If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, all the posts can be found here. Please read this post first. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week and you've blogged about it, or put it on flickr, please leave a link in the linky list at the end of this post. Thanks!
I'm not a big cover decorator. Virtually every single one of my scrapbook albums has a blank cover. Most of my art journal covers are naked as well. But lately I've begun to see the wisdom is doing a bit of cover art. For one thing it helps you to be able to tell the albums apart!
Today I thought I'd share a few of the art journal covers I've created.
This is molding paste, stencil, and glitter with a bit of paint mixed in.
For this one I used my Sakura Moonlight and Souffle pens.
This is a fabric cover — Shiva Paint sticks, stencils, and some free motion stitching!
These are little quiltlets made from free motion stitching and paint glued onto the cover. And it happens to be the final project in my It's Sew Easy online class. Yes, you can go from not being a sewer to creating this cover in just six weeks!
And this is my current journal:
It's neocolor II and gesso.
You know looking at this collection of covers I can see my fascination with people and handwriting loud and clear. I am beginning to realize that where others may draw a bird or a flower, I always gravitate towards people. And handwriting, well, it just makes everything sing!
How about you? Do you decorate your covers? Any themes in the ways you decorate?
Here's the linky list for this week:
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my word! Your covers are so inspiring! LOVE THEM!!! Just started a new journal and used an old birthday card for the cover. I will link it up. Thanks for always being such an awesome inspiration!
Oh my word! Your covers are so inspiring! LOVE THEM!!! Just started a new journal and used an old birthday card for the cover. I will link it up. Thanks for always being such an awesome inspiration!
Oh my word! Your covers are so inspiring! LOVE THEM!!! Just started a new journal and used an old birthday card for the cover. I will link it up. Thanks for always being such an awesome inspiration!
Oh my word! Your covers are so inspiring! LOVE THEM!!! Just started a new journal and used an old birthday card for the cover. I will link it up. Thanks for always being such an awesome inspiration!
Oh my word! Your covers are so inspiring! LOVE THEM!!! Just started a new journal and used an old birthday card for the cover. I will link it up. Thanks for always being such an awesome inspiration!
wow, what beautiful covers. I always wonder if folks decorate their covers before or after the whole journal is done! sometimes I like there to be something inspiring to look at, so when creating a new journal, I use art from previous journal as the cover itself – sort of inviting me in!
wow, what beautiful covers. I always wonder if folks decorate their covers before or after the whole journal is done! sometimes I like there to be something inspiring to look at, so when creating a new journal, I use art from previous journal as the cover itself – sort of inviting me in!
wow, what beautiful covers. I always wonder if folks decorate their covers before or after the whole journal is done! sometimes I like there to be something inspiring to look at, so when creating a new journal, I use art from previous journal as the cover itself – sort of inviting me in!
wow, what beautiful covers. I always wonder if folks decorate their covers before or after the whole journal is done! sometimes I like there to be something inspiring to look at, so when creating a new journal, I use art from previous journal as the cover itself – sort of inviting me in!
wow, what beautiful covers. I always wonder if folks decorate their covers before or after the whole journal is done! sometimes I like there to be something inspiring to look at, so when creating a new journal, I use art from previous journal as the cover itself – sort of inviting me in!
So many lovely covers! Especially the 2nd and the 3rd speaks to me…love it!
So many lovely covers! Especially the 2nd and the 3rd speaks to me…love it!
So many lovely covers! Especially the 2nd and the 3rd speaks to me…love it!
So many lovely covers! Especially the 2nd and the 3rd speaks to me…love it!
So many lovely covers! Especially the 2nd and the 3rd speaks to me…love it!
WOW!! These are all amazing and gorgeous, you must keep doing this!! I can’t even pick a favorite, they are all just sooooo AWESOME!!
I don’t decorate my covers, still to afraid but maybe this will inspire me!! I like Linda’s idea above about using some art from our previous journals.
I’m more of a wordy and flower girl, would love to do more faces though. Thanks again for another inspiring post, have fun in CLEVELAND TODAY!!
WOW!! These are all amazing and gorgeous, you must keep doing this!! I can’t even pick a favorite, they are all just sooooo AWESOME!!
