From House To Home

It’s probably safe to say that most of us have several books lying around that we’ve already read and will never look at again—we just haven’t gotten around to getting rid of them. With these simple instructions from artists Jeannine Peregrine and Sherry Ball Schoenfeldt, you can transform those tired dust collectors into works of art. You can use either hardcover or children’s board books, and your imagination will be your most important tool in creating a beautiful art journal.

What to do

If you’re using a hardcover book, Peregrine says you should divide pages into groups of three, leaving about 10 pages between each group. Remove the 10 pages with a craft knife to reduce bulk in your journal. Glue the three pages together and let dry overnight. Apply a light coat of gesso, a water-based acrylic primer that creates a slightly rough surface for paint to adhere to. Then, start filling your journal with drawings, writings, pictures, words, etc. To create a journal from a children’s board book, sand the pages in both directions, says Ball Schoenfeldt. If you’re planning to completely cover the pages, apply gesso. Let your imagination run wild as you fill the pages of your journal with doodles, stamps, stencils, sketches, images, trim, wire, or beads. The only rule for an art journal is that it reflects you and your one-of-a-kind personality.

While art journals are a great channel for self-expression, countless journals that are vibrant, funky, and expressive are available for purchase. Barnes and Noble has a line of exclusive journals with wonderful fabric covering the outside and textural pages inside; Patina Stores offers several decorative journals that are sure to inspire the writer in all of us.

Jeannine Peregrine’s work can be viewed at Boodzoo Studio at http://jperegrine.etsy.com or her blog at http://jperegrineart.typepad.com.

Sherry Ball Schoenfeldt’s work can be viewed at www.studiopashnada.com.