Art Journaling

Bring Instructors into Your Art Studio on Demand with Craft Daily

When my husband and I want to amuse our children, we tell them about life in the "Dark Ages" of technology, when phones were tethered to the wall and video was non-existent.
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Ready, Set, Take Your Travel Journal and Go!

There have been a lot of comings and goings in my family lately. I was out in Colorado, my husband traveled to Arizona, and most exciting of all, our daughter returned from a semester abroad in Costa Rica. We all brought back gifts and mementos from our journeys, but I am most anxious to see Olivia's
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Make a Mixed-Media Photo Gift for Mom

When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, I have always most enjoyed the handmade, heartfelt ones: poems, drawings, pinch pots, and the like. Even as my girls have grown into adulthood, I've made it clear I prefer something from the heart over something from the mall. (My birthday is a different story
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Video Survey: Tell us what you're watching!

We'd love to know how you like to watch videos so that we can make you some more amazing video content like the ones we've captured in our Art Journaling Exposed eMag in the photo below. We've put together a quick survey that will help us
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Celebrate 'Put a Bird on It' Month in Mixed-Media Art

It's May 1! Where I live, that means birds are singing, nesting, and flying. Where I work, though, birds are everywhere, all year round. That's because birds are a popular theme in art, and a lot of fiber and mixed-media artists seem to like to "put a bird on it."
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Two Techniques for Using Stencils in Collage Art

When you're faced with a blank canvas and want to create a background or you have a collage or painting that needs a focal point, reach for a stencil.
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Art Journal Letters: Write Between the Lines

I know, I know: we're outside the lines artists, and proud of it, too. But in some instances, like art journaling , writing between the lines can help you move outside your comfort zone.
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Pages, Volume 2

Explore new techniques and inspiring projects in general bookmaking, book covers, binding, inside pages, and art journaling.
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Mark Making Tricks: How to Turn Your Doodles into Personal Imagery

Doodling is hot these days. Whole books are written on the subject. Doodling as mark making can be an end in itself, or, as I wrote about in a post last year, doodling can be a springboard to ideas in art journaling.
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Draw On Anything: Enter the Golden Giveaway

Over the years, I--like many of you--have come to rely on GOLDEN artist products for fluid acrylics and mediums to give my art color, depth, and dimension.
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You've Made Gelatin Monoprints - Now What?

I've been making gelatin monoprints for a couple of years now, and I have a stack of printed papers to show for it.
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Mixed-Media Supplies: My Birthday Wish List

After 23 years of marriage, I have finally figured out how to make it easy for my husband to get me what I want for my birthday. He's not too comfortable in the lingerie department and he can't keep track of which books I've already read. Although we have identical taste in home furnishings
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Mark-Making Techniques: of Tombstones and Tape

I'm intrigued by the postage stamp-sized antique cemetery down the road from the barn. Not only are the headstones are beautifully chiseled with letters and images, but the entire cemetery is enclosed with an ornate wrought iron fence. From an artist's perspective, this little plot is a feast
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photo friday–a flash of color

I’m feeling super saturated today! I can feel spring right around the corner. I can buy three bunches of brilliant daffodils at the supermarket for just $6. And I am looking forward to wearing my fun green-feathered fascinator on St. Paddy’s day. No,
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Travel Journals en Plein Air - Free Webinar with Jacqueline Newbold

The warm weather is coming! Time to take your art journals outside and on vacation. In our new free webinar, Travel Journals: Finding plein air locations and inspiration on the go, painting and travel journal expert Jacqueline Newbold will discuss how to choose locations for painting en plein air , what
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Tricks for Creating Cohesive Art Journal Pages

If you want your art journal pages to have a cohesive look, I have three tricks to share with you today, courtesy of Kari McKnight Holbrook.
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photo Friday–snowed in

As an adult I had the chance to live in the Dallas, TX area for a few years, where snow was a novelty. Having grown up in an area where snow is what happens between Thanksgiving and summer, I always found it odd to see the mixed joy and fear when snow
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photo friday–faux bois background

This month I’m celebrating my #oneword “give”. I’m so glad to have you along for the journey. To read more about my #oneword adventure for 2013 click here . Check out the links at the bottom of this post to read more about other “giving” situations! Today
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Mixed-Media Painting Supplies: Expand the Possibilities

Paint has always been part of the mixed-media repertoire, but right now, painting is hot, hot, hot. Everyone seems to be painting, learning about painting, or has painting on their creative agenda.
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Doodles: Gateway to Art Journaling

Doodling comes naturally to most people. Especially if you're in a boring class or meeting. Most especially if you're a teenager in love. So, how has doodling gone from perceived slacker activity to art form?
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Gesso: The Miracle Mark-Making Medium

What's a quick and easy way to add texture and interest to your art journals, collages, paintings, and mixed-media art? Try mark making in gesso.
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Explore Mixed-Media Art Techniques with a New Free eBook

