Joy Journal Project - Assignment 3

For the last several months, I have been participating in The Joy Journal Project. August has been a hard month for me -- physically, emotionally, spiritually . . . so I wasn't sure I would get this entry done. However, after a good chat with my husband about why I need to create art (with him giving me the reasons, me questioning the value at this point in my life!), I used a free afternoon to do this spread, which was to include the use of a silhouette. I started the spread without any clear direction because the assignment was to reflect on myself as a child and myself now, and I just didn't know where to go with that. As I was creating random layers (starting with maps of places I have lived over the years), I heard a lyric in a song, "the girl with the dream in her eyes." That reminded me of something one of my teachers had inscribed in a book he'd given me at the end of the school year: "To Paula, with the sunshine of hope in her eyes." (I found the book on my shelf just to make sure I remembered correctly!)  The recollection actually made me cry in light of how desperately I've been hanging onto Hope this past year, and how people have commented on how my hopeful spirit has blessed them. It was humbling and encouraging and altogether uplifting to know that the Sonshine of Hope can still be seen in my eyes. 

So my teacher's words directed the rest of my spread. The profile picture was taken just after my cancer diagnosis last fall, and the picture from which I cropped my eyes was taken the same day. A wee bit of photo editing gave me the variations in the eye images. I think they're kinda cool. The unedited ones in the top left corner remind me of my eyes as a child when I see them without my face. (Funny that ;)

The gold-glittered silhouette, I decided, represents my spirit. I didn't plan it that way -- but that's how it turned out in my mind. (The word in the black box that I squared off from the text papers I used says "resurrection"! ;)

I chose to also include the profile from which the silhouette was made (I just traced around it), but I wanted to use a mix of the plain photograph (back of my head, earring, left shoulder) with a painted picture (below), so I just painted the rest of the photo with acrylics. (Doing that makes me feel like a skilled artist cuz that's pretty much what I looked like when the photo was taken ;) 

Butterflies make me think of new life and hope, so they seemed like appropriate embellishments to finish the spread (along with some black splatter to tie everything together ;)

I think this is one of my favourite journal spreads so far. I was slow getting started with it because I wasn't sure what to do, but once I got started, things began to fall together and I really enjoyed the process, though it really did tucker me out! LOL (I like to work start to finish in one sitting as much as possible.) 

Now for next month's challenge, which will be posted on Sunday. If you think you'd like to join in, don't hesitate to jump in! (At my rate, I likely won't have it done until it's almost October! But it doesn't matter, does it?!)

Joy Journal Project: Quiet

The theme for the second assignment of the Joy Journal Project was a spread about "Quiet." 

 For some reason, The 23rd Psalm has been resonating in my head, so I thought I would incorporate it into my journal as the main text. The background collage paper is also a page about Jesus calming the tempest. I thought that was appropriate, so I highlighted some of the words that popped out at me from that story.

I wanted to incorporate a painted lady in my spread, and finally settled on having her resting in the green pastures by a quiet tree (no birds, no rustling leaves). 

I started this spread at home, and then jammed my journal into my portable art kit. Alas, the pages stuck together and tore the paint off in some places. Instead of lamenting this and calling it all "ruined," I decided to embrace the imperfections as all part of the process.  I even took some sand paper and added some distressed sections, as well as smoothed out the torn parts. Whatever, right?

This art journaling thing is quite a learning process. I sometimes start with a certain vision, and get frustrated when I can't realize it the way I would like to do. But I'm realizing that my art journals are really just a place to play and learn and grow. The final product is not what's important. If I like it -- great! If not -- what does it matter?


I thought I wanted to do more with this page, but at this point, I'm not sure what I would do. So, for now it is "done." Perhaps I'll come back to it some day. But for now I'm ready to move on.

Joy Journal Project

For years now, I've been collecting books and reading blogs about art journaling -- but I've never actually started an art journal that documents my life in some way. This past year, I've also spent a lot of time thinking about joy, and recognizing the link between joy and gratitude. When I came upon Amanda Jolley's Joy Journal Project the other week, I realized it presented the perfect opportunity for me to start art journaling with a purpose. And because it's a once-a-month class, it seems manageable for me. If I get behind -- it will be easy enough to catch up.


The first assignment was to journal about someone that brings joy to our lives. Since my husband and I will be celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary next month, and since he still lights up my life -- I chose to journal about him. After gessoing the page, I started by free-writing about how wonderful he is. That all got covered in paint -- but it got the creative juices flowing -- and I know it's under there! Outside of layers of paint, ink, and metallic crayon, I simply used a couple of photos and a bit of scrapbooking paper (the numbers -- which are representative of days and years of joy together) and added some text. 

