Let's Journal! Part V {end}

There really isn't any right or wrong way to journal. Did you guess I was going to say that? I hope that by reading these last 4 days of lessons, you have come to the realization that in journaling, anything goes. There are no specific techniques to collage or paint. There are only things you can interpret to make your own. Making your journal "your own" is my favorite part of journaling.

In the Color Binge (Did you name your journal? For some reason I sat idle for a few days until I came up with a name for my journal. Color Binge seemed to fit as this volume was intended for exploration with paint.), I experimented with journaling daily occurences, poetry, song lyrics and me talking to myself when times got tough. I felt most comfortable writing inspirational messages and advice to myself and as I look back through what is an almost 120 page journal now, I find myself really enjoying reading those pages.

The most common denominator in my journal is that I like to make lines to write upon and I mostly print. No particular reason why, I just like the look of that combination. On some of my pages, the text takes up the entire page, and on other, there are only a few words. Some of the pages do not feature any writing at all; they merely feature printed text cut out from a book or printed on the computer. On a couple of pages, I stamped the text, another favorite that is growing on me.

click to enlarge photo (for Paula)

So, after all of the steps and all of the photos, this is my finished page. I hesitate to say 'finished' because a few weeks from now when I flip through the book again, I may add some more of something somewhere. I love the liberating feeling I get from working in this book. No rules to follow, nobody to listen to...only my heart.

How did you make out? I hope you enjoyed these tutorials! I had a great time (although time consuming and pressure ridden) writing them! I would love to hear about your experience with any of the steps and journaling in general! As I write the final post in this series, the Color Binge is nearing its full capacity and I am on the hunt for journal #2!

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Seth for giving me this award. Seth is the blog owner/author of the most fantastic and supportive altered art blog around! If you have not visited The Altered Page yet, do yourself a favor and click over and say hello today!

Furthermore, thank you to my friends Zorana, Kathy, Karen, Kim and Tami for linking to the tutorials from your blog. You guys are the best ever, and get the "Excellent Award" too!

Finally to all of the new friends I met during the tutorials (this is starting to sound like the Academy Awards...I hear the walk-off music playing now), I am so happy that you came by to visit! When you finish with your journal pages, please be sure to let me know! Post your pages on your blog so I can feature them over here for everyone to see! And by the way, I think you're ALL Excellent!

Thanks for coming along for the ride! I hope to see you again soon!

Tutorials take a lot of time and energy to make! If you enjoyed this tutorial and would like to make a donation to the artist, please click here:

Comments

[Kim H]

This tutorial has been just an amazing experience. I have learned some much from you. I have hated and loved my page in the process. You have inspired me to start an art journal! Thank you so much for sharing all your wisdom.

[Fiona]

Enjoyed it very much even thought I've not finished the process yet. Patterned which, which I never normally use, has been glued down, apinted over and is almost dry. Onto the next stage!

[Carletta]

I have so enjoyed this week with you. I have been wanting to do a journal since I began blogging and had even bought some of the supplies. I don't remember where I linked from, but it was so worth it. This weekend I will begin. Thanks so much!

[Heather Grow]

Thanks for a great tutorial. It's great to have all the info in one place.

[Bridgette]

hi! Just wanted to stop in and thank you for visiting my blog and for your comment. I'm always happy to find other visual journalers. I had a hard time starting my visual journal entries when I first started. These tutorials will be a great help to beginners and non-beginners!

Glad to have met you, will definitely be back!

[LinLin]

Bravo! Bravo! Well done! Thank you, this has been great fun and informative. I love the page I created following your tutorial. After some last minute touches, I will post it on my blog and of course link back to you. I also love The Altered Page.

[Carmen]

The finished page looks great, and so much different than how it started. I've enjoyed reading your blog this week and soaking up the information! I can't wait to see what you do next!

Thank you!

[Victoria (mizamigo)]

Thank you so much for the tutorial this week. I have enjoyed it and learned so much. I guess the best part of learning is that now I believe I can do it and create a journal for myself. And I can stop being so critical of my pages. I just need to "work" them until I like them. Thank you!

[Mary Schweitzer]

Hi there,
I found your wonderful blog from woman in Holland who reads mt blog and mentioned that she reads yours everyday. I can see why. Great work, very inspirational!
Mary

[Lisa]

I just sat down tonight and read all your tutorials. I love what you did. Your directions were very clear and your supply list was great. Thanks for what you did. I'm looking forward to reading more. I am still getting my brushes wet but looking at your examples I know I can do it.

[Sharon]

Hi,

I just found your blog through Dieverdog's Art Blog and love your tutorial. My limited journaling has been a combination of techniques from Teesha Moore, Suzi-Blu with a bit of soul collage thrown in. It will be fun to apply your techniques as well. I'm painting walls today and you have put me in the mood to go daub some of this paint into my journal. Thanks!

[stephanie]

Julie,
wow...this was just the best, the journal tutorial. I really appreciate! the time you took and everything you shared here!!!

fabulous!
x...x

[Sue McG]

Very cool as always - love the step by step walk through a journal process, thanks for sharing your tips!

[Janny]

Thank you so much for the tutorial of the Journal. I love it and want to try to make one;o)

[forcryeye]

You are so awesome...thank you for remembering me and letting me see my fave journal page close up and personal!!! I would like to hang it on my wall. xoxoxoxo

[Lisa Renea]

WOW! This tut is excellent! I surely wish I'd seen it a week ago! Some of the best advice I've ever had was "do not be afraid of layers"
your tutorial has affirmed this! I can't tell you how often I've stared at your pages wondering how the heck did ya do that? Thanks for the tips and secrets with the rest of us!!

[Mixed Media Martyr]

I just read your tutorial - it is fantastic! I love your style and it was brilliant to have a glimpse of how you do your pages. I desperately want to include some stencil work on my pages - they just add so much to it. Thanks!

[wendy m.]

Oh, wow, this tutorial was just fabulous ~ thank you so much!! I found your blog after finally getting around to looking through my Art Journaling magazine, and have enjoyed working my way backwards in time on your blog. Your artwork and journal pages are simply wonderful!

[Billie]

Hi Julie

Thanks for an excellent tutorial series. I have been art journaling for 7 days now and I love it. Inspired by Suzi Blu, you and Stampington Art Journal magazine I finally started my own journal. It is the most liberating art experience ever.

I am comfortable making these kind of backgrounds in dye based inks and just trying to see what to do with acrylics, so the colours are more stable.

Thanks for a great series, I have linked to your blog on mine so everyone else can find you too.

Best wishes

Billie

[Julie Prichard]

Thank you for this comment, Billie- it means a lot to me that people are
enjoying this tutorial!

Xo
Julie