Happy 2007! This year, this column will be focusing on all aspects of altered art, not just books. We have a lot to talk about, so let’s get started!
I have always loved composition books best of all the school and office supplies. Imagine my joy when I saw how popular they are with artists and papercrafters! Back in high school, when I was a lonely, brooding teen, I found that I could carry around a composition book along with the rest of my schoolbooks and nobody would know that the thing I was writing in was actually my journal. Since then, I have always used composition books for journaling. They’re so comforting and there’s something more permanent about them with their sewn spines, unlike those fly-by-night spiral notebooks!
Every year, I select one brand new composition book and that becomes my daily book for the year. I use it mostly to rant and rave when I need to, as well as a holding place for daily ephemera. I don’t write or do art in it every day, but by the end of the year, I have a pretty good record of what’s transpired in my life.
Usually, I leave the cover blank and add to it as the year progresses. Here’s a shot of what the cover of my journal looked like in November of 2006. What I love about this technique is that the cover really reflects what’s inside, because I collage on items as I find them and as they happen.
This year I decided to try something new by doing a bit of collage work ahead of time. I tried to choose images and ideas that will help me focus on what I want to accomplish in the new year. I collected some stamps, scraps, cancelled postage and other bits and bobs I had around the studio to create this cover. Here’s how I made it.
Step 1: Cover composition book with handmade paper. I like this kind of paper for covering books because it’s more forgiving and easier to bend around the corners. Use gel medium to glue the paper to the book. Miter the corners as shown in the photo to help get a clean look. When you are finished covering the book, protect it with waxed paper and place it under a few heavy books while it dries.
Step 2: Stamp images onto dressmaker tissue with waterproof ink. I love using any kind of tissue or old dress patterns when I want a stamped image on a collage. This ensures you get a good clean crisp impression with your stamp. Be sure you use waterproof ink so it won’t smear when you collage it onto your cover.
Step 3: Wrap discarded book pages around the spine of the book and glue them down. Begin collaging all of your scraps and ephemera and the stamped-tissue images on the book. Punch out shapes from discarded book pages and collage those as well. I’ve left my cover unfinished because I’m going to add to it as the year goes on.
Step 4: Start filling up your journal! I like to save the inside covers for ongoing collage work like I do with the covers. I earmark the first page to notate my hopes and goals for the year. The first 12 spreads after that are for monthly goal tracking. Below is a photo of half of one of those spreads (the other side is personal!).
Tips:
- I generally don’t use many three-dimensional elements on my covers since I like to keep my journal in my purse and write in it whenever I have a spare moment. I’ve even had resin stickers become pried off by the other junk in my purse.
- Don’t forget the back cover! Collage to your heart’s content!
- Keep a basket of supplies near your relaxation chair. When you’re watching tv at night, you’ll have the basics at your fingertips for recording your day. You don’t need much more than a glue stick, a pen and some markers. You’ll learn what your must-have journaling tools are as you spend more time with your journal.
- Your journal doesn’t have to contain earth-shattering revelations. Think about how nice it would have been to get inside the head of your crazy great-grandmother. What did she do on an average day? What did she buy at the market? Those are the kinds of things you can itemize in your journal when you can’t think of something to say.
To give you some ideas, here’s a selection of journal spreads from my 2006 composition book:
I started out the year with good intentions of writing at least one thing, however minute, every day, and began dating the pages using my stamps and stickers. I always add in my birthday cards and other notes and mail I get. This does make your book rather thick, so think about tearing out some pages, leaving about one inch from the spine intact, and gluing your cards to these remaining “tabs.” I like staying somewhat chronological, so when I found a concert ticket stub after I’d already filled these pages, I used tape to put in the ticket so it’s a little flap covering my words.
I cut out some of the wrapping paper from my birthday and used it on the page I did on that day. I also tried out some new stamps from Time To Stamp and SunSpirit Studio here.
I’ve also found that my journal makes a great place to try out new stamps when I buy them. I tend to grab a few stamps and a rainbow pad and play in my journal while I watch tv. Stamping this way can be very meditative and can give you ideas on different ways to use the stamps.
On this spread, I did a lot of doodling and wordplay...I listed as many words as I could beginning with “w” and with “un-“. I also amused myself by cutting images out of junk mail and putting little hats on everyone.
More new stamps! I loved how the little circle stamps (company unknown) made perfect little bubbles for the goldfish.
When I went to Phoenix for Art Unraveled, I saved every single piece of paper I could get my hands on. I wanted to remember everything, but didn’t have nearly enough time (or energy) to write it all out. A few pieces of ephemera can jog your memories better than words sometimes! The snack wrapper from the plane is attached with tape so it’s a little flap and you can lift it to see what’s underneath. I wrote in quick reminders about the business card and other items.
This quote tickled me and served as a vehicle for a bad drawing and playtime with my Twinkling H20s. A great way to use up the last few letters in your sets of stickers, too!
This last spread is one of my favorites. I doodled little “roses” and wavy lines with Stampin’ Up markers in random colors until the page was filled. I cut out a phrase from some junk mail and an image from a mail-order catalog and voila! Instant collage!
There’s an old wives’ tale my grandma used to tell me: Whatever you do on New Year’s Day, you’ll do a lot of in the coming year. If you want to journal more, sit down with your composition book right now and get started! Happy New Year!
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