February 16, 2024 Janine O'Rourke

Art Journal Pages by LOUISE CROSBIE

You may (or may not) know that we are starting an art journal club at The Mad Scrapper. A place for those who have never done art journaling and for seasoned art journalists to come together with their journals and share ideas, techniques, styles etc and to just hang out in a creative way.

I was getting myself in the mood this weekend by doing a journal page (spread). My first in at least 3 months.

I got this great folder from Stamperia that I can fit my Stamperia journals in. It can take four. Which is great as I get through journals fast. I have a lot of different kinds, shapes, sizes, of journals so having ways of organising them is great. I can slip them out when I’m using them and back in when storing them.

Of course I can use the folder for other things. Even making a junk journal but as I have some Stamperia journals already, then I’m delighted with this.

I will decorate the folder at some point too.

So here is the first journal page I’ve made in 3 months.

I originally decided I’d keep it simple and quick. Just to kick off my creativity for 2024 as I’ve not done anything at all in my craft space since November.

However the best laid plans, and all that… 3 hours later it’s looking like this.

Not at all what I’d imagined and it got out of hand a few times. I just kept calm and kept playing around till it started to look acceptable to me.

I mostly used Lindy’s magicals to add the colour. And a white Lindy’s spray to mute it. But I started with Finnabair Gesso first to prepare my page for all the water I’d likely use.

I’ve also used a stencil, fabric tape, Finnabair resist canvas borders among other bits and bobs (like my new water colour pencils I got for my birthday).

It’s certainly not the colours one would associate with me I don’t think, but I quite like the ethereal, slightly magical quality it has. I’ve even added sequins and glitter for some sparkle.

At the end, I took a moment to reflect on the page and then I used a white pen to write a few “hidden phrases” that I connected with. I can see them if I tilt the page to the light. You might see some in the photos but it’s not easy. I love that the words are camouflaged.

I hope some of you can and will join us at the journal club. You’ll need to bring your journal and supplies (or buy some when you get here. I know I probably will lol).

The club will cost £5 each month to cover the use of the shop space, electricity, tea and coffee etc although there will be exceptions. Some months, we can have a class for those wanting to learn a specific technique or who want help with composition or ideas. Those classes will involve an additional charge to cover the cost of extra supplies needed which will be provided by the shop.