Matchbook Art Journal: Life Experiences

Though I’ve not posted in a little while, as before, a quiet period online often hides a frenetic few days in the studio. Crafting took a small back step last week as a party loomed and the house had to be cleaned and beds prepared, and clobber hidden away from the seventy or so guests! This week I’ve been working on a couple of differently styled art journals, and this is the first to be ready to share.

Inspired by an article in this month’s Art Journaling magazine by Stampington, I’ve created my own matchbook journal (3×3″) with six pages. Unfortunately the supplier listed has discontinued the matchbook used in the article, so of course that didn’t deter me and I created and cut my own using my Silhouette Cameo. I’m going to add more quotes and cuttings as I find suitable ones, but you get the idea from the first page.

I also want to share the development process a little – often you don’t get to see what the ‘experts” first attempts look like. Of course they always show the polished results of practice and successful prototyping. My initial plan was to monoprint each page using my Gelli plate, so went about adding pattern and paint to my plate in layers, aiming to stick it to my pages and peel off a perfect background. It wasn’t to be:

The colours were washed out, didn’t transfer well and really didn’t do the job I wanted. I rather think I need to get acquainted with my Gelli plates again as it’s been a little while since I made a journal with them. As I have said in my top tips – when in doubt, add more layers – in this case stencilled acrylic paints, distress sprays and water, and happily, the outcome is much better, to my eye at least.