I don’t decorate my covers, still to afraid but maybe this will inspire me!! I like Linda’s idea above about using some art from our previous journals.
I’m more of a wordy and flower girl, would love to do more faces though. Thanks again for another inspiring post, have fun in CLEVELAND TODAY!!
WOW!! These are all amazing and gorgeous, you must keep doing this!! I can’t even pick a favorite, they are all just sooooo AWESOME!!
I don’t decorate my covers, still to afraid but maybe this will inspire me!! I like Linda’s idea above about using some art from our previous journals.
I’m more of a wordy and flower girl, would love to do more faces though. Thanks again for another inspiring post, have fun in CLEVELAND TODAY!!
WOW!! These are all amazing and gorgeous, you must keep doing this!! I can’t even pick a favorite, they are all just sooooo AWESOME!!
I don’t decorate my covers, still to afraid but maybe this will inspire me!! I like Linda’s idea above about using some art from our previous journals.
I’m more of a wordy and flower girl, would love to do more faces though. Thanks again for another inspiring post, have fun in CLEVELAND TODAY!!
WOW!! These are all amazing and gorgeous, you must keep doing this!! I can’t even pick a favorite, they are all just sooooo AWESOME!!
I don’t decorate my covers, still to afraid but maybe this will inspire me!! I like Linda’s idea above about using some art from our previous journals.
I’m more of a wordy and flower girl, would love to do more faces though. Thanks again for another inspiring post, have fun in CLEVELAND TODAY!!
Love your Journal covers! Especially the stenciled one and the one with the small quilts! my favorites!!
Love your Journal covers! Especially the stenciled one and the one with the small quilts! my favorites!!
Love your Journal covers! Especially the stenciled one and the one with the small quilts! my favorites!!
Love your Journal covers! Especially the stenciled one and the one with the small quilts! my favorites!!
Love your Journal covers! Especially the stenciled one and the one with the small quilts! my favorites!!
love all of these Julie. Did you black gesso the second cover or was it already black?
love all of these Julie. Did you black gesso the second cover or was it already black?
love all of these Julie. Did you black gesso the second cover or was it already black?
love all of these Julie. Did you black gesso the second cover or was it already black?
love all of these Julie. Did you black gesso the second cover or was it already black?
Wonderful colors. I do see in all your art people. I have only decorated two covers of my many journals. I’m not sure I have any themes. I think I’m still figuring that out.
Wonderful colors. I do see in all your art people. I have only decorated two covers of my many journals. I’m not sure I have any themes. I think I’m still figuring that out.
Wonderful colors. I do see in all your art people. I have only decorated two covers of my many journals. I’m not sure I have any themes. I think I’m still figuring that out.
Wonderful colors. I do see in all your art people. I have only decorated two covers of my many journals. I’m not sure I have any themes. I think I’m still figuring that out.
Wonderful colors. I do see in all your art people. I have only decorated two covers of my many journals. I’m not sure I have any themes. I think I’m still figuring that out.
I bind my own books so I make the cover too, but I don’t really decorate it. Mostly, I give it a (few) colour(s) and a title, nothing more. I AM attrackted to people/figures and letters though, I use it on my AJ pages all the time. Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird that I don’t use them on covers
I bind my own books so I make the cover too, but I don’t really decorate it. Mostly, I give it a (few) colour(s) and a title, nothing more. I AM attrackted to people/figures and letters though, I use it on my AJ pages all the time. Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird that I don’t use them on covers
I bind my own books so I make the cover too, but I don’t really decorate it. Mostly, I give it a (few) colour(s) and a title, nothing more. I AM attrackted to people/figures and letters though, I use it on my AJ pages all the time. Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird that I don’t use them on covers
I bind my own books so I make the cover too, but I don’t really decorate it. Mostly, I give it a (few) colour(s) and a title, nothing more. I AM attrackted to people/figures and letters though, I use it on my AJ pages all the time. Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird that I don’t use them on covers
I bind my own books so I make the cover too, but I don’t really decorate it. Mostly, I give it a (few) colour(s) and a title, nothing more. I AM attrackted to people/figures and letters though, I use it on my AJ pages all the time. Now that I think about it, it’s kinda weird that I don’t use them on covers
love the decorated covers. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but I’m going to now! thanks.
love the decorated covers. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but I’m going to now! thanks.
love the decorated covers. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but I’m going to now! thanks.
love the decorated covers. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but I’m going to now! thanks.
love the decorated covers. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but I’m going to now! thanks.
