| Many people are afraid of the blank page. Have you | | | | spin on things to create your own unique edges. |
| ever hesitated to draw or write in a new journal or | | | | 3. Lettering - Many people are afraid of lettering. They |
| blank book for fear of ruining it? Well I am here to tell | | | | don't like their handwriting and tend to want to use |
| you to fear not! I'm going to show you several ways | | | | computer generated text. If you truly want to leave |
| to tackle this problem but first I would like to suggest | | | | your stamp on your Journal Pages then give lettering a |
| you do something I have been practicing for the past | | | | go. Simply create your own lettering like I have. I call it |
| couple of years. I draw and journal on blank cardstock | | | | the "violette" font. Basically it was created out of |
| (the kind you get from office supply stores). You see | | | | desperation since I was unable to following Calligraphy |
| this way if you don't like what you've drawn you can | | | | how-to books. So sit with some blank papers and |
| always throw it out or cut out elements from your | | | | practice your own lettering. Look at the lettering styles |
| page to incorporate as a collage element in another | | | | of other Visual Journalers and notice how they are not |
| piece. When you have several of these pages simply | | | | perfect and yet exude the personality of the artist. |
| clip them together with a bull clip and voila! You have a | | | | 4. Doodling - When you are aimlessly talking on the |
| Visual Journal. If you like you can make a cover from | | | | phone or sitting in front of the TV have a blank pad |
| thick cardstock or matt board. This too can be | | | | with you so you can capture little doodles. This is a |
| embellished with collage, tissue paper or painted | | | | way to access your subconscious mind. You get out |
| backgrounds. The following ideas can be incorporated | | | | of your own way when your conscious mind is |
| into your Scrapbooking pages to make them truly | | | | engaged. That is when the magic emerges. After a |
| unique and artful! | | | | marathon phone session or zoning out in front of the |
| Here are 4 tips on getting started in your Visual | | | | TV survey your doodles. Are some of them |
| Journal: | | | | salvageable? If so ink them in, color and then cut them |
| 1. Painted backgrounds - You can prepare your | | | | out to use in your Visual Journals. |
| backgrounds ahead of time by painting cardstock with | | | | Now you know my 4 secrets to Visual Journaling. |
| acrylics, scraping paint on, splattering it, sponging color, | | | | Take a border from your stash of pre-drawn borders, |
| using wallpaper that you have over-painted, stamping | | | | cut out and affix to your painted background. Find |
| inks (from inkpads) or using a combination of | | | | some doodles which may or may not relate to what |
| techniques. Lay these backgrounds aside until you are | | | | you want to write about and glue to your page. Now |
| ready to add borders and doodles. | | | | with your newly practiced lettering add a story in a |
| 2. Borders - Create your own fanciful borders ahead | | | | stream of consciousness fashion or simply incorporate |
| of time and make journaling easier. You can make | | | | a favorite quotation onto your cardstock. |
| checkerboard borders or scallops or columns. You are | | | | Do you see how easy it is to put all of these elements |
| really only limited by your imagination. Check out what | | | | together? By using this step by step formula you will |
| other artists have used as borders and put your own | | | | banish your fear of the blank page forever! |