Ephemera

Video: Making Focal Images

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I am always looking for something new to share with you. When I am working in my journal I tend to start my pages the same way-except in Monday’s video where I changed it up and worked backwards to front. I also find myself searching for focal images. Things I can place front and center of some colorful background.

Magazine images are always fun for this. You can alter them and change them up completely but today I thought it would be fun to make some simple focal images from scratch.

I wanted the images to be interesting on their own but neutral enough that they would work with a lot of pages and also allow for alterations to fit the page I am working on.

I started out with a house. I still draw houses like I did when I was 6. I have tried to change it up but for some reason-this is a house to me. So I just went with it and added some collage for the windows and doors.

Next up was a heart. I love hearts. Whenever I don’t know what to add to a spread-I add a heart and it never goes wrong. I drew out a quick heart and then filled it up with some of the gelli prints I made and some of the pages from one of my digital kits.

Then I sketched out a tree. Did I mention I draw trees the same as I did when I was 6? They used to stand next to the houses. Now I have stopped adding a straight out stick with a swing hanging from it but you know, it just might come back when added to a journal page.

I collaged the trunk with my trusty old dictionary paper and the leaves were using the same digital kit. I attached this all down with gel matte medium (affiliate link to a similar one I used. Mine is a heavy body).

Next up I drew a star and filled it in with collage. I loved the texture and variation the collage added to these very simple images. This star was filled in with a page from this digital kit of mine.

I then went back and added some water to activate the watercolor pencils and the NeoColor II’s (affiliate link) I used on the house. Lastly I sketched out a simple flower using my Stabilo pencil (affiliate link). I filled the flower in with the pink paper from the same kit before I dried everything with my heat gun and cut them out.

I just want to say how much fun these were to make. I am already thinking of other ideas and things I can make in this same style and I have already used one of them in a project. I hope you have fun and give these a try. If you do please let me know!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

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Video: DIY Journal Charms

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Another happy Monday to you.

I had planned on sharing this video last week for my Wednesday video but I just couldn’t seem to get it done. I worked on the charms and tried to record the video but I kept running out of time. Rather than fret about it I just let it go and planned on sharing it with you today. I hope it’s worth the wait!

I have to say that these charms were so much fun to make. You know I love using materials I can find in my recycling bin or floating around on my desk and this project uses both. You can use some fancy punches to cut out your shapes or, if you don’t have any, you can make them how I do in the video and just trace and cut.

I started out tracing a circle using a cap from my tempera paint stick. I traced 3 circles, cut them out then glued them together. I painted the front and back, added a few collage elements from a magazine and some tissue paper and finished up with a tiny focal image. I repeated the same steps to make a rectangle and heart shaped charm.

I used Mod Podge Glossy to attach my elements and it also works as a sealer but you could add an additional sealer over top once all your elements dry if you wanted to.

Then I just punched a small hole and added thread and some charm pins. I think these would look really cute dangling in bunches from the end of a handmade journal. If you don’t have a hole punch you could also punch a hole using your pokey tool. I would punch each layer of cardboard prior to gluing them together and then just line up the holes when you glue it all down.

I hope you enjoy today’s video. If you make any of these charms please do let me know-you know how I love to see what you make!

That’s all for today-wishing you a lovely start to your week!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Secret Door Jumbo Journal Tag

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It was a beautiful spring day yesterday. And today, in full spring fashion-it rained. Still, the beautiful weather yesterday, my daffodils and hyacinths being in bloom all inspired me to make some spring themed tags. Initially I was going to share how I made some of my small tags but I made them in a similar fashion to all my collage pieces. Then I had an idea of making a secret door in a tag. And not just any tag-a Jumbo Journal Tag.

The tags are so fun to make and you don’t need any special tools or punches. You can cut up paper to whatever size you want, cut an angle on one side and use that piece as a template to cut the other angle and then decorate however you like. My tag was traced from a tag I had printed from the Illustrated Faith Armor of God Mini Book Kit but it’s approximately 7.5″ x 4.5″ I am using items from my stash to decorate-namely my Lollipop Box Club kits which are always so bright and happy-perfect for spring!

