Tag Archives: art journal

art journaling, free

2017 free intuitive art exploration

2017-art-journalingBeginning on January 1, 2017, and then once a month,  I will post suggestions for my year long intuitive art journal journey. When you join this FREE art journaling exploration  you will receive prompts to delve deeply into yourself to release any blocks or stale emotions that hold your creativity back. Look at it as a journey of self discovery and fun!

I will send out PDFs  of inspirational thoughts and items that you can print, color, and add to your artwork.

I will offer one live webinar a month where I answer questions and give you suggestions for progress.

It will help you to create a strong habit of creativity. This will inspire you and help as you use creativity to solve any problems in life.

Through art journaling you can  charter depths that offer new insights and aha moments. You can also use the journal to map out your goals month to month. Your intuition KNOWS what your most authentic activities are and as you excavate and remove blocks you can find more clarity and more motivation to create a life that is more aligned with your inner core.

There is no pressure to perform. You can join or leave any time, but if you stick with the process you will create a new art habit that will enrich your life forever.

I would love to see your art work so please join Art Exploration with Maria Greene, my Facebook group. There will be plenty of support and you can ask questions as well.

high fives

Supply list:

Use what you have but these are helpful:

Old sturdy book to alter OR an art journaling book.

Acrylic paints or watercolors

brushes

markers of all kinds, permanent ink is best

collage materials as in old magazines and junk mail (fabric scraps.)

glue or media like Mod Podge.

fireinthebelly2

What you will learn:

Every month I will prompt some questions about where you are and what you’d like to experience (or feel next.) Your intuition will show you how  to proceed and through art you can gain more clarity and depth.  You will receive a journaling question or two and suggestions for materials to use, but you can choose which tools you want to use. My purpose is to help you bust through any blocks and find more joy in your art journaling practice.

Do not get hung up on the “pretty” aspect of art! You are an explorer.  As you work intuitively you may feel prompted to pick certain colors or objects that appear in your mind. They are all symbols for what is going on within.  So you will learn to read your symbols as you get more comfortable with the process.  You can’t do it wrong!

If you feel confused about the basics of art journaling you can find tons of helpful videos on YouTube to get started. But it’s not necessary to learn any techniques per se. Just cover the page with some paint to get started and then let your intuition guide you.

You will learn how to center yourself, let go, and let intuition lead you. The inner critic will be shown the door and told to never come back! 🙂 Unfortunately, the critic always comes back but I have a way to deal with that. It’s all about allowing more good and self love!

You will also receive one guided audio meditation every month.

Take part in this adventure! It is guaranteed to enrich your life.

To sign up for the emails  click HERE.

art, art journaling, inspirational, shrine, video

Paper shrines

Paper shrines are easy to make.  I use them in art journal spreads, and if the paper is sturdy enough, they can stand up and be used as a table shrine.

paper shrine
Paper shrine
paper shrine
closed paper shrine

The above shrine was made with heavy-duty watercolor paper. I added the doors and altered the paper. Lots of gold! It doesn’t show well in the picture. As an icon I used a picture from a guide book of the Louvre. He’s some Egyptian scribe. It doesn’t have to be a religious icon. Whatever you want to celebrate. You can make a shrine with your goals or passions / dreams, or an ode to Nature.

The possibilities are endless.

Here is another shrine I made from card stock.  Won;t make the art journal spread bulky when added.

shrine
shrine

I used a digital picture of Mary in this one, added a frame and gold paint. As bling I used some gilded and colorful border segments.

I made a video of the process and you can watch it HERE.

Have fun making your own shrine. 🙂

Creating is living well…

Maria

art journaling, creativity, ecourse, fabric painting

Make your own art journals, easy tutorials

There is a special feeling of satisfaction after you make your own art journals using your unique style. Art journaling will be less intimidating when you’re not faced with a book from the store filled with glaring white pages.

When you make your own, it becomes “friendly,” something you have gotten to know during the creative process and that you enjoy working in afterwards.

shabby chic art journal
shabby chic art journal

 

ledger art journal
ledger style art journal

 

altered books
altered books art journal

If you have questions about materials and procedure, I can help you.  In this e-course you will learn how to:

  • use fabric in your art journal
  • paint and dye fabric without fabric dyes
  • age paper
  • add fun details to your journal
  • use old books to alter using your own style
  • make mini journals that will fit in your purse
  • use tips and tricks to add your own touches
  • be creative with the materials you already have
  • inspire your creative process in general

To participate in this e-course you don’t need any particular artistic skills other than your hands and some art supplies. If you don’t have all on the list, use what you have.

We will make a shabby chic cloth-bound journal, a ledger style journal, and alter two picture books with unique pockets.

You will receive three detailed videos and a PDF for parts that I could not film.

To find out more GO HERE.

I would love for you to come and explore art journaling with me!

xo

Maria

art journaling, craft, creativity, giveaway, mixed media, tutorial, video

Giveaway!

8 Comments

I have a giveaway on my blog today.  It’s Day 29 of the 30 day blogging challenge and I have made it through so far. I’m celebrating by giving away this FUN ink blot art journal I made from a manila folder and some ink blot art. I made it today and figured it would be fun to give away. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind journal!