I have only covered one and it was just a modge podge of embellies that screamed “travel and find yourself” which is funny since I don’t travel much at all (just in books).
I especially like the tell a story cover Julie.
I have only covered one and it was just a modge podge of embellies that screamed “travel and find yourself” which is funny since I don’t travel much at all (just in books).
I especially like the tell a story cover Julie.
I have only covered one and it was just a modge podge of embellies that screamed “travel and find yourself” which is funny since I don’t travel much at all (just in books).
I especially like the tell a story cover Julie.
I have only covered one and it was just a modge podge of embellies that screamed “travel and find yourself” which is funny since I don’t travel much at all (just in books).
I especially like the tell a story cover Julie.
I have only covered one and it was just a modge podge of embellies that screamed “travel and find yourself” which is funny since I don’t travel much at all (just in books).
I especially like the tell a story cover Julie.
As usual you’re offering more food for thought (FFT)…As a new journaler I haven’t done a cover yet; the tactic I’m most likely to do is make the cover last. That way I’m least likely to injure the art from handling or transporting the book as it comes to work with me every day now…I’m really connecting with my journal now!
As usual you’re offering more food for thought (FFT)…As a new journaler I haven’t done a cover yet; the tactic I’m most likely to do is make the cover last. That way I’m least likely to injure the art from handling or transporting the book as it comes to work with me every day now…I’m really connecting with my journal now!
As usual you’re offering more food for thought (FFT)…As a new journaler I haven’t done a cover yet; the tactic I’m most likely to do is make the cover last. That way I’m least likely to injure the art from handling or transporting the book as it comes to work with me every day now…I’m really connecting with my journal now!
As usual you’re offering more food for thought (FFT)…As a new journaler I haven’t done a cover yet; the tactic I’m most likely to do is make the cover last. That way I’m least likely to injure the art from handling or transporting the book as it comes to work with me every day now…I’m really connecting with my journal now!
As usual you’re offering more food for thought (FFT)…As a new journaler I haven’t done a cover yet; the tactic I’m most likely to do is make the cover last. That way I’m least likely to injure the art from handling or transporting the book as it comes to work with me every day now…I’m really connecting with my journal now!
GORGEOUS! I love all of them for different reasons!
GORGEOUS! I love all of them for different reasons!
GORGEOUS! I love all of them for different reasons!
GORGEOUS! I love all of them for different reasons!
GORGEOUS! I love all of them for different reasons!
Your journal covers, like everything you do, are just fantastic! I can’t draw people, and I need to work on lettering!
Your journal covers, like everything you do, are just fantastic! I can’t draw people, and I need to work on lettering!
Your journal covers, like everything you do, are just fantastic! I can’t draw people, and I need to work on lettering!
Your journal covers, like everything you do, are just fantastic! I can’t draw people, and I need to work on lettering!
Your journal covers, like everything you do, are just fantastic! I can’t draw people, and I need to work on lettering!
Julie,
HOLY COW…
Have you considered artsy panties? Maybe artsy toasters or baseball bats? Is there ANYTHING you can’t art up? 🙂
Use this for inspiration. I keep a very clean house (let’s be clear on that!) but I did have a mouse…it drove me nuts. I couldn’t find out where he lived. Until one day…a couple of months into his habitation I heard noise in the kitchen. I went in slowly…hoping to find him…and WHALLA….HE WAS IN IN IN IN IN IN my toaster…eating crumbs.
I am thinking, after seeing your work, that I, or YOU, should come up with a line of artsy toasters…mouse and all.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiration Julie.
Julie,
HOLY COW…
Have you considered artsy panties? Maybe artsy toasters or baseball bats? Is there ANYTHING you can’t art up? 🙂
Use this for inspiration. I keep a very clean house (let’s be clear on that!) but I did have a mouse…it drove me nuts. I couldn’t find out where he lived. Until one day…a couple of months into his habitation I heard noise in the kitchen. I went in slowly…hoping to find him…and WHALLA….HE WAS IN IN IN IN IN IN my toaster…eating crumbs.
