Lost and Found

I finished up last week's Soul Journal prompt today; it was called Lost and Found. We were supposed to journal about things we had lost and things we had found in our life. I didn't follow it exactly; I wrote about how blessed I feel in spite of some losses. We were also supposed to take comments given to us and turn them into affirmations. I wrote some of the wonderful compliments I've been given on my blog about my work. These are written on the stamped leaf that is on the front of a folded piece of watercolor paper that I glued to my page. On the inside of that paper is the journaling, which is in the second picture. The top border is some ephemera that I collected, and along the bottom is a piece of tissue paper that I've saved for a long time from a purchase at Chico's (my favorite clothing store). I only used a small bit of it; I have a lot more for future projects.

Soul Journal

I joined the Soul Journal Yahoo Group recently, and our first prompt was called Instant Gratification. This had to do with creating a page quickly - using an image from a magazine, creating a title, and writing about the image. I'd been wanting to journal about our aquarium, so this was the perfect way to do that - my page is above.





The next prompt was to create a permission slip for ourselves. Above is my page; first showing the permission slip inside the envelope and then showing the permission slip itself. I'm working on another prompt now called Lost and Found - I'm not at a point to share yet, but it's a good one - it's making me think! If you're into art journaling, I recommend this group!

I'm going to a quilting retreat this weekend, and then I'll draw the winners and announce them here sometime Monday. And that post where I announce the winners will be my 400th post!

Fixing a Disaster - Part II

I wrote in my previous post about the disaster I had with two of the pages in my Soul Journal. Here is the second set of pages that I fixed. Pretty similar to the ruined pages, except I wasn't able to find the same pictures and quotes. For the most part that doesn't matter, but I do wish I could have found the "LIFE TAKES YOU PLACES" quote again - it came out of a catalog and the new catalog from the same company didn't have anything remotely similar. I guess I could have typed something up on the computer, but I wasn't sure whether the inks would run when putting on gel medium. So, it is what it is, and I'm happy with the results.

Soul Journaling - Fixing a Disaster

I had a disaster with two page spreads in my soul journal the other day. I purchased some Golden's Soft Gel Medium in the Soft Gloss to try it out, and I like it much better than either the Liquitex Glossy or the Golden's Matte. I had used the Liquitex Glossy on my taped page spread, and the pages were sticking together (which is what I had read was a problem with glossy gel medium). I decided to put a coat of my new gel medium over it to see if it would keep the pages from sticking together. I liked the way it looked so much that I then decided to use it on my squares page spread as well. I thought both page spreads were completely dry, but the next day, the pages stuck together so badly that I couldn't get them apart. And when I did, they were both ruined (paint from one side peeled off and stuck to the other side - that sort of thing). Anyway, I think it was because I had SO MANY layers on the pages, and maybe I didn't let them dry enough.

I had to figure out what to do about it. The two spreads were consecutive in the book, and I had artwork on the other sides of the pages too. I first thought I would cut out the page that was ruined on both sides and glue the other two pages together. I did cut out the ruined page, but when I tried gluing the other pages together, I could see that it wasn't going to work. So then I decided to take a fairly thin cardstock and glue it over the ruined pages and redo one of the spreads on it. It worked, and the result is above.

I still need to redo the taped page spread, which will be later in the book. I actually like my new squares page better than my original - I hope that will be true of the taped spread as well. I went to the travel agent a couple of days ago to get some new brochures for Greece. The pictures won't be the same, but the idea will be.

Soul Journaling Bookmark Swap

We're doing a bookmark swap in the soul journaling group. We were to make color copies of pages from our journal and collage them onto a bookmark. I'm pretty happy with how mine turned out - I didn't think I would be, but I am. The picture on the left is the front, the picture on the right is the back.

I bought a new jar of gel medium last week, and it has really made a big difference. My old jar was getting a bit too thick - it's pretty old. I know everyone says that Golden's is the best, but that was my old jar, and my new jar is Liquitex. It is also glossy, while my old was mat. Anyway, I don't know if it's just that the old jar was too old, or the difference in glossy vs. mat, or the different brands, but the new stuff is so much better!

Soul Journal Pages 5-6

While Sarah was away last week, she gave us a couple of homework assignments. One was to work on our tape page - without rules. So this is what I did with mine. The pictures and most of the words came from a travel brochure, and the rest of the words from a catalog. I used gloss gel medium both under and over the pictures - I just bought the gel medium yesterday, and I like it much better than my mat gel medium.

