Experimental Journal

One of the great things about making something for yourself is being able to experiment,

not worrying about the results entirely.

I thought I'd make a cereal box and muslin journal and making all of 

the pages the same way to provide me with some sturdier canvasses.

I was experimenting with some spray on walnut inks and acrylic washes.

Some of my husband's ancestors are featured here~ The Haucks of Danville, Michigan

I had made up some gel transfers of some of my favorite photos.

They didn't adhere quite as nicely as I had hoped but I'm not feeling so picky about it since it's my own journal

 and it was an opportunity to learn what does and doesn't work for me.

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to add to this book.

 I'm thinking it will lend itself to paints more than anything else.

It was my intention for it to be wrinkly and distressed.

The muslin was attached to the cereal boxes with Wonder Under,

a  fabric fusing product.

Using the lace as a stencil came to me by accident when I was trying to tint a small piece 

 with walnut ink on my clothesline.

An edge had flopped over  making a nice design

 so I thought I'd do some subtle stenciling on my pages.

Going Out To See the World

Just getting my last things together for our trip to Spain, France and Morocco and suddenly I think of things like bringing business cards. Of course I don't have any of that nice perforated cardstock specifically for business cards on hand so some nice lightweight paper, hand cut will have to do.

Then at the last minute I realize that I haven't thought of a suitable journal to bring. These days I'm thinking a simple wirebound pad isn't good enough after all of the wonderful altered art journals I've been perusing lately.

I've been amassing many weathered tomes but most of them have content that's too good to write over and I'm thinking that one that's more blank will be better. I found a red vinyl covered accounting book that was just a bit too utilitarian looking. If I cut the vinyl off I'd have some nice cardboard pieces to embellish underneath. Unfortunately I cut too much off and the cardboard wanted to fall out. Then I had a choice between red or silver duct tape. So the book regained the red background again but with a tad more funky texture. I found a nice vintage page from a children's book to dress it up.

I know it's fairly simplistic for an art journal but it will do in a pinch. Hopefully the interior will flourish with my entries.

With my husband's new Eee PC that he got for Christmas I won't have to lug my laptop around and hope to be able to blog some on the trip. I should have lots to show and share.!