How to create a life theme jourmal

Create a Life Theme Jourmal

15
STEPS
TOOLS

I love these journals.  Notice how it says "mixed media?"  That simply means it's really sturdy paper that can handle water, glue, permanent markers, etc.  Pick a size that won't overwhelm you.

I love these journals. Notice how it says "mixed media?" That simply means it's really sturdy paper that can handle water, glue, permanent markers, etc. Pick a size that won't overwhelm you.

Christen your journal with a mark on every page.  This should take away  the fear of the blank page

Christen your journal with a mark on every page. This should take away the fear of the blank page

Gather supplies and collage materials.  I'm constantly cutting things from magazines, greeting cards and old mail.

Gather supplies and collage materials. I'm constantly cutting things from magazines, greeting cards and old mail.

Try different techniques to cover pages with color.  This one I'm getting a texture rubbing by putting the paper on a chair and rubbing a crayon over it.

Try different techniques to cover pages with color. This one I'm getting a texture rubbing by putting the paper on a chair and rubbing a crayon over it.

The texture rubbing makes a great pattern and when I paint it with watercolors it resists the paint.

The texture rubbing makes a great pattern and when I paint it with watercolors it resists the paint.

Another way to add color is to use a strong cup of coffee or tea as your paint.

Another way to add color is to use a strong cup of coffee or tea as your paint.

Washable markers give you a variety of colors for the blank pages.

Washable markers give you a variety of colors for the blank pages.

They come beautiful blends when you stroke them with a wet brush.

They come beautiful blends when you stroke them with a wet brush.

Tempra and acrylic paints will give you more opaque coverage on the paper.

Tempra and acrylic paints will give you more opaque coverage on the paper.

Blending the primary colors (red, yellow and blue) will give you a wide variety of options. And sometimes "mud."

Blending the primary colors (red, yellow and blue) will give you a wide variety of options. And sometimes "mud."

Stamping patterns on the page can give you an interesting base too.  Washable markers come in handy here.

Stamping patterns on the page can give you an interesting base too. Washable markers come in handy here.

You'll now have a variety of pages ready to be filled with images, words, patterns and doodles.  The next few slides will show the process I use to work on a page.

You'll now have a variety of pages ready to be filled with images, words, patterns and doodles. The next few slides will show the process I use to work on a page.

Page full of color

Page full of color

Write lyrics to songs, lists, values, or some ideas on the pages with a sharpie.

Write lyrics to songs, lists, values, or some ideas on the pages with a sharpie.

I sorted through my lists of words and images deciding these pages were about looking at art creation.  I found a wide variety of facial features in my idea file.  I secured these with a gluestick.

I sorted through my lists of words and images deciding these pages were about looking at art creation. I found a wide variety of facial features in my idea file. I secured these with a gluestick.

I wanted to bring together the images so I sketched a semi circle around them.  It then became a sun - bright idea!

I wanted to bring together the images so I sketched a semi circle around them. It then became a sun - bright idea!

Another layer of watercolor enhanced the sun shape.  I love how the transparency lets words and images show through.

Another layer of watercolor enhanced the sun shape. I love how the transparency lets words and images show through.

Here's the finished pages.  I added a few more words and doodles using a fine point pen and a white out pen.   The next few slides show some more pages completed using this method.

Here's the finished pages. I added a few more words and doodles using a fine point pen and a white out pen. The next few slides show some more pages completed using this method.

My favorite song pages.  To prepare these pages I used acrylic paints (white, gold and silver).  I added collage, then wrote and doodled with a fine point sharpie. Lastly the crown stamp and glitter.

My favorite song pages. To prepare these pages I used acrylic paints (white, gold and silver). I added collage, then wrote and doodled with a fine point sharpie. Lastly the crown stamp and glitter.

Here I incorporated an Artist Trading Card on a page about the river.  Underneath the paint and collage is where I wrote a list of my favorite people and places.

Here I incorporated an Artist Trading Card on a page about the river. Underneath the paint and collage is where I wrote a list of my favorite people and places.

These are just playful, colorful collages using scraps from varous practice paintings.

These are just playful, colorful collages using scraps from varous practice paintings.

  • You don't need all of these supplies.
  • Gather what you have
  • Sketch book
  • pencils (color and regular)
  • markers (water based and permanent)
  • paints (watercolors, tempra, acrylic)
  • scissors, glue sticks, glue, matte medium
  • magazines and other images
  • assorted stamps and stamp pads
  • miscellaneous "stuff"