Making Your Art Journal

HANDICRAFTS, DECORATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS. An ideabook can be many things: a keepsake; a work of art; a source of inspiration; a method of organisation; a collection of memories; a way to store recipes or patterns; a genealogical journal; a wedding planner or just a peek inside the chaos and creativity of our own mind! With Arne and Carlos's wit, style and trademark handcrafting genius to guide you, this book will show you how to make and enjoy your own ideabook. There is guidance on the materials and tools you need and detailed, step-by-step demonstrations showing you everything from sewing the pages together to gluing the spine and creating the cover. There are numerous examples of different types of ideabook, including Christmas, Children's, Cooking, Garden, Sewing and Travel Ideabooks, providing all the ideas and inspiration you need to make your own special keepsake.

Take a mixed-media journey to the very heart of your creativity! The Painted Art Journal opens doors to your most personal and authentic art yet. Tell your story as only you can, through a series of guided projects that culminate in a beautiful, autobiographical art journal worthy of passing along to future generations. Along the way, you will hone your own unique style of artful storytelling, filled with the images, colors and symbols that resonate most powerfully with you. Twenty-four inventive, step-by-step prompts help you to: • Set the scene for making art--from establishing rituals that unlock creativity to curating a personal storyboard. • Draw inspiration from photos, typography, sketches, childhood memories, quotes and more. • Shape your story with timelines, gathered-word poetry and simple approaches to portraits. • Express yourself through an exciting range of mixed-media techniques, using everything from pen and ink, markers and watercolor to image transfers, printmaking with linocuts, acrylic and collage. A book unlike any other, The Painted Art Journal is all about digging deeper, honoring your life, and coming away with a truer understanding of yourself and your art. "Each of our stories is so different, lovely and broken in its own way." --Jeanne Oliver

What would happen if The Unthinkable blindsided you, requiring everything be put on hold to become a full time caregiver for a loved one? At the very least, it would reshape your life. Without a survival guide, it could even destroy it.Barb Owen delivers precisely that survival guide in NORMAL Doesn "t Live Here Anymore: An Inspiring Story of Hope for Caregivers. She weaves a story, through the first two parts of the book, based on her life-changing experience as primary caregiver for her elderly parents. Following each chapter a bit of wisdom gained from Barb "s experience is summarized as a Reflection. The third part of NORMAL Doesn "t Live Here Anymore addresses the critical need for self-care for the new and seasoned caregiver alike. Specific suggestions abound for Me Time ”how to find it ”what to do with it ”and how very important it is for sustaining oneself throughout the often arduous caregiving-marathon. This truly inspiring book is one part parable, one part autobiography and all survival guide, illuminating a path for the more than 65 million caregiving Americans. SEverything hinges on your ability to care for both yourself and your loved one, says Owen. SThis maxim is of great consequence ”heed it, and you will endure. Dismiss it, and you will have trouble surviving. Take care of yourself, your loved one and keep the faith, because you "re not alone. ----- EXCERPT FROM: NORMAL Doesn "t Live Here Anymore - Chapter 21; The morning after I brought my 90-year-old Dad home from the hospital, Mom called me to say that he was not feeling at all well. My nagging intuition insisted that I visit Dad and spend some private time with him. Finding Dad awake and resting in his bed, I struggled to find my voice. Sitting beside him, I asked, SHow are you feeling this morning? SOh, I "m so-so, he sighed, as a tear rolled from his eye on to the pillow that cradled his head. SReally tired of all of this and worried about your mother. She "s having a hard time with everything. We stayed there in silence ”just being together for a few moments.Holding his hand, the heavy words finally left my mouth. SYou know, Dad, you can trust me to be sure that Mom is okay. I will take care of her, no matter what. He responded quietly, SI know. Studying and caressing my dad "s hand, I knew there was one more important conversation that the voice in my heart insisted upon. SDad, I know that this is getting to be really tough for you. If staying here becomes too hard, it "s okay to let go... During the following few weeks I watched my 89 year old Mom experience a renewed sense of purpose and increased strength as she doted on my dad and met his needs, as best she could. Some days were better than others. Most nights were difficult when Dad "s heart pain was significantly worse and his level of anxiety escalated. Often my mom would pass the hours by reading to Dad. Although her eyesight was clouding, she still managed to read the newspaper, column by column, or inspirational short stories she found in the stack of magazines beside their bed. Amazingly, dawn nearly always brought ease and comfort for them both. And so the nights and days continued ----- REFLECTION; Difficult subjects sometimes need to be discussed. You might be asked by others to deliver bad news ”news of someone "s death, a life-altering diagnosis, or even the necessity for a change in residence. Each conversation carries the potential for unleashed emotions. My advice? No matter how difficult or emotional, don "t leave words left unsaid. People, if capable of understanding, deserve information. Often, they are much stronger than we realize.Words are powerful. They carry courage, condemnation, reassurance or permission. Choose them wisely as your words may be the ones that bring freedom from pain or suffering. It "s tough, but I know you can do it and if you listen to that voice inside, you will know exactly the right time and the right words.Be Strong!