What is mixed media? At its essence, mixed-media art is about using more than one medium in a piece of art. Beyond that requirement, mixed-media art techniques are boundless. To give you an idea of the range, we've assembled five different mixed-media artists with five different approaches in Exploring
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Making Time for Art Journaling in 2013 - Free Webinar

Listen in as our talented art journal panel, Jacqueline Newbold, Dawn Sokol, and Pam Carriker, discuss their favorite ways to work art journaling into their everyday lives.
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Mixed-Media Valentine Party: An Artful Way to Brighten Your Winter

My children are past the Valentine party stage (insert eye-roll here), but I'm not. I'm thinking of throwing a little Valentine art party for my friends. A mixed-media make-and-take, some grown-up punch, and a light dessert sounds perfect to me.
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Stitch Up Some Versatile Mixed-Media Art Papers

I just learned a quick and easy mixed-media art technique to use in a variety of art projects, and I couldn't wait to share it with you.
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Photo Friday–rocky shores

Happy New Year my makers of collage , my writers of art journals , my fans of assemblage ! It’s so great to be back with you in the new year. We have so much exciting new stuff to share with you this year—please pull down on your safety harness and keep
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Photo Friday–Slushy

Bleck! Slushy, cold, icy piles of snow. It’s inevitable this time of year—unless you’re in warmer climates, of course. The thought of the chill of the icy sludge seeping down the insides of the boots is enough to make me want to hustle to a warm fireside
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Digital Art: How to Print Your Own Tissue Paper

It's probably safe to say that the digital scanner vastly increased the possibilities for using and reusing your artwork. Scanning a two-dimensional piece so you can print it out over and over again as digital art — and even manipulate it in the computer first — allows you to use it in
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Quotable Art Journal Challenge for the new year

Be part of our next Art Journaling EXPOSED eMag by being part of our Quotable Art Journal Project! Send us a loose, finished 7" x 5" (Landscape format) art journal page featuring a quote like this one from Artist Erin Butson. Please credit the
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Photo Friday–100 years ago

Don’t we all dream about discovering an old bundled stack of letters like this? Whether we just want to read them, or use them in an art journal or a new collage series—the find would be monumental. At least that’s how I felt when I found this stack and
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Three Watercolor Mark-Making Tips from the Kitchen

If you lack an art studio and consequently play with wet media in the kitchen or dining room, you are in luck. You have easy access to culinary you can use in your artwork. Here are three mark-making ideas that will spice up your watercolor painting. All use supplies from the kitchen.
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Photo Friday–Star bright

Star light star bright, first star I see tonight . . . This Friday’s photo is of a stenciled starburst I made with a Crafter’s Workshop- Julie Balzer Burst Stencil and some gesso. You can either try using this image as a base for a collage , add it to
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Upcycled Art Dos and Don'ts

After literally tripping over my stash of fabrics, papers, and found objects recently, I am on a mission to downsize. And so I'm looking for ways to use and re-use items I already have, upcycling them into art or useful objects.
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Add Life to Images with a Fast and Easy Art Journaling Technique

Using an art journaling exercise by Lisa Bebi in Art at the Speed of Life: Motivation and Inspiration for Making Mixed-Media Art for Every Day , I printed out several copies of the edited image and basically colored over it.
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7 Fast Mixed-Media Art Techniques for Backgrounds

When you're trying to make mixed-media art but you're short on time, what's the best step you can take? Over the years, I've heard many artists say the answer is to prepare backgrounds in advance.
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Photo friday–fall saturated

Is it time for a change? We just got our first bit of snow here as a storm blew through a week after super storm Sandy paid a visit. The other seasons seem to change so gradually but there is no denying that winter is approaching when you’re shoveling
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Gel Medium Transfer with Film: Technique by Jane LaFazio

When you want to apply a drawing or painting to fabric and you don't have the resources to print your own fabric, what do you do? Use an image transfer technique .
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photo friday–leafy green

You make me feel like sketchin’, gonna sketch the night away. You make me feel like sketchin’. I feel like sketchin’—ooh, sketchin’—ooh. Sketch the night away . . . Goodness! My apologies. I got a little carried away there. I’m not sure what this cabbage
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Printmaking and More: 5 Ways to Sign Your Art Artfully

How do you sign your art? With a Sharpie® and your signature? With a little cartouche-like monogram? Maybe you have a stylized signature you use just for artwork (as opposed to writing checks.) There are many ways to sign your artwork creatively, from printmaking techniques to lettering to stamping
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Make a Folded Travel Journal On-the-Go

What do you do with graphic papers besides recycle them? Turn them into a travel journal ! In fact, you don't even have to wait until you get home. Begin your handmade journal on the road using a map or brochure and fill it with found items from your trip.
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Image Transfers and Art Journaling: A Blender Pen Technique and More

Whether you make journal pages to create art, to experiment, or a little of both, it's fun to make image transfer techniques part of the mix. Image transfers can give your journal pages depth and interest whether you use them in layered backgrounds or as focal points.
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Art Journaling: Play Peek-a-boo with Masks and Silhouettes

