can see the adhesive number showing

that this was for week 45.

The orange, tan and yellow collage was for the

challenge to include fabric on your page.

Stitching, counted cross stitch, and papers

are accented with chalk pastels.

Linking up to Elizabeth's blog for T Tuesday, 

with a re-post of a tea collage, and

the snow man mug...

We had our first accumulation of snow

this week, and it's bitter cold!  Well, at least

to me it is...maybe folks in Alaska or 

Minnesota would scoff at 10 degrees...

but my car won't start.  We are thinking 

a new battery is in order.

Hope you enjoy your tea or coffee today,

and stop by Elizabeth's blog.

Treacle Tart Recipe

When reading the Harry Potter stories,

I wondered what exactly Treacle Tart is.

Having looked for recipes on-line, it seems

to resemble our American pecan pie ~

without the pecans.  I've never made it,

but it's on my 'bucket list.'  I understand

you can substitute Karo syrup for the 

Golden's syrup, and there also seems

to be a debate about whether or not

a bit of molasses might be included.

In the U.S., some stores may carry the

Golden's syrup in the pancake syrup aisle.

An illustrated recipe page seemed like

fun, especially for Elizabeth's

T Tuesday link party...

I prefer a smiling Mr. Potter over

the darker, more troubled expressions...

and I think that baking up a recipe is

a lot like mixing up a magic potion!

Peddlers in the Park

Looks like the weather on Saturday should be

GORGEOUS...

so I am planning to set up a little table at 

Mt. Gilead State Park for

Peddlers in the Park, 

7am ~ 4pm.

Click on the page above for

more details.

I am going to have some hand made cards

and art work for sale...

some crafts...

Honey Bee Watercolor: 5"x7"

and miscellaneous items.

If you will be in the area,

stop by and see me. 

Have breakfast (for a donation)

hike around the lake, and take some photos.

Volunteers will also be serving lunch. 

I haven't been to this event before,

 but it should be a 

fun day, and the park is lovely!

For sure, I will bring my sketch book,

and maybe my Documented Life Project planner.

Always need to have a pen, some

paper, and watercolors at the ready!

ArT Journal Pages on T Tuesday

Week 30 of The Documented Life Project:

Make your page 'Smash Book style.'

I added bits and pieces of my week

into the collage, and scraps

of painted papers.

What do you do for fun?

I draw, paint, cut and paste in my journals!

I find it Therapeutic...

Joining Elizabeth of Altered Book Lover blog

for her T Tuesday link party.  Above, a detail

of a larger collage that incorporates  a green

tea package and a little sketch of a tea bag.

What do you do for summer fun?

•  ♦  •

Altered Bottles on T Tuesday

Altered jars that I created for gifts.

Materials used:

Burlap, lace, ribbon, buttons...

music paper, scrapbook paper, vintage paper,

shabby fabric roses that I made, 

charms or vintage-style keys,

 beads, twine, silk flowers, and 

basically whatever I could get my hands on!

Some of the lace borders I actually crocheted myself.

I used a white and cream color palette for a vintage look.

I put tea light candles in them, but you could

fill them with buttons, clothespins, thread spools, or

art supplies in your craft room.  They were fun to make

and no two were exactly alike.

Above, an art journal page

with a Degas quote and various

flower motifs. Sharpie pen and watercolor.

I am still depending on color to warm

me during this cold, snowy winter!

Enjoying my coffee with a bit

of cocoa powder on another

cold morning.  Minus 11 degrees F!

Linking up with Elizabeth's 

T Tuesday blog hop.  Hope you will visit

her to see what other artists are

doing this Tuesday!