I am thinking, after seeing your work, that I, or YOU, should come up with a line of artsy toasters…mouse and all.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiration Julie.
Julie,
HOLY COW…
Have you considered artsy panties? Maybe artsy toasters or baseball bats? Is there ANYTHING you can’t art up? 🙂
Use this for inspiration. I keep a very clean house (let’s be clear on that!) but I did have a mouse…it drove me nuts. I couldn’t find out where he lived. Until one day…a couple of months into his habitation I heard noise in the kitchen. I went in slowly…hoping to find him…and WHALLA….HE WAS IN IN IN IN IN IN my toaster…eating crumbs.
I am thinking, after seeing your work, that I, or YOU, should come up with a line of artsy toasters…mouse and all.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiration Julie.
Julie,
HOLY COW…
Have you considered artsy panties? Maybe artsy toasters or baseball bats? Is there ANYTHING you can’t art up? 🙂
Use this for inspiration. I keep a very clean house (let’s be clear on that!) but I did have a mouse…it drove me nuts. I couldn’t find out where he lived. Until one day…a couple of months into his habitation I heard noise in the kitchen. I went in slowly…hoping to find him…and WHALLA….HE WAS IN IN IN IN IN IN my toaster…eating crumbs.
I am thinking, after seeing your work, that I, or YOU, should come up with a line of artsy toasters…mouse and all.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiration Julie.
Julie,
HOLY COW…
Have you considered artsy panties? Maybe artsy toasters or baseball bats? Is there ANYTHING you can’t art up? 🙂
Use this for inspiration. I keep a very clean house (let’s be clear on that!) but I did have a mouse…it drove me nuts. I couldn’t find out where he lived. Until one day…a couple of months into his habitation I heard noise in the kitchen. I went in slowly…hoping to find him…and WHALLA….HE WAS IN IN IN IN IN IN my toaster…eating crumbs.
I am thinking, after seeing your work, that I, or YOU, should come up with a line of artsy toasters…mouse and all.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful inspiration Julie.
I always use fabric to cover my journals. I’ll use a fat quarter of a rint that I have fallen in love with. So far I have a gray linen with navy stitching (actually a reclaimed skirt), a pink/aqua batik, and a gray pattern with artsy pink hearts. I like the idea that each journal reflects my changing taste in fabrics and colors and styles when I made them. They also change in embellishments. The linen one was plain, the batik has a few buttons sewn on and a few other trinkets, and my current one has a tape border covered in hand stitching. To me, the cover is every bit a part of the art journal as the inside pages!
I always use fabric to cover my journals. I’ll use a fat quarter of a rint that I have fallen in love with. So far I have a gray linen with navy stitching (actually a reclaimed skirt), a pink/aqua batik, and a gray pattern with artsy pink hearts. I like the idea that each journal reflects my changing taste in fabrics and colors and styles when I made them. They also change in embellishments. The linen one was plain, the batik has a few buttons sewn on and a few other trinkets, and my current one has a tape border covered in hand stitching. To me, the cover is every bit a part of the art journal as the inside pages!
I always use fabric to cover my journals. I’ll use a fat quarter of a rint that I have fallen in love with. So far I have a gray linen with navy stitching (actually a reclaimed skirt), a pink/aqua batik, and a gray pattern with artsy pink hearts. I like the idea that each journal reflects my changing taste in fabrics and colors and styles when I made them. They also change in embellishments. The linen one was plain, the batik has a few buttons sewn on and a few other trinkets, and my current one has a tape border covered in hand stitching. To me, the cover is every bit a part of the art journal as the inside pages!
I always use fabric to cover my journals. I’ll use a fat quarter of a rint that I have fallen in love with. So far I have a gray linen with navy stitching (actually a reclaimed skirt), a pink/aqua batik, and a gray pattern with artsy pink hearts. I like the idea that each journal reflects my changing taste in fabrics and colors and styles when I made them. They also change in embellishments. The linen one was plain, the batik has a few buttons sewn on and a few other trinkets, and my current one has a tape border covered in hand stitching. To me, the cover is every bit a part of the art journal as the inside pages!