Art Journal Color! Art Journal Composition! Art Journal Freedom! Color is all around us and we often find ourselves drawn to particular combinations or arrangements. But how can you effectively and artistically capture those eye-catching compositions in your art journal? It's true, art journaling has no "rules" and is a safe place for free expression of your one-of-a-kind life. But knowledge is power and knowing the "rules" of color and composition gives you the freedom to use and break them willfully to create the effects you want. Dina shares these principles in a fun and approachable way with dozens upon dozens of unique journal pages to show you just some of the many possibilities. Inside You Will Find: • Lessons and tips about composition and color including dominance and repetition, symmetry, contrast and the power of black and white. • 10 step-by-step technique demonstrations. • Dozens of color and design tips and page challenges.

"With beautiful illustrations, The Art Journal Workshop breaks down the entire working process of journaling with step-by-step photos and instructions from start to finish"--Www.ebay.co.uk.

Kiss those excuses goodbye! "I don't have time." "I don't know what to journal about." "I can't keep the momentum going." Sound familiar? What are your excuses for not spending time with your art journal? Get ready to cast those excuses aside because Gina Rossi Armfield's No Excuses Art Journaling offers a no-fail approach to art journaling. Using a day planner as your art journal, you'll find daily, weekly and monthly prompts that you can adapt to fit your real-life, busy schedule. Along the way, you'll learn fun and convenient techniques to add sketching, watercolor painting, collage and more into your journal, all while setting goals, creating art and chronicling your unique life. Inside You'll Find: • More than 20 mixed-media art journaling techniques demonstrated step-by-step so you can add color, style and life ephemera to your journal. • 6 pages of journaling prompts and tips for every month of the year. • Dozens of inspirational art journal pages by Gina and 12 guest artists to show how you can make the No Excuses program decidedly yours. Grab your journal and pen, and kick your excuses to the curb!

Bring out your child’s creativity and imagination with more than 60 artful activities in this completely revised and updated edition Art making is a wonderful way for young children to tap into their imagination, deepen their creativity, and explore new materials, all while strengthening their fine motor skills and developing self-confidence. The Artful Parent has all the tools and information you need to encourage creative activities for ages one to eight. From setting up a studio space in your home to finding the best art materials for children, this book gives you all the information you need to get started. You’ll learn how to: * Pick the best materials for your child’s age and learn to make your very own * Prepare art activities to ease children through transitions, engage the most energetic of kids, entertain small groups, and more * Encourage artful living through everyday activities * Foster a love of creativity in your family

Turn everyday inspirations into one-of-a-kind art journals Art journaling is a fun way to collect and celebrate your creative thoughts and inspirations. Driven by the concept that we are all inspired in different ways, Alternative Art Journals shows how to create personal and unique journals. You will break free from the bound, white pages of the traditional sketchbook in favor of more customized formats and unconventional approaches. Will your journal take the form of a clothesline strung with images and ideas? A faux family album inspired by old, anonymous photos? A box filled with found treasures? Open this book and dive in to the free-flowing possibilities... Ten step-by-step demonstrations explore an exciting mix of techniques for crafting art journals in a variety of formats, ranging from scrolls and decks of cards to box assemblages and wearable charms Inventive prompts help get you started and inspire you to approach collecting your creativity in new ways A gallery of ideas for original art journal creations You will learn to incorporate art into your daily life and embark on a thrilling journey to self-expression. "An art journal is the private domain of an artist, where you can work out ideas, experiment with imagery, divulge personal truths...a garden in which you are planting the seeds of art." --pg. 6

It's true, isn't it? You have a burning desire to express yourself. But to be successful, confident and happy, you need to know yourself, your true self. That's where archetypes come in. An archetype is a symbolic representation of the repeated patterns of behavior that make you who you are, the driving forces behind your being. Maybe you're a Rebel or a Seeker? Maybe you are both. Or are you a Visionary? How about a Student? The better you know yourself, the stronger, more resonant and more authentic your art. And where else to practice expressing your newly discovered self than in an art journal--a place where you are free to create with no rules, no wrongs. Art journaling is a colorful, non-critical way to explore your archetypes. In this unique book, you will learn processes for discovering your core archetypes and using that knowledge to create highly personal visual expressions, all the while embracing the personal revelations and creative breakthroughs that result. • A fun 33-question quiz will help you discover and embrace your guiding archetypes. • Find out how 11 professional artists draw on their archetypes as inspiration for their art journal pages. • Follow along with 26 step-by-step demonstrations to learn how to use altered magazine images, layered stencils, Gelli Plate printing and other awesome mixed-media art techniques to enhance your art journal pages. No matter what your experience level, you will learn how to use your guiding archetypes as inspiration. Whatever your motivation for opening this book, you will discover a fun, creative path to gaining confidence, happiness and clarity in every aspect of your life.

Be inspired to use your stash of papers, mementos and accents to create something wonderful! You'll find over 120 valuable tips, ideas, samples, and instructions for creating your very own 'Smash It In' journals.