After it was dry, I wrote on the pages, and here is what I wrote: "For our 29th anniversary in 2006, Glen gave me a choice of several locations for us to celebrate our 30th anniversary. I chose Greece. Because of my struggle with migraines, we have decided to wait awhile. I think we'll go in the next couple of years."

Soul Journalers

I'm in the process of adding links to the other participants in the Soul Journal exercises I've been doing. The links are in the right-hand column under the heading Soul Journalers. I'm not finished yet, but I'm working on it. Check out the other artists' work if you have a chance - it's all so varied and wonderful.

If I've posted a link to your blog and you'd rather I didn't, please let me know and I'll remove it right away! But I think most bloggers appreciate having more people see their work.

Soul Journal Pages 9-13

I did these 3 page spreads from Sarah's days 16-18, where she provided a list of techniques we were to add to our pages each day, and the only requirement was that we mix up the order - we weren't "allowed" to do them in the order she had them listed.



So, for the first page spread, the techniques I used (in my order) were:
1. Cut out a silhouette of a person and ink or paint over it (she demoed her magazine stencil technique here).
2. Fill the page with descriptive adjectives (use a permanent pen).
3. Add a wash of paint.
4. Write your grocery list or any other list somewhere (use your non-dominant hand).
5. Dry-brush on some paint.
6. Drip and splatter at least two different colors of paint.
7. Make some quick lines, fast and without thinking.
8. Use pencil somewhere.
9. Add tape (I used Magic Mesh).



My list for the next page spread:
1. Trace the outline of your hand at least 6 times (use a permanent pen or paint).
2. Stitch with a needle and thread (I used my sewing machine).
3. Add some meaningful words.
4. Add a wash of a new color of paint.
5. Blob acrylic paint in your book and close it.
6. Paint with a fork dipped in paint (I wasn't too successful with this one, but I did it).
7. Fill up the page with numbers (draw, collage, or stamp).
8. Use a crayon somewhere.



My list for the last spread:
1. List everything you did today so far.
2. Write the alphabet quick and angry (use a permanent pen).
3. Add a wash of paint.
4. Add a dry brush of paint in a new color.
5. Use something unusual as a stamp (I used a lid from a milk bottle first and then some bubble wrap).
6. Gesso out a section of your work. Add something new over it.
7. Cut out a silhouette of a person's face, ink or paint over it (magazine stencil technique again).
8. Add something metal (I stapled on a piece of foil from Dove chocolate - I've been saving these).

These pages have been a lot of fun - I'm sure I'll be doing this kind of thing again. I love the layers and the spontaneity. At one point, I wasn't happy with the second spread, so I just kept adding to it until I liked it. I think the first one is my favorite.

Sarah's been away for a few days celebrating her anniversary, so that has given me the chance to get almost caught up. The page spread before these 3 isn't quite finished yet - I have my house and neighborhood done, but I haven't started on my paper doll family yet. You can see what I'm talking about on Sarah's blog - it's days 10 - 15.

Soul Journal Pages 5 & 6

I doubt if we're through with this page yet - I have the feeling it will be the background for something. But I don't know what yet - Sarah has gone on to other pages. That's ok. I like the way this looks. What I did was first I did some private journaling on the pages. Then I covered that up with various kinds of tape - I used masking, duct, electrical, and metallic repair tapes. Then I painted over that by adding paint, wiping off with paper towels, adding more paint, etc. Fun technique and great texture.

Soul Journal Pages 3 & 4

I'm continuing to work along with Sarah in my Soul Journal. For this 2 page spread, I painted the background with a dark blue paint. Then Sarah sent me on a scavenger hunt of sorts - I cut out pictures from magazines of 24 items. I didn't know what I was going to do with them when she posted the list. But I found out the next day that I was to cut those items into approximately 1" squares and glue them in my book. A few days later, I came back to these pages, when I added the light purple paint and the rest of the decorating with a pen. Even though I'm behind, I've been trying not to look ahead, so that it feels more like I'm doing this along with everyone else.

Soul Journal Page 2

I really had fun with this one. We were to write about the things we need to protect and nourish our creative spirit - the things that shield us from outside criticism and our own inner critic. I followed Sarah's lead and used a picture of a suit of armor for mine - I found my picture here.

Soul Journaling Page 1

I started a new journal a couple of days ago, working along with Sarah Whitmire. Here is my first page. This was a lot of fun to do. I'm using a Moleskine Sketchbook that is about 5" X 8".