Here are some pictures and the video on how I made the journal. You can enter the giveaway or you can make your own journal. 🙂

ink blot art journal
handmade art journal
ink blot art journal
the back of the art journal
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ink blot page
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ink blot page

 

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ink blot page giveaway
ink blot page
more ink blots

An idea for you how the pages look. I added a bunch of blank card stock pages as well to fill out the journal. Here is the video how-to.

The winner was Jean Marmo. Congratulations!!! 🙂

art journaling, creativity, mixed media, tutorial

Art journal made from a manila folder.

I have a fun tutorial to share today on how to make an art journal with a manila folder cover.

The pictures are not the greatest, but I had only artificial light when I took them.  I wanted to show the step by step process.

Now for the tutorial…

 

old manila folder
I started with a used manila folder and blacked out the text on the tab.  I used a liberal amount of Mod-Podge to glue the folder together, being careful that the edges stuck well.  I still ended up with some air bubbles once it dried.  Grrr.
 
I used a strip of washi tape over the uneven edges and glued down some white cardboard to reinforce the tab.  I made sure to lay down a strip of glue to hold down the washi tape forever, lol.
 
I folded the manila folder in half, using a bone folder to really press down the crease hard once the Mod-Podge had dried.  This was before the washi tape obviously…
 
I cut the white cardboard to the shape of the tab and now had a very sturdy tab.
 
I now laid the folder flat on my table and spread out a layer of paint…
 
I spread some paint on the back of the folder.  I like the shabby uneven look.
 
I used several layers of paint, mostly spread with an old gift card.  Both sides are similar, just a slight difference in the colors.
 
I painted the tab purple and wrote the words “Good Dreams” on it.  I stamped the front cover with the word Imagine, and there is plenty of space for embellishment.  The back cover has only paint on it, so there is plenty of room for creativity.
 
I cut out some paper stars to cover the air bubbles on the inside cover and stamped some inspirational words.

 

 
I used card stock paper for the signature.  There are 24 empty pages to embellish when all is said and done. They are a bit narrow, but that’s the shape of the folder. Card stock is not as durable as watercolor paper, but you can certainly use wet medium and paints on it. I used card stock in various colors.

 

 
I tried to get a picture of the various papers, but it didn’t turn out great.  There are two sheets of green, two yellow, and two manila colored.  I thought it was fun to add varied colors.

 

 
The inside front cover adjoins a green paper…

 

 
And another close up of the back inside cover.  The picture is pinkish, and I blame my camera for that.
What do you think? I really enjoyed the project and I can’t wait to embellish the pages.  It’s a good size for traveling too.
What are you working on now?
xo
Maria
P.S. I have some journals for sale in my etsy shop. CLICK HERE.
art journaling, declutter, life, motivational, nature, transformation

Life is fleeting.

I had a reminder yesterday that life is fleeting. We tend to forget and think we are eternal. I believe we are, but this particular 3D existence can end at ANY time.

I lost a friend to sudden death yesterday and my own ignorance slapped me in the face.  She was in her prime, happy and healthy, and bam! Gone.

It is shocking. Sometimes it takes a shock to shake me out of everyday complacency.  It got me thinking and re-evaluating what is important.

  • Appreciate life every day, or every moment if possible.
  • Don’t hold on to grudges or petty grievances.
  • Forgive those who have wronged you. Not speaking to people or having to be right only prolongs suffering (usually for the one holding the grudge.) FORGIVE and move on! It doesn’t mean you have to be friends with those who hurt you.
  • Pray every day even if you don’t believe in a higher power.
  • Do what you love or life is wasted.
  • Don’t stay at a job you hate.
  • Find beauty around you and appreciate it.
  • Love yourself and be at peace with the whole of who you are, warts and all.
  • Finish things once started.
  • Allow yourself to be the best you can be.
  • You CAN’T take your junk with you. De-clutter and donate. Don’t leave a mess for others.
  • Honor nature and as you do, you honor yourself since every molecule of you is part of nature. Spend some time in nature every day and breathe.
  • Laugh and pet animals as often as possible. Dance with children.
  • Don’t put off until tomorrow. Do that thing now.
  • Listen to others, truly listen.
  • Make art.
  • Grow things.
  • Go with the flow. Change is good, and change is the only constant. Don’t fight it.
  • Excuses begone!
  • Take charge of your happiness and don’t play the BLAME GAME with others. You will always lose when you do that.
  • Be responsible for your shit and be truthful to yourself about your shortcomings. When you are, they seem to disappear.
  • Last but not least: Listen to your intuition. If you don’t know how, find out how to do it.

A friendly reminder to myself… if it fits, apply some of these. Forgiveness is maybe the biggest one.

I made an art journal page about transition.  It was a sad day yesterday and I had weird dreams. Today, the sun is shining again (as if nothing ever happened.) In a sense, that is eternity.

DSCN2159
Life is fleeting.

xo

Maria

P.S. If you haven’t signed up for my free newsletter you can do so at the top right hand corner of this page.  Lots of good stuff!