Mixed Media Art Journal Tutorial

Time To Get My Hands Dirty!

Since my last post about art journaling, I had the chance to get together again with one of my favorite people and Artists, JennyAnnArtist (www.jennyannartist.blogspot.com), who, like me, is trying to figure out this whole art journaling thing.  I found out that she, like myself, has trouble using sketchbooks or art journals to express ideas. She also finds it hard to work things out onto paper before hand.

For weeks we have been talking about creating an art journal.  We found that Alisa Burke created an awesome video tutorial on just this very subject! You should really check out her amazing video tutorials and artwork.  I've added her blog to my blog list. I know you're excited, so click on it! Her video tutorial was completely inspiring, so we decided it was high time that we sit down and make one. JennyAnnArtist also had some great techniques that she wanted to share with me on using mixed media gel medium. This was all new to me, so I was excited to get started.  

Supplies We Used:

• Hardback books  (Years ago I had collected several hardback books from the library that they were going to discard.  I snagged a few just for this very occasion!)
• Razor blade
• Acrylic paint
• Watercolor paint, pencils, crayons
• Gouache paint (like watercolor but opaque)
• Brushes in several sizes
• Cup with water
• Watercolor paper
• Scrapbook paper
• Liquitex Gel Medium
• Paper towels
• Stamps, stencils, doilies
• Brayer
• Gel pens
• Washy tape
• Ribbon
• Hammer & Nail
• Ruler
• Sharpies
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Tapestry needle
• Apron or Over-sized Tee 

I know this list of supplies looks intimidating, and you're probably saying to yourself, "Aren't art supplies expensive?" Well here's my suggestion for that.  I would head to your local craft or drugstore and take a look at their Crayola section.  They have a wide variety of paint and paper for sale.  I would also suggest looking at Hobby Lobby or Micheal's weekly add or 40% off coupon. They normally have great sales on their art supplies.  I hope this has helped the intimidation and anxiety subside.

To get started, we had to cut the covers off the hardback books with a razor blade.  Then, we painted both sides with acrylic paint.  While the paint was drying, we tore or cut scrapbook paper to add some visual texture to each cover.  We applied Liquitex gel medium to the back of the scrapbook paper, placed it on the cover like glue, and then added more to the top using our fingers. This helps the paper to lay flat and removes any bubbles or gaps.  Liquitex gel medium is quit messy, so be prepared to wash your hands a lot! We did not use a brush for this process because brush strokes will be left behind. Once the scrapbook paper was in place another light layer of paint was added.

Beginnings of Front Cover

Washy tape was used to add a title to the cover of my Art journal.  I used alphabet stamps with acrylic paint to create the letters. I felt the washy tape needed something extra, so I added a pattern around the edges. I recreated the pattern found in the large circles on the scrapbook paper using a Sharpie. White gel pens were added to the lettering and patterns to create contrast.

Adding Details to Front Cover

The white gel pens were also used to add extra detail to the front and back covers.

Adding White Detail to Front Cover

Adding White Detail to Back Cover

When the front and back covers were finished to my liking, it was time to add holes, so everything could be put together in the end.  I placed the ruler to the side of the front cover and added three dots with my black Sharpie.  This was where I was going to hammer a nail into each dot to create the holes needed to attach everything together.

Putting Dots For The Binding Holes

Find a flat surface and hammer away.  Make sure not to hammer to far, so that you won't put holes in your floors.  I think hammering outside on the sidewalk would be a better option, but when you're creating you neglect to think of such things.

Hammer Time!

Once the holes were made, I decided to add some sort of pattern to the inside of each cover. I painted acrylic paint using a brush to the bubble wrap and placed it onto the inside of the front and back cover.  Then I peeled the bubble wrap off to find a great polka dot pattern.

Bubble Wrap Printing

Ta Da!

I didn't want just a plain background for the inside cover, so I added some stenciling with acrylic paint and a heart doily. I placed the doily where I wanted it.  Then I used a tapping motion with my brush to create a stenciled effect.  The heart was then peeled off carefully, so that it wouldn't tear to pieces. Remember, wet paper is fragile paper!

Heart Doily Printing

Ta Da!

Now to prepare the paper for the inside of the art journal. The first two sheets of watercolor paper were printed with acrylic paint.  I used a brayer, bubble wrap, and watered down acrylic on both sides. When I was finished, I laid them out to dry.

Adding Acrylic Paint to Inner Pages

On to getting the rest of the paper ready.  There are loads of techniques that can be used with watercolor, such as, wet on wet, applying with brayer, and stencil to name a few.  

Getting Ready to Add Watercolor Inner Pages

Before we could put anything together, there was some finishing up to do, and laying everything out to dry.

Pages Drying

Once dried, gather all of your pages together, fold in the middle, and stack one on top of another like a book.

Preparing Pages to be Punched

Place front book cover on top of the folded pages.  Make sure to align edges of front cover to your pages.  Mark holes with a Sharpie.  Then create holes with a hole punch.

Heart Hole Punches Are the Best!

To bind my art journal together, I decided to use ribbon.  I cut my ribbon to length, threaded it through the tapestry needle, and pushed the ribbon through the holes with the needle. To finish I tied a knot at the end to keep my journal from falling apart. Trim the excess ribbon with scissors.  Voila, my first art journal is complete!

Ribbon Binding

And Done!

I have now found that art journals are a lot of fun and freeing to make.  There is not a lot of thought put into the process, especially when creating each inner page.  Things work out better when you don't put to much thought into it.  Now I have a great way to create smaller pieces of art while figuring out this whole art journal thing.  I would love to hear how you use and create your own art  journal.  If you have any other ideas about creating art journals, please leave a comment below.