I always use fabric to cover my journals. I’ll use a fat quarter of a rint that I have fallen in love with. So far I have a gray linen with navy stitching (actually a reclaimed skirt), a pink/aqua batik, and a gray pattern with artsy pink hearts. I like the idea that each journal reflects my changing taste in fabrics and colors and styles when I made them. They also change in embellishments. The linen one was plain, the batik has a few buttons sewn on and a few other trinkets, and my current one has a tape border covered in hand stitching. To me, the cover is every bit a part of the art journal as the inside pages!
This post hit on something for me -I am so intimidated about creating the covers for my journals and tend to leave them for last-most times mine aren’t done either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations for making covers. So happy I just (almost) finished a journal spread to add using your poppies stencil. So grateful to have found you Julie 🙂
This post hit on something for me -I am so intimidated about creating the covers for my journals and tend to leave them for last-most times mine aren’t done either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations for making covers. So happy I just (almost) finished a journal spread to add using your poppies stencil. So grateful to have found you Julie 🙂
This post hit on something for me -I am so intimidated about creating the covers for my journals and tend to leave them for last-most times mine aren’t done either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations for making covers. So happy I just (almost) finished a journal spread to add using your poppies stencil. So grateful to have found you Julie 🙂
This post hit on something for me -I am so intimidated about creating the covers for my journals and tend to leave them for last-most times mine aren’t done either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations for making covers. So happy I just (almost) finished a journal spread to add using your poppies stencil. So grateful to have found you Julie 🙂
This post hit on something for me -I am so intimidated about creating the covers for my journals and tend to leave them for last-most times mine aren’t done either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and inspirations for making covers. So happy I just (almost) finished a journal spread to add using your poppies stencil. So grateful to have found you Julie 🙂
It was already black.
It was already black.
It was already black.
It was already black.
It was already black.
Hi Julie, I have not posted a comment for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog religiously. Reading and seeing your blog posts is still one of my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long work day. I love all these covers. I especially love the neocolors and gesso one. It is beautiful!
Hi Julie, I have not posted a comment for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog religiously. Reading and seeing your blog posts is still one of my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long work day. I love all these covers. I especially love the neocolors and gesso one. It is beautiful!
Hi Julie, I have not posted a comment for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog religiously. Reading and seeing your blog posts is still one of my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long work day. I love all these covers. I especially love the neocolors and gesso one. It is beautiful!
Hi Julie, I have not posted a comment for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog religiously. Reading and seeing your blog posts is still one of my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long work day. I love all these covers. I especially love the neocolors and gesso one. It is beautiful!
Hi Julie, I have not posted a comment for a long time, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog religiously. Reading and seeing your blog posts is still one of my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long work day. I love all these covers. I especially love the neocolors and gesso one. It is beautiful!
Julie, thank you so much for this challenge. :))
Julie, thank you so much for this challenge. :))
Julie, thank you so much for this challenge. :))
Julie, thank you so much for this challenge. :))
Julie, thank you so much for this challenge. :))
Julie, my most essential craft product is my computer so I can see all of the interesting ideas from all over the world. I hope to win the wedding ring stencils because I have several of my grandmother’s quilts with the design. I want to do some art journaling with the stencils to remind me of her quilts.
Julie, my most essential craft product is my computer so I can see all of the interesting ideas from all over the world. I hope to win the wedding ring stencils because I have several of my grandmother’s quilts with the design. I want to do some art journaling with the stencils to remind me of her quilts.
Julie, my most essential craft product is my computer so I can see all of the interesting ideas from all over the world. I hope to win the wedding ring stencils because I have several of my grandmother’s quilts with the design. I want to do some art journaling with the stencils to remind me of her quilts.
Julie, my most essential craft product is my computer so I can see all of the interesting ideas from all over the world. I hope to win the wedding ring stencils because I have several of my grandmother’s quilts with the design. I want to do some art journaling with the stencils to remind me of her quilts.
Julie, my most essential craft product is my computer so I can see all of the interesting ideas from all over the world. I hope to win the wedding ring stencils because I have several of my grandmother’s quilts with the design. I want to do some art journaling with the stencils to remind me of her quilts.