This page started for me with the “atomic” paper and a handful pf photos from a local antique store. This little boy, Tony, looked to be up to some mischief.
Evidently it was Saturday morning cartoon time and someone forgot to turn it on. 
I put together some found text to tell a little story after finding a couple other papers that seemed to fit that mid-century vibe.
Today, since it’s the first official day of summer, I thought I’d share a salute to summer journal page.
The page began as so many do with a piece of what I like to call mop-up paper. Basically copier/printer paper. I have tons of it in various colors that came in a lot of scrapbook supplies I acquired several years ago. Working in loose sheets allows me to use thinner substrate knowing that it will be adhered to an existing page in the final journal.
For background interest I glued book text in random places before covering the whole sheet with tissue paper. I love the texture tissue paper provides plus it softens the background.
I used gelatos to colorize, blending with a baby wipe.
After the background was settled, I chose a photo I had taken while on vacation a couple years ago. After resizing by tearing, I used my trusty sewing machine to stitch it into place. While I was at it I created a stacked fabric and paper collage embellishment for the top edge of the page.
Next it was time for the words…the oh so important and vital part for me. Warm in the summer jumped out at me. I layered the words over script stamped tissue and fabric. At this point I thought I was done, until I noticed a tiny pinwheel charm in my box of bits. It was the finishing touch that the page needed.
Won’t you join me for Words to live by on Art Journal Journey?
Last week I found this image I’d printed ages ago…I knew immediately that it would become a focal point in an upcoming journal page.
Since I’ve been using the term “mop up paper” quite often lately I thought I’d share a bit of a process post to give visuals to my words.
This is where my page started. A sheet of blue copy paper 8.5 x 11 inches. I used a glue stick to adhere it to some lightweight card stock.
After the glue was dry I cut it down to my desired size of 7 x 7 inches. Next I got out craft paints and used my favorite tool…my fingers…to spread several colors of paint over the page.
Some of the colors are more transparent than others allowing the original color and marks to show through.
Look at that yummy texture… I decided to let this air dry overnight instead of drying it with the heat gun.
Of course this is where my process failed…I totally forgot about the fact that I was taking photos step by step.
I used rubber stamps to create some background texture. The black ink harlequin was super subtle…I felt I needed a bit more color and shape. Since most of my stamp pads are pigment ink I used clear embossed powder to set the ink.
I also took the completed background to my sewing machine to stitch a funky border in black to contain everything.
Next I created some layers with paper and fabric to give an anchor to my image.
Last but not least was the words of wisdom to a little girl learning to tie shoes with her daddy’s shoes. I love that they are on the wrong feet too.
Not only am I linking up with Words to live by on Art Journal Journey guest hosted by yours truly….
but I am also linking up with Try it on Tuesday for Make a Mark.
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