Paper Craft Workshop

Art journal backgrounds are a wonderful way to set the tone for your pages — they give you a base to layer writing, collage, paint, and other mixed media. Every art journal page starts with a background. You can plan the colors and designs that you want to use or design as you go. There are so many mediums that you can use.  Acrylic paints Watercolors Distress inks Distress crayons Gelatos Other Materials For Art Journal Backgrounds There is an abundance of materials all around you to create backgrounds on your art journal pages Tissue paper Paper towels Lint softener sheets Pages from books Coffee filters Tea bag paper Paper scraps Start With A Gesso Base But before you start on your actual page design, you want to consider adding gesso to your pages. Think of gesso as a primer that also strengthens the pages in your journal. You can use a clear, black or white gesso to prime your pages. Using a foam brush will create an even base. You can also apply the gesso with a brayer ....

If you have some washi tape in your stash, you have a wonderful opportunity to add creativity to your art journal. Here are some ideas to get creative with your washi tape,  Basic Washi Tape Tips  There are just a few things to know and understand about washi tape that will help you enhance your art journal experience: We use a lot of different media on our art journal pages. Sometimes, the washi tape will not stick where we want it to. If that is the case for you, go ahead and add some white PVA glue to the back of your tape to get it to stick. You can also use a glue stick. If you are collaging, go ahead and use Mod Podge or other sealing mediums. It won't hurt your washi tape. Use collage glue or paint over it with clear gesso and it stays in place. Do not use scissors to cut it, rip it. It will create more texture and it’s easy to tear. Use Washi Tape To Create Some Texture You can create texture by adding bits of washi tape anywhere you need to add some dimension to your ...

Remember the composition books with the marbled covers that you used when you were in school? They are still around and lots of people use them to journal in. They have become popular as journals for all kinds of things. You could use them for doodling in, as a planner. as a daily diary. The notebook that I am journaling in has all kinds of information about Christmas. It has ideas, yearly information, who we celebrated with, and more. You can customize your book for your needs. After all, they are reasonably priced and perfect for beginners to start with. The best composition books to use are the ones with sewn pages. Open the book halfway through to see if you see stitches. Those are the ones that will hold up best.  The basic size in the larger version averages at 7.5" by 9.75. Depending on the manufacturer there may be a little variation in the size. There are also half sized composition notebooks. Another option is to cut the composition notebook to the size that you need. If...

 Collages For Junk And Art Journals You can create a collage from a picture in a magazine, book, or catalog, This is a wonderful recycling project that can be made mostly with things that you probably have on hand. One of the best places to find illustrations for your collages are old books or magazines that you can often find in thrift and second-hand stores. Not only can you use illustrations, but also writing and interesting papers. Mix your illustrations with scrap papers that you have saved.  Consider using washi tape as an embellishment to hold some images down.  This technique is so relaxing and enjoyable. With only a few supplies, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork. Create these pages with either magazine images or decorative napkins.  Make Sure You Have A Sturdy Canvas Before you get started with your collage, You want to make sure that you have a sturdy canvas to place your collage on. So consider the page that you have chosen. If the paper is ...

Art Journals are easy to create An art journal is a place where you get to express your thoughts, ideas, and feelings through any media that you want to use. It combines drawing, painting, collage, and even printmaking in different media as a visual diary. It is where you express your hopes, dreams, and goals visually. It helps you destress and focus. It gives you self-awareness and power over your emotions, It helps you clarify your everyday challenges. The basic platform for your art journal can be a sketchbook, a journal that you create, a notebook, or a book that you alter to create an art journal. Size matters. So if you like to work on a large surface, then a larger book is for you.  Make sure to select or create a journal that has a paper that will take a lot of weight in the media that you use. A mixed media paper is a great place to start. Sometimes these journals have a theme to them. Other times, they just are an expression or a cit of your daily life. Easy Art Journal I...