Lil Journal Project Part 3

I am excited to tell you I am still keeping up with the Lil Journal Project!  Following the prompts from Ashley at LilBluBoo has really helped me stay stay faithful to my journal.  The change of seasons also inspires me greatly (as I'm sure it does you) so I've been journaling en plein air (in the open air) as much as possible.   

Here's a recap of this week's prompts:

On Monday we drew a map of a neighborhood (other than our own) that we remember from childhood.  I drew the neighborhood where both of my grandmothers and several aunts and uncles lived.  It was a magical place to me.

We made a list of our favorite childhood reads on Tuesday.  I revisited some of the books I still have and practiced drawing characters just as I did when I was a little girl.  It was a fun exercise.  The world would be a better place if we all read children's books instead of newspapers once in a while.

Wednesday was a day to collect little scraps of interesting paper to use as embellishments here and there in our journals.  I also used this day to finally decorate the cover of my journal.  My inspiration came from this:

which I turned into this!

I added a sari silk ribbon to keep my growing journal closed.  It is getting pretty hefty already!

I'm going to spend this weekend with my family back home and my journal is going with me.  I hope my mom will help me work on Thursday's prompt to make a family tree. 

This weekend's exercise is to draw something with our non-dominant hand...always a fun exercise.  Why don't you try it, too?  Let me know how it goes!  You don't have to post pictures ;-)

Have you checked out the site that sponsors the Lil Journal Project,  LittleBlueBoo.com?  This amazing blog is worth a look...lots of tutorials and inspiration.  Be sure to read Ashley Hackshaw's story....she is one talented, amazing, beautiful girl.  

Enjoy your weekend! 

New Journal Project!

I started a new art journal today following a tutorial posted some time back by Ashley at Lil Blue Boo.  She transforms everyday composition books into beautiful colletions of lists, images and all sorts of things worth remembering.  (See her tutorial here.)

I, of course, immediately veered away from the directions, skipping the cover and going straight to work on some pages.  (I promise to show you the cover when I get around to that part.)

I incorporated some burlap a friend gave me and definitely had to use some heavy duty adhesive for that.  Matte gel medium did the trick.  When in doubt always use gel medium for collage!

I hope that as the pages of this art journal begin to fill, I will branch out a bit...try new things. I'd like to try some stitching and more hand drawing and calligraphy in this journal.  Today, though, I felt like I was just "limbering up" since I haven't done any collage work in a while.  My, how I've missed it. 

Stay tuned...I'm really going to try to stay faithful to this project and I promise to post pics along the way.  There I said it...Now I'm committed!

***News Flash!!!!***  I just took a look at Lil Blue Boo and Ashley is posting daily journal prompts!  She's calling it the Lil Journal Project and it looks like fun.  It's great timing for me as I just started this journal today and really want to stretch.  If you post your pictures you can link up as well and guess what!?!  This weekend's prompt is to explore different handwriting and lettering styles.  (Did I not just say I want to do more calligraphy?)  Oh, I am so there!  (Check out this weekend's prompt here.)  Don't worry about it if you don't post your work...just have fun using the prompts to get those creative juices flowing!