Art Journaling

 Way back in November 2018, I started work on an art journal, made from cardboard packaging.  You can see how I got started here.

These were my first attempts.

I used paints, paper and stamps.  I enjoyed the process, but then somehow I lost interest and 'fell out of love' with my pages. 

I added more colour to them, but I just wasn't happy and I couldn't work out why.  They got left for a while.  In the meantime, I watched journaling videos on youtube and then, one day, I had a bit of a revelation.  Here's what clicked into place:

• This is my journal - it's up to me what I put in it.  I don't have to show it to anyone if I don't want to.  I'm not going to be marked on the finished work.
• Journaling is all about layers.  If I don't like a page, I can just cover it with paint and start again.  I realised that my pages just didn't have enough on them.
• Pages don't have to have a theme - they can just be about colour, shape, whatever I feel like.
• There are no rules.

Suddenly feeling enthused again, I picked up my paints, stencils, stamps, acrylic paint pens, glitter etc. and set to work.  Here's what some of the pages look like now:

 Much better!

 This face is one of my favourite stamps and this is one page which didn't change all that much.

 It was lovely to be actually using some of my enormous craft stash too.

 There is a lot of glitter and sparkle on these two pages, but the photo doesn't really pick it up.

I think the pages look so much more interesting now.

 I still might add a little something to this front page - I just haven't decided what yet!

 I do like the mass of colour and pattern on the right hand side.

I may add some more to this page too.

I have started another journal and here are the first two pages I have been working on, again using cardboard destined for recycling.  Not finished by any means, but I am pleased with how they are looking.
I think I am getting the hang of this now (and am loving it again!)
There is a good introduction to what art journaling is here.
I have signed up to an online workshop which is all about creating a directory of papercraft techniques.  I am really excited about this as it will encourage me to keep crafting and will lead to a great resource for card making and journaling.