The door can be any shape you like but I chose to add some of my smaller tags to make the door a bit more secret. I hope you enjoy this video and if you decide to make some Jumbo Journal Tags please let me know!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Music by Little Boots – Silver Balloons – https://thmatc.co/?l=54B37541

Video: Making Pockets for Our Teeny Mini Journals

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Today I made some teeny pockets to go with my teeny mini journals.

I have to say that these are so much fun to make and not just because I am delving down the world of miniatures. I love using up my scraps as I have said on here a lot and I really love making bits and pieces to add to my journals.

These pockets are really easy to make! I used some book pages I have on hand to make mine but regular copy paper or scrapbook paper would work just as well. I think using our DIY collage papers would be a fun element to add as well. You could use brown paper packaging or bags, old greetings cards, spent wrapping paper, junk mail-really there is no limit.

The construction of these is simple and the fun really comes in when you start decorating. I hope you have fun making these and be sure to comment and let me know if you make some! If you share photos you can tag me on Instagram as well!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Making Teeny Mini Journals/Hidden Journaling/Ephemera

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I have minis on the mind.

If you read Thursdays blog post you know that I am delving into the world of miniatures. I think on some level my new dollhouse project has inspired these mini journals I am sharing with you today.

If you are an art journaler you may at times want to have a place where you can journal out some feelings or thoughts but hide them so they aren’t at the front and center of your page. It could be to keep these thoughts private or just to offer another place for the viewer to peak around in.

Regardless, tags and flip outs are great way to do this but I was inspired to try something different-enter the teeny mini journal.

If you have scraps and bits you would like to use up this is a great project for that! The size of the journals can be completely customized to the scraps you have on hand and if you just made a journal, all those little bits on your desk can find a home. Whether you make a tiny mini journal to go with your brand new larger journal or some tags or paper clips I just love creative ways to use up all my little bits and pieces.

I made my journals by sewing the pages together but you definitely can use a stapler to attach them. Old magazine pages, book pages, bits of trim and a button here and there were the main supplies I used to add some interest. The first book I decorated all the pages and the second two I left open for some secret journaling.

I hope you enjoy the video and if you make some teeny mini books-please do comment below and let me know!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

VIDEO: Altered Paper Clips & Paper Tabs: Using up Scraps and Making Simple Ephemera

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Hi everyone! I hope your week is going well. For me? I am playing on a very messy desk with lots of little bits of paper and string and I have a glue stick.

In short-my week is going great 🙂

Have I mentioned recently how much I love collage? (Yes, I know, I say it almost every time I visit with you!) The truth is though, I really love it! I also love using up my scraps, my collection of old magazines, book pages and all the other little bits and pieces us creative types can gather up.

In today’s play session I am sharing my version of making paper tabs and altered paper clips. These are such a fun and unique way to add elements to your journals and they are so customizable you can pretty much use anything you have.

I started off with some colorful magazine images but you could use junk mail, construction paper-whatever you have. That was my base and then I started adding some bits here and bits there of scraps, stamped words, book pages and ribbon. It’s similar to the way I made the paper clusters I shared with you on Monday.

The altered paper clips work pretty much the same way but I glued a paper clip in the middle and then glued the flaps together to hold it all in place. The altered paper clips are a fun way to make the page you are working on, a favorite image or just to add a little something to your art journals.

I always encourage you to use whatever you have on hand and never feel like you need to buy anything you see me using so if you don’t have a supply I’m using I offer options in the video but please feel free to comment and if you are stuck and I’ll see if I can offer some options.

I would love to see what you make too! If you have a creative type blog please do share the link below when you comment-I am always looking for more creative blogs to follow 🙂

Well that’s all I have for today! I’ll be back tomorrow with another Museum of Me blog post!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante