Sigh...

I've been gessoing journal pages.  I find this a tedious process.  It takes up so much space, there is waiting, waiting, waiting for pages to dry before you can turn them to do the other side, and then the process repeats itself in a seemingly unending cycle.  Well, not unending, because eventually I can't stand it anymore and I stop.  I wish stuff would just gesso itself while I'm away at school.  Then I could come home and paint on it...

Here's the latest spread in my upcycled journal:

I kind of like it.

Seriously? ANOTHER Post?

Yes, well, I'm on a roll...
Thanks to Palma who has a list of places to find free tutorials, I discovered the amazing LK Ludwig, who has very generously posted a free tutorial on making "flip flap journals" right here .  I had so much fun making this and learned so much from her tutorial, that I hopped onto Amazon and bought three of her books.  Here are some pictures of my journal:

Yes, she shows you how to bind it together, too!

Know what it's made of?  Paint sample brochures that you get for free at Home Depot!

Above is the first spread that I've done.  Sorry that it's blurry -- I am not a very good photographer, and my phone probably isn't the best equipment for the job.  Are you intrigued?  Go check out LK's site!  You won't be sorry.

Upcycled Journal

Here is my first spread in my upcycled journal:

The "Top Secret" book is made from shipping tags glued to an accordion pleat.  This journal is made from an old National Geographic magazine, covered with a Trader Joe's paper bag and the endpapers are covered with newspaper.  I got the idea from Paula at Journal Artista who mentioned, in passing, the idea of making art journals from old magazines.  I loved the idea and just gave it a try because I couldn't find anything else about it online.  The fun thing about this spread is that it does indeed contain many secrets that I have written on the pages and under the embellishments, but they've been hidden by layers of paint!

New Classes for January

I thought I'd post my new schedule of classes, just in case any of you are in the neighborhood this month!

Sunday 1/8:  Altered Books - Puzzle Board Books, part 1
Using a variety of mixed media, students will alter board books which contain puzzles.  All materials supplied, however, if you have ephemera you would like to use, by all means bring it.  1-4 p.m. $35 

Sunday 1/15: Altered Books - Puzzle Board Books, part 2Using a variety of mixed media, students will continue/finish altering board books which contain puzzles.  All materials supplied, however, if you have ephemera you would like to use, by all means bring it.  1-4 p.m. $35

Sunday 1/22: Upcycled Art JournalHave you ever wanted to create an art journal, but felt intimidated by the blank page?  Fear no more, because we'll be making   these journals from old magazines.  This is the first in a series of workshops where you'll learn a variety of techniques using mixed media to create your own visual art journal.  All materials are supplied.  1-3 p.m. $25

Sunday 1/29:  Mixed Media Valentine
Use paper, paint, fiber and a variety of embellishments to create a one-of-a-kind tag card and slipcover "envelope".  All materials supplied.  1-3p.m. $25

Tuesday 1/17:  Mail Art:  Envelopes
Learn to make several kinds of envelopes of different shapes and sizes using a variety of media.  All materials supplied.  5:30-8:30 p.m.  $35

Tuesday 1/24:  Mail Art:  Postcards
Use a variety of mixed media techniques to make several different postcards.  All materials supplied.  5:30-8:30 p.m.  $35

Tuesday 1/31:  Mail Art:  Tiny Treasures - Inchies, ATCs, Tags and Bookmarks
Use a variety of mixed media techniques to make miniature works of art that you can send through the mail.  All materials supplied.  5:30-8:30 p.m.  $35

101 Things in 1001 Days

You know how everybody starts planning out their New Year's Resolutions right around now?  And how they're forgotten, ignored, swept under the couch with the dust bunnies by the second week of January?  Well, this year, I'm not doing that.  This year, I've made a list of 101 Things I Want to Accomplish in 1001 Days.  I learned about it from Lynda at The Holistic Knitter's Blog.  Seems there's a website, Day Zero Project where lots of other folks are creating their own lists of 101 things to do.  I like the idea so well that I'm creating a journal to keep track of it all.  I love this journal because I made it from old magazines that I bound together and covered with a Trader Joe's shopping bag.  Here are the first two pages:

Of course, after I began using it, I found things I didn't like (the spaces are too small, for one thing).  So now I'm revising the calendar pages into a two-page spread.  I'll add more pictures over time.  I'm also in the process of creating a page on this blog with my list of 101 Things, which I'll edit as I make progress on/complete items.  To be continued...