Painted Pages

VIDEO: DIY Collage Pages

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I had some really fun play time in the studio this weekend.

I was inspired by this video to make some more collage pages. If you have been around here for a bit you know that I really love collage. There is something about gluing down bits of paper that I just find therapeutic. I am always on the search for materials to add to my pages and since it’s been a while since I made my own I thought it would be fun to bring you along while I do.

Do you love collage? If so grab some computer paper, your favorite (or least used mediums) and play along!

I used all sort of mediums so this project is really flexible-use what you have on hand. It’s a great way to play with new materials as well as using up some materials that maybe you have hanging around.

I started out with acryllics and watercolor pencils and then just started adding spray inks, Karin markers and more. I had so much fun! In my first session I made about 10 sheets and then in the second session I made around 12 more pages and added another layer to the first group.

If you want to have some creative time but maybe you aren’t sure what to create practices like this are always a great place to start. You don’t have to plan or think anything out and I find that after making some pages I suddenly have more inspiration and ideas for other projects. It’s a great warm up!

I hope you enjoy the video and if you decide to play along be sure to comment and let me know how your pages come out!

Until next time!

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Facing the Blank Page: Getting Started Art Journaling

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I was thinking about ideas to share with you today. I wanted to offer something unique and different but one of my most popular videos was about breaking in a new art journal and it reminded me that we can all use some inspiration.

I still sit down at my journal and think, “now what?” Sure some days creativity pours forth and I have lots of ideas but other days I just feel stuck. I may not like anything I am making or it might all blend together into a muddy mess. Days like these can make showing up at our journal again feel a bit like work.

Whatever the reason, it can be challenging to know where to start when you are looking at a blank journal page and I wanted to share a few ideas on how I get started.

One of the simplest ways for me is to use a journal that isn’t blank. If you watched my Word of the Year journal video you saw that I made some painted pages for my journal. This is so much fun because when you sit down to work you already have color and texture-some of the work is already done for you.

Another way I like to start out is to write out whatever I am thinking or feeling. It could be worries, gratitude, or song lyrics. You can just scribble on the page to give yourself a starting point-something so it’s no longer blank. If you are really feeling stuck-maybe you are worried about messing the page up-then I would say take a marker and scribble. Intentionally mess it up and then you have an opportunity to fix a mistake.

Paint is one of my favorite ways to get started. I love to cover a page with my favorite color. I start off messy using a card or scrapper tool and then add a few of my favorite paint colors. I almost always follow this up with collage. Not because it’s the right way but because I absolutely love collage. I find that putting down some color, collage and then random scribbles helps my brain to start seeing pictures. That’s usually when the page starts to take shape.

Another thing I just love about collage is that if I make mud or just a huge mess in general-I can cover it up with cut up images and glue. There is always a fix for a page-even it’s to cover it up or gluing 2 page together and pretending they were never there!

In this video I am going to share just a few little ways to get yourself started when you are facing a blank page. If you have a brand new journal that you have been nervous about breaking in-why not grab it, 2 or 3 of your favorite materials in your favorite colors, a magazine, junk mail or an old book, some glue-and let’s have a play. I used a heat tool to dry in between layers but cut it out to save time on the video. If you have any questions about the materials I used please comment below.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by Saint Stephen – 50’s Milkshake – https://thmatc.co/?l=352EAE2D

Video: Making Collage Papers Together

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I am excited to share another create with me session. I am planning to make these, or some version of them weekly and next week I am planning on sharing an art journaling practice with you. This week I am making some more painted papers that I plan to use in collage.

If you want to get creative but maybe you don’t know exactly what to make, painted pages can be so much fun! If you don’t like collage and think you don’t have a use for painted pages you can do the same thing in your art journal to get ride of white space and then create over top of them.

Some other uses for painted pages:

  • Homemade wrapping paper: You could use a roll of kraft paper to make marks and paint splatters or even copier paper to wrap smaller presents.
  • Fold them into homemade gifts bags
  • Homemade gift tags
  • Turn them into envelopes for happy mail
  • Use sturdier paper and then bind them together to make a journal
  • Cut the paper down to make homemade greeting cards or postcards.
  • Use as backgrounds for photos in memory keeping
  • Cut them up and use them in your planner
  • Make tabs for your planner or journals
  • Use in your Rainbow Glue Book

The possibilities are really endless! If you have some ideas please share in the comments-and be sure to link your blog so I can stop by and say hello!

In addition to making painted pages I am having a chat about an upcoming popcorn journal video, Bob Ross and making mud.

Mentioned in the Video:

Last Week’s Create with Me:

Jennibellie’s Video on Making a Journal from a Cereal Box

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante