Tonight’s project was extraordinarily fun…and totally unplanned. I had another artistic journey I had planned to take. However, as often happens, a shift occurred, due to an invitation from Inspiration to play in a different way.
Inspiration can come to me in the form of a visual download, which is exatly what happened this evening. From nowhere, seemingly, I began to get images popping rapidly into my head: brown craft paper, an inspirational quote, colorful cut outs, the newly arrived J Peterman Catalog, the travel publications…and my art journal. Ah! My art journal. Putting those clues together, I knew where Inspiration was leading me. Would I play? Of course!
I have enjoyed an art journal that I created, using a technique called altered books. You can read about art journaling HERE.
I removed the book’s original cover. Tonight I would create a new one, decorating it to suit my current journey, using collage. Collage work has been a favorite activity this year, and I feel like I’m just getting warmed up.
Here are the simple steps to creating a new cover:
I used the original book cover as a template to cut out a new cover from plain brown craft paper.
The new cover is a blank canvas, ready for my artistic touches.
I created the front cover first, using cut outs around a favorite quote that I hand wrote. All pieces were glued down. The word “beautiful” reminds me to fill my soul with beauty every day.
I used the back flap to tell my travel story for this year. I’ll add a cut out of an airplane or a world globe or luggage to the empty space at the bottom.
The front flap was embellished, and I love the play on words, with a cut out from the J Peterman Catalog, that just arrived in the mail today. Not only do I love the little black dress, with its off the shoulder look, I love the name of the dress, Some Innocent Embellishment, and the description. I cut out a section of the descriptive copy.
The dress makes me think of classiness, and the feminine mystique, and the healing journey I am on. I am inspired to own that dress!
I have left the back cover of my art journal blank, for now. I have some creative ideas for it that are in development. I had SO much fun creating this art journal cover, thinking about upcoming travel opportunities and creative projects, and feeling truly inspired as I played. I am grateful for the tap on the shoulder from Inspiration and the invitation to engage.
In fact, the project was so satisfying that as I finished, the evening felt complete. I almost forgot to write about it. When playing captures my attention to such an extent that all else fades away, that is a good thing. That means I’m in the moment, fully present with myself and my project, and experiencing deep joy.
Want to play? Oh yes, thank you, yes I do.