I love the idea of altering books, so I chose this library discard as my Joy Journal base. It's thin enough that it's not intimidating -- but it has enough room for about a year's worth of monthly journal spreads. I plan to alter the cover, of course -- but I'm not sure how I will go about that yet.

Have you ever tried art journaling? What are your favourite tools and techniques? How do you find it differs from regular journaling?

New Art Journal

I've almost filled my drawing book, and since I purchased two when I started using Carla Sonheim's Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists, I decided to get ahead and decorate the cover so it's ready for use. 

I love the leathery texture of layered tissue paper, so I started by gluing pieces of old sewing patterns (nice, natural coloured tissue) onto the front cover, scrunching the pieces as I went to create texture. Then I layered chocolate brown, ochre yellow, and metallic gold acrylic paints, lifting some off here and there with some more tissue paper. To protect it all, I layered more glue on top (glossy ModgePodge). Glittered letter stickers and a piece of my old art attached with some leopard tape finished it off. I thought of adding more elements, but I want it to remain flat, so I decided to leave it at that -- at least for now :)


I've discovered that I can't use a journal or workbook as it is; I need to decorate it and personalize it.


Is there anything you need to "make your own" before you feel comfortable using it?  

Altered Food Journal

I've recently been inspired to create a food journal to keep track of all the things I put in my body that will affect my health. As you might know, I can't bear to leave a journal all bare and unadorned. So, I rummaged through my stash and found a discard from an old project to use as my base. A few stickers, some rub-ons, a Sharpie -- and voila! 


(Oh, and by the way -- it's sitting on top of our household journal -- which I'm really liking, though we don't use all the sections as well as we could.)

That's about the extent of my creativity of late. I'm hoping to get back into a groove, but have been trying to just be instead of always doing. However, I have also felt some resistance to making art or writing or blogging. I'm not sure what that's about.  It felt good to decorate this little journal, so maybe I need to feed those good feelings by making a concerted effort to spend more time being creative. Hmmmm . . . there's a thought. 


Do you do anything to keep track of your health and well-being?


What do you do to get yourself out of a creative slump?

Eleventh Hour Gift - Can You Guess What It Is?

One more sleep -- less than eight hours until we leave for the airport -- and I just finished Jeanci's handmade gift. (We're taking school supplies and clothes and things for the household, too.) Of course, it's another altered journal and tote. What can I say? I think I'm in a rut ;)


Anyway, I wanted to make her something pretty, something befitting a princess, since she IS a daughter of the King. My thought is that the tote will hold any precious things she might acquire throughout her days (perhaps our letters?), and the journal will be a place for her to record her prayers or dreams or hopes for the future. I know it's not very "practical" -- but sometimes a girl wants a little impracticality, right?


I hope she likes it . . .


I used foil tape with sparkly stickers to personalize it a bit. It doesn't conform to my usual collage creativity, but this was the inspiration that came as I worked, so that's what I did. I added some jewels for a bit of bling :)

Unlike other journals I've done, this time I borrowed my daughter's idea and covered the spine by making slits in the fabric for the binding. Because I'm too lazy to measure exactly, it meant the fabric didn't lie flat on the covers -- but I like the texture created by the ripples:)

I used a glue stick to adhere the fabric to the journal, so I added more foil tape just for security -- and a little more shine:

I made the tote with matching fabric:

It just has a simple white lining:

Now then -- are you remembering to pray for us???? :)

Love to Leave By -- Another Altered Journal

A sweet friend of mine is moving clear across the continent and to another country very soon, and I wanted to  give her a little "love" to leave by -- some little token to remind her that her friendship has meant (and continues to mean) something to me. There wasn't a lot of time between plans being made and fulfilled -- but using some previously-made art, I managed to do a quick alter of a journal to accompany a great book that continues to enrich my soul:

How do you bid farewell to friends? How do you send them off lovingly without saying, "Goodbye"?

My New Poetry/Prayer Journal

I mentioned a while ago that I actually filled up my other prayer/poetry journal and had already begun writing in a  new one. Well, the other day I took time (notice I didn't say "found time" -- I took it, with intentional force -- from the mountain of laundry that still calls my name!) to alter my new journal and make it uniquely mine.

First, here is the tip of the mountain -- consisting of the lost and found from two schools,  contents of which, once washed, will make their way to the children of San Salvador, El Salvador (the rest is in the hall outside the laundry room!):

Here is my new journal as I bought it:

I love that it has a magnetic closure flap and a plastic pocket page at the front to hold my Inspired to Action and church prayer calendars -- and a holder for my pen:

Here is the end result of mixing and matching scrapbooking paper (it has a glittery gleam to it that doesn't photograph well), pages from an old book, recent art work, a key verse, stamps, and a few embellishments -- oh, and the fabric from an old, well-loved dress that will never fit me again (that's a pledge, not a lament!):

Here's the back. I love the rich colours and velvety texture of the fabric:

And here is the rest of the dress, with which I think I will make a matching tote bag for all my daily devotional reading/writing books and paraphernalia:

What old things have become new for you lately?

