The first step in figuring out how to make my micro art journal from the parts I showed you yesterday was to figure how to make the inserts, and what size they should be. Next, I selected Canson Mixed Media paper to use as the pages. I chose this paper because I already know it handles wet media well. It is the paper that I use to make Gelli plate prints.

After working in my teeny, tiny, micro art journal for a week or so, I’ve decided on a size that I like, for the time being. I figured out the sizes for everything and made myself a set of templates. And after I decided what to use for the cover, I found paper that will look nice for the covers of the inserts! Doing a happy dance! Tandika*

I’ve planted lots of “seeds”, tended the garden, and now it’s time to reap the rewards! Another spread in the tiny Traveler’s Art Journal! I had drawn Pokeroot on the page, and there were a few gray marks. So I just went with it, incorporating it into the theme. If you are interested in Tiny Art Journals, you might like Micro Art Journaling Facebook group! Tandika* #microart #microartjournal #miniatureartjournal #miniartjournal #miniatureart #tinyjournalnation #allthingstiny #allthingsminiature #microartjournaling #tinyartjournal

Again, working on pages with markings. And then I added more to the page on the left. I added a tiny stamp with two bees and then used my watercolors to paint them and the page, over the markings. I had already drawn the flowers on the page on the right, but I added watercolor, micron and gel pen. Finally, I added the words. It is fun trying to scale down my normal art journal techniques to fit in this tiny book!

I loved my teeny, DIY, Traveler’s Notebook so much, that I decided to purchase a commercially made one with a leather cover from Amazon. It arrive in a tiny box! I thought this was really adorable. When I opened it up, the book was inside. The book itself is very nice, although I thought the cover was just a bit too thick in proportion to the size.

For the third set of pages in my teeny, tiny Traveler’s Notebook, I decided to create a two-page spread. I decided to use Mooka shapes to indicate parts of a plant and create a “family.” I wanted to illustrate that when you have a good idea for your artwork, you need to nurture it and protect it so it comes to fruition. Tandika* #microart #microartjournal #miniatureartjournal #miniartjournal #miniatureart #tinyjournalnation #allthingstiny #allthingsminiature #microartjournaling #tinyartjournal

Last week I made a tiny Traveler’s Notebook. Then, I started using the first booklet insert as an art journal, and showed you the first two pages. Today, I’m showing you the next two pages. When I made this book, I was thinking of it as a “test”. I wasn’t, originally planning on drawing in the booklets inside, so I used scrap paper. As a result, several of the pages already had various markings on them.

Yesterday, I showed you the tiny Traveler’s Journal that I made. Yesterday, I started using the first insert booklet as a tiny art journal. I chose the theme of “seeds”. So these are my first two pages. The first is inside the cover and the right side is the “title page”. Working this small does take some rethinking about the techniques normally used in a standard-sized book. For example, the width of a mark made by a Copic marker is much larger, in proportion, than I was normally used to.

I’ve been totally obsessed with Traveler’s Notebooks since seeing a mini one turned into an art journal on Facebook! So I decided to try my hand at making them. I’ve made several of various sizes. But today, I wanted to show you a little tiny, mini one. Above, you can see the front and the spine. The flower design is continued on the back. Here is the spine, showing how two elastics were strung, and with the closing loop undone.

Army of Squirrels. This started out being a tile that was all about Crescent Moon for a FB challenge. But, when I was looking around my studio for ideas of what to do with CM, I found Aloha drawn on something. My squirrels decided that I should add that to the tile. After that, I figured all was lost… with the squirrels being in charge and just went with the flow.

This week’s I Am The Diva Challenge is “Orbs”. These simple spherical shapes are a fundamental of the Zentangle Method. For this tile, I chose tangles that are created completely from orbs, with some minor ornamentation. It was really good practice, and got me back into the swing of drawing these shapes with total concentration. The sepia color was a bit of a happy accident… I picked up what I thought was a black pen and started drawing… So I just kept on going!

This beautiful Zendala was created by Amanda Higbee, CZT. I love the way the tangles flow and transform from one to another! Zentangle drawn on an Original Zentangle Zendala tile using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite and black Kimberly watercolor pencil. Tangles: Indyrella Umble Vermal Zander Warble

Another tile from Matt this week! I gave him a Zentangle kit for his birthday at the beginning of September. He is really enjoying it! The tangles on this tile are based on what appears on the Legend Card in the kit. Zentangle drawn on an Official Zentangle Tile using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil. Tangles: Chartz Hollibaugh Keeko Paradox Tipple Xircus

Inktober. Are you familiar with Inktober? It is a month long challenge started by Jake Parker designed to instill in artists a daily, ink-drawing habit. You can read all about it (and get the list for this year) from the Inktober website. There is also a tangled version of Inktober. The list of prompts for that are here. I’m starting a new Journal Junkies Art Journal on October 1, so I’ve cheated a bit and added in my calendar and a few other pages already.

Market haul. Yes, it wasn’t that much fun, hauling freight from one planetary market to another. And this time, the products were mostly fruit and woven goods. Nothing dangerous. But this is what pays for the adventures. It keeps the process going smoothly. We do the necessary to experience the extraordinary! Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil. Tangles: Beadlines Echoism Pokeroot Vink Well