Collecting and Collaging **Art Slam**

This week, I want you to start collecting things to put on your journal pages. What kinds of things? Anything. Seriously. The more unusual, the better. I have a lot of crap left over from scrapbooking kits with things I will never use on a page because they are not my style or I just don’t like them. Well, that stuff is perfect for art journals. You can alter it, paint it or whatever. Granted, scrapbooking stuff is not that unusual. A lot of it is sickening sweet and gets on my nerves.

So, to funk up my journals, I add everyday stuff to it. Have you looked at some of the hangtags on clothing lately? I am surprised at stores that take the time to distress a tag, emboss them or make it look like jean material. Seriously, some of these tags are mini works of art. Use these suckers. If it were not illegal, I would go into stores and rip all the tags I like off of clothes just so I could use them. Also, sticking to everyday stuff, I plan on using my parking pass on one of my pages. It has an interesting illustration of Cincinnati and the ballpark I work at on it. Keep your lunch receipts…they make great background wallpaper. Plus, what better way to record how much money you spend eating out everyday.

Another think I like to use is office supply stuff, such as tags, those simple circle stickers and labels. Let us not forget the hardware store. When was the last time you looked at the paint swatches. I have created mini books with nothing but paint swatches. They are plentiful and free. While at the hardware store, let us not forget wallpaper samples. OH! I am getting excited just thinking about all the free crap out there!

Now, some of you have been sending me emails about not having time to do this OR how you suck because you have no pages painted OR how awful you feel because you don’t know what to do.

SHUT UP!

Did I not say this was suppose to be fun and not stressful? Did I not say do this at your own pace? For those who don’t think they have the time, my I suggest the bathroom…we are all human and have to sit down from time to time…take your journal with you there and actually write in it or glue stuff down. While you are watching TV…stick stuff in your journal. I do this a lot. Take it with you to work and do it on your lunch. Who cares what you are doing. Just do it.

Until you start making time for things that are important to you, you will always have an excuse for why you can’t be creative. It is as simple as that.

So, have fun collecting and collaging. Also, this is a chance to cover the pages you think are ugly and don’t be afraid to paint over the things you collage with.