What common, new things have you made uniquely yours?

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Journal Updates

Back around Mother's Day, I described a household journal that I created from an altered book. Well, we've been using it, but it hasn't really been working for us because the binder rings that I put through the covers and papers were too bulky and unstable, and it was hard to get pages in and out or even turn them easily.

So, the other night I had a brain wave . . .

I removed the rings I'd originally used and dismantled an old 3-ring binder. Then, genius that I am, I simply glued the binder spine onto the spine of my altered book cover. Voila!

I glued on a few decorative stars to cover the holes I had previously made:

And  I added a few more tabs to divide the book into sections:

I also sliced our calendar down the middle and hole punched it (it had previously been in a booklet form inserted with a magazine holder -- but it didn't lie flat and always slipped around, which was annoying). Now it is much more functional :)

And in other journal news -- I actually finished -- as in filled up -- the journal that I altered last year. LAST YEAR! As in one year ago. That's a record for me!!!Usually I have the best of intentions, but those intentions fade in the reality of life, and I restart the journals with years between the entries. But I have soooooooo been enjoying my prayer/poetry journal! I have another one all ready to alter (I've even started writing in it!) -- and I think I'm going to make another bag to match it (this time a little bigger so I can fit all my reading and writing materials in).

Next I want to think about another art journal  . . .

How have you been using journals lately? Any fun or creative uses?

El Salvador -- Open Hearts and Open Books - Altered Journals

My husband and I have long dreamed of taking each of our children on a parent-child missions trip in their early teen years. Outside of the obviously valuable opportunity to serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus to people in need, we've seen it as a potentially important opportunity for spiritual and emotional growth, as well as a fabulous bonding experience. 

We had looked for such an opportunity when our oldest daughter was turning 13. However, nothing seemed to "fit" -- either because of her age or the needs of the mission.  But then our church announced an inter-generational trip to El Salvador in August of 2011. Just as a door in my heart seemed to fly open when I heard of my daughter's conception, a door flew open when I heard of this opportunity. I just knew it was something God was going to make happen for us!

Why would a trip to El Salvador be the one? Let me tell you some of the clinching factors . . .

When DD13 was 7, she saw some World Vision commercials asking for child sponsorships. They grabbed her heart; she wanted to sponsor a child. That same year, she started earning some money caring for a neighbour's dog at lunch time. What did she want to do with her earnings? She wanted to sponsor a child! And that's when her relationship with Jeanci began via Compassion Canada. They have written to each other for going on 7 years now.

Where does Jeanci live, you ask? Yup -- El Salvador! Is it likely that we'll be able to meet her when we go? YES!!!!! It's a very real possibility!!!!

Perhaps most poignant was Jeanci's last letter, written around Christmas time (before we knew of the missions trip) but not received until the week we learned of the trip! (It sometimes takes months to have letters translated and delivered.) The second last sentence of her letter said, "I would like you to come visit me." She had never said that before! (Nor had we ever suggested it, not even dreaming it might be a possibility!)

It looks like God is answering her prayer as well as ours -- with the same event! How cool is that?!?!?!

So, DD13 and I have excitedly been attending preparation meetings for this trip. One of the requirements is that we each begin bringing a journal to our meetings, and that we commit to spending at least a half an hour journalling every night while we're in El Salvador. (Oh, you know I LOVE such requirements!!!!!!) The very next day I went to the dollar store and purchased some new journals. They were pretty as they were, but I thought it would be extra special for DD13 and I to spend some time together altering them for their specific purpose. 

Here is DD13's before we began:

She decided to keep hers simple, though it took her a while to attach all those eyelets . . .

And she wanted to put the pictures on the inside.

This was mine before we started. (I do like it as it was!)

This was my planning photo -- so I wouldn't forget where I had placed things as I secured them:

Of course, I wanted to incorporate colour and texture (things I'm fond of these days!) and I also included words and images that were significant to me in the context of the missions trip. (For example, the picture of DD13 and me was taken while we were on an impromptu detour to New York City -- an excursion so out of my comfort zone but so much fun for both of us! It's a symbol to me of our adventures together, as this trip to El Salvador will also be! Of course, the other little girl in the pictures is Jeanci -- very close in age to DD13 though she doesn't look it.)

Here is the final result:

I wanted to divide my journal into different sections, so I cut up some old library index card dividers and made my own tabs. You may have noticed from other posts that I'm rather fond of that leopard skin tape!

And I can still enjoy the original prettiness of the journal on the back:

I've already transferred all my other loose notes to my journal. I love it! It's going to be a wonderful reminder of our journey . . .

Has God been answering any prayers in your life lately? How are you documenting that?