We often use stamps to add to our art journal page, but have you ever tried to create an entire painting using only stamps to apply ink to the paper? This is one of my favorite techniques for creating a scene: using multiple stamps and stamping ink to build the image, layer by layer. It’s a bit tricky, and requires a bit of thinking and some planning. If you were to try this, what scene would you create?

It’s been a long time (over two years, actually!) since I posted any of the pages in this Teesha Moore style art journal. I had kind of gotten stuck because I didn’t know what materials to use to get the effect that I wanted. I pulled this book out yesterday because I was looking for things to work on and get ideas for on a art play date. I thought this book might be a good subject.

I have a few, very tiny Traveler’s Notebooks that I actually purchased. These are from Chris.W. The leather is very nice. Stiff, but sturdy. The come with two, fat inserts, with 20 sheets in each for a total of 40 pages in each. The size of the insert is almost A9, but they are a little bit shorter and definitly not as wide. You can purchase refills from the same link, above.

This is the third portrait in my tiny art journal. This three-quarter view was challenging in that there is some differences to the features on the right side of the face. I had some trouble with it, but over all it’s ok. On a side note, the reason I skipped over a page is that I had to find some paper to put between the first two pages before I could draw on page three.

I decided to use the side that had a bit more mahogany coloring to make the cover! I absolutely love the way this turned out. Although it doesn’t show up in the photo above, there are some metallic touches on the gears. They’re subtle, so you have to move it about in the light to actually see them easily. This photo came out distorted, but the cover actually is a real rectangle.

Oh my! I’ve done the coloring on both sides of this, and I’m not sure which color way I like better! The side that is supposed to be the front, with the raised gears has a gorgeous mahogony leather tone with some metallic sheen on the gears. Above is what should be the “inside” of the Traveler’s Notebook. It’s a cooler brown color with the metallic sheen.

I’ve done several swatches, but I think these would be good for a steam punk theme! If you would like to join a group of fellow art journalists, follow along with tutorials, and show off your work, you can find this and more in the Micro Art Journal group on Facebook! #microart #microartjournal #miniatureartjournal #miniartjournal #miniatureart #tinyjournalnation #allthingstiny #allthingsminiature #microartjournaling #tinyartjournal #travelersnotebook

I’ve been looking for a long time for something to make Traveler’s Notebook covers out of that would be strong, durable, nice looking, unique and not an animal byproduct. There are a few things that are usable on the market. There’s always faux leather, which is used for upholstery, purses and jackets. There is also a Kraft Tex Paper Fabric, which I have played a bit with. But neither of these gave me what I was looking for.

The second tiny pencil portrait in my tiny Traveler’s Notebook insert! This time, it’s a profile. It was a bit easier, because I didn’t keep stopping to take pictures this time, LOL! If you would like to join a group of fellow art journalists, follow along with tutorials, and show off your work, you can find this and more in the Micro Art Journal group on Facebook! #microart #microartjournal #miniatureartjournal #miniartjournal #miniatureart #tinyjournalnation #allthingstiny #allthingsminiature #microartjournaling #tinyartjournal #travelersnotebook

Yesterday, I showed you my tiny Traveler’s Notebook Art Journal for this month. Now that it’s finished, I can start drawing! This month, my main theme is people. I’m starting with heads, or fantasy portraits. Note: If you want to learn how to draw portraits, I recommend Mixed Media Portraits with Pam Carriker. She introduces the beginner to a classic method of portrait drawing that is easy to follow while allowing room for individual creativity and style.

A while back, I showed you the materials I was using to make my March Traveler’s Notebook. I thought I would have finished making it the next day. Well, you know what it’s like when you make plans… the Angels laugh at you! But all’s well that ends well. I finished it yesterday! I actually made the cover a while back. So all I had to do was make the folder inserts and the book inserts.

I’ve been thinking for a while about trying to make a faux leather Traveler’s Notebook cover for my tiny art journals. I’ve been saving up brown paper grocery bags, thinking they might work if I glued a few layers together. Then I saw a series of tutorials by Jolene Payne, from the Art Journaling for Beginners Facebook group. Her tutorial series is for using this technique and making many pieces, stitching them together and making a cover for a large book.

I love the way Amanda (Amanda Higbee, CZT) wove the music through the center of this tile. It adds such wonderful whimsy and fun! Tangles: Baton Hypnotic Lobellia Melody Pilla Zailz

Adding the cover means I had space inside the back for one more layout. I chose to add the date the book was finished, with this layout, as design elements. And then I added lots of found items and a bit of paint. If you would like to join a group of fellow art journalists, follow along with the instructions for this layout and other tutorials, and show off your work, you can find this and more in the Micro Art Journal group on Facebook!

Since I added the extra sheet to make the cover, there is an extra layout space right inside of it. I chose to make this area a place for the Table of Contents for the book (on the right) and a kind of “about the author/artist” (on the left side.) It turned out to be more fun than I initially thought it would be! I will have to consider this for future books!