Masks and silhouettes are not just for novels and masquerade parties. They can be used as art journaling techniques to add dimension and drama to your visual journaling.
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Photo friday–basket of summer

Today, a week into fall, I’m happily daydreaming about our hot summer-sun memories. Picnics on the beach, and road-side ice cream stands come to mind. On the way into work yesterday they mentioned that the night before was the last Red Sox home game of
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Photo Friday–farmers market

Not quite sure why I haven’t been to the farmer’s market all summer. For some reason I got busy. But, the occasional cold days of late summer always signal an internal reminder that I need to migrate to the bushels of squash, eggplant, multiple variety
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Find Mark Making Ideas Everywhere

We have a running joke around here. Assistant Editor Barbara Delaney, a former early education teacher, often looks at a process used by a contributing artist (like marble painting with shaving cream or weaving with torn papers) and says, "We did that in pre-school!"
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photo friday–my mind’s eye

Now that pretty much everyone is walking around with a camera in their purse or back pocket, have you found yourself taking more or less photos? I have a few things that I try to ALWAYS take photos of: 1. Self takes. Yes I’m one of those people holding
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#CraftParty with Etsy, the sketchbook Project, and Create

I love synergy. Today synergy popped into my inbox. An email from The Sketchbook Project appeared, reminding me to sign up for The Sketchbook Project 2013 and also telling me about this Friday’s # CraftParty, a global celebration of meeting and
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Five Ways to Set Your Art Journaling Free

Can I let you in on a not-so-secret secret? Art journaling does not come naturally to me. I grew up writing in journals and, truth be told, I have only recently acquiesced to using the word "journal" as a verb.
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Mixed-Media Art Techniques: 5 Things I've Learned

As you may know, I spent a few days at the CREATE Mixed-Media Retreat in New Jersey last month. Most of my focus was on interacting with members of our mixed-media and fiber art community
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Photo friday–it’s in the stars!

Are you anywhere near the beach today? Looking for something to sketch in your art journal ? Or for a theme for a new collage? Take a look at these five-pointed beauties—aren’t they glorious in their salmony-summer hues? I actually shot this picture at
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She Mixes Collage and Drawing for the Look of Lace

When I first saw Roz Leibowitz's artwork, I thought I was looking at collage on lace. Only closer inspection showed that what I perceived as crochet and cutwork was actually hand drawings.
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Photo Friday–on the rocks

Today’s Photo Friday pic comes from the shores of Newport, RI. The air there smells briny and while at first glance the rocks look dull and gray, upon closer inspection the rainbow appears as the different elements and minerals shine in the wet sun. I
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How to Bind a Book with an Accordion Fold Spine

You probably know how to make a book using an accordion fold . But do you know how to bind a book using an accordion-fold technique? I saw Nikki Smith use the technique to create handmade books with colorful envelopes as the pages. A narrow version of the accordion fold makes the spine to which the pages
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my mixed-media art spin on summer travel

This summer is a busy time for my family. Now that school is out, everyone is going in a different direction. One kiddo goes to horseback riding camp while another heads to try her hand as summer theater and rock climbing. You’ll find me at CHA Summer
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Next Time, Make it a Fabric Art Stay-cation

We just logged 1,800 miles and more than 30 hours of driving for a family vacation. We shared some good times with our extended family, and I wouldn't have missed a minute of it. (OK, I could have done without that last 6 hours in the car with the air conditioning failing in 95-degree heat.) But
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How to Make Art Journal Lettering Look Like Art

Here's a surefire way to make your art journal lettering look interesting and artful: write between the lines. I'm not talking about the parallel, even lines of notebook paper. I'm suggesting something more curvaceous — without being cursive (or cursing!).
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Photo friday having a ball with nature

Sometimes you just gotta love Mother Nature. These purple globes of happiness called to me on a walk through the Boston Public Gardens with my family last weekend—my lucky birthday outing. Actually they called to the entire family. My tween girls said
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Paper Art Playtime: Make Yourself Over as a Paper Doll

Today I'm going to give you permission to play with paper dolls. Come on, you know you want to. And really, you don't need permission. You're an artist! If anyone questions you, tell them you're working on some amazing paper art sculptures, and leave it at that.
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Tea for Tuesday - Art Journal Jubilee

When I think of tea I think of England. And when I think of England, I think of the Queen. And with the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration the past four days, I thought I'd create an art journal page in her honor.
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Revive Failed Paper Art with Creative Lettering

Like a lot of people, I have this thing about my handwriting. I hate it. Which means anytime I'm creating handmade cards or a paper collage where I want to add writing, I dread it. I feel like the moment I add that "personal touch," I've ruined everything that came before I put pen
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Art Journaling: Seeds of Inspiration

When it comes to drawing or art journaling , you've got to love fruit. Most fruits are pretty easy to draw and they conjure up so many sensations and memories.
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Redefine Paper in Your Collage

To me, there are few art activities more relaxing than paper collage . I just love dipping my sponge brush into decoupage medium, swiping the backs of the pieces of paper, and gluing them down on the page-