How to make a mini Halloween Book

Journal Page Sketchbook Wednesday Mrs. Staggs

Book on display

Paint some tags!

Cut out some images & paint some words!
Glue them down!

Stuff I used to make it:

Sketch book Wednesday with Mrs. Staggs

Mrs. Staggs requested a journal page with instructions for a craft. My friend and I are exchanging mini books this week so I thought this might be a good project for the page. Click on the photos to make them larger.

What I did:

The photos above are fairly self-explanatory. I started with plain old tags I bought an an office supply store years ago and painted them with acrylic paint. Bought scrunchies at a dollar store and took the ribbons off them, because I did not want to spend $$$ for Halloween ribbon on spools.

I used my own paintings/drawings/art and edited them smaller and cut them out for some of the art. I painted the background plaid paper with watercolors. I keep a box of box of painted papers on hand that I make then I have time. Sometime I hate to cut them up, though.

Think about the possibilities: you could make a book for any holiday this way. I wish I had made more than one. You could make birthday card books, sticker books for kids, and mini note pads (if you don't paint the interior pages). Still struggling to get good photos of the journal pages.

Update: all problems were resolved today with digital equipment. It took three hours and a visit from two repair people. So far so, good, everything working.

I have just inherited my husband's cold, so I am glad that my schedule is quiet for the rest of the week.

Hope you have a creative day!

Sketchbook Wednesday with Mrs. Staggs and some bears....

Mrs. Staggs mentioned using a jar for a prompt to inspire a journal page. We have a BIG old Planter's Peanuts jar where I have been throwing pennies for many years. I refer to it as my "rainy day fund" but I suspect that these coins will not take me far nowadays. I do love looking at the jar though. I have always had jars of joins in my life and this is not the only one I have here. Typical Yankee! This is the only "bear market" I am involved in.

Don't forget to click on the photos to make them bigger.

What I did:

I photographed some bears from my collection. One of them I posed in the jar. I printed out the photos on card stock , cut them out, and used them in the design. Right now I love clear glues which are quite cheap and do not cause buckling in paper. Added some embellishments like crepe paper and ribbon. I used brads to attach the page to my journal.

What I learned:

I still do not get good photos and I chose a journal that is so big I cannot get it into a scanner! My opinion is that the colors in this page are prettier in person than they are in a photo.

While I was working on this page, I actually finished another page for another week. I had made so much mess at that point, I figured that I would work while I had the supplies out.

Now I am off to Mrs. Stagg's blog to see the other work!

Starry Night, Sketchbook Wednesday with Mrs. Staggs

Last week Mrs. Staggs suggested that we make a page with the prompt "starry night." She also suggested we add an element of mystery.

Above is my page. It consists of an envelope with a book inside. At first glance it is not obvious there is a book inside. That is my mysterious element. However, there is a clue---I added some stars to the ribbon and yarns that are attached to the book.

As the book opens, it reveals daylight to a very dark starry night. It is not obvious that the book is about a starry night until the last page.

How I did it:

I painted the picture on the cover in watercolors on water color paper and scanned the painting.

I digitally altered the colors to create progressively darker images and printed them off. I cut away a square on the ages revealing a tiny star. The last page has glittered stars which are much more sparkly than this photo.

What I used:

a mailing envelope attached with brads to the journal

velvet and textured collage paper for covering the envelope

ribbon and yarn from my stash to embellish the book

digitally altered images from my original painting

What I learned:

It is more difficult to photograph pages than make them! It is impossible for me to capture glitter with my camera or scanner.

Meeting deadlines requires discipline. I used to meet deadlines every day of my life in the work force. Now I have trouble getting even small tasks done on time. This commitment to the journal is a journey in discipline for me.

Disclaimer:

I have been making paper art for decades. I went back to school to learn graphic design just before computer graphics became the gold standard. I learned how to cut and paste and do everything by hand....not too useful info today for graphic design. I love using my useless skills in useful ways!

To Mrs. Staggs:

Sometimes something clicks ...your sketchbook idea clicked for me. I have seen zillions of sketchbook challenges on line and had no desire to participate in any but yours. Mrs. Staggs you gently sparked my imagination. Thank you!

Mrs. Staggs gave an assignment for Sketchbook Wednesday:

The prompt for next Wednesday is, A Little Needlework, and your page should include at least one element that moves.

Well, I didn't get anything actually sketched but I used my own photos once again.

What moves? The needle and thread in the left hand corner and the narrow banners that say "sewing for Bleuette." They are attached with brads and can be swung into different positions. There is loose ribbon, fabric, and tatting as well and some of the elements are not fully adhered to the page.

Since I sew for my Bleuettes from time to time, they were a natural for a page in journal. I actually made the Bleuettes a sewing kit from a pattern that was on a doll list a few years ago and you can see it in the photo. That little heart quilt in the scan is a real doll quilt that I made with friends who exchanged heart squares and signed them for a friendship quilt.

I tried putting the page in the scanner this time since the light was not good for photos here today. The journal is slightly bigger than the scanner bed. It cut off part of the page top and bottom.

Maybe next week I can get some painting done for the pages. This past week was hectic. I finished the page this afternoon and am posting it now while I have the time.

Enjoy your day! Go forth and create....or do laundry which is where I am going next!

Mrs. Staggs is having some fun in Merryville. She has prompted a fun project for her readers using images or concepts to prompt her readers to create some journal pages. I am always up for paper projects and am a veteran of many altered books...BUT...I lack discipline and Mrs. Staggs has ignited the fire to get some pages done.

My notebook/journal is BIG--13x9--about the size of a baking pan. (I should also bake a cake but let's not go there..more projects and long weekend await me.) I cut up my own artwork and photos after printing then pasted and painted away to my heart's content.

She invited us to participate with a post card she created which said "meet me at the fair." I chose to use her post card on my page. Right now, the autumn harvest fairs are starting up in our area.

Maybe you will want to join us, too?

Enjoy your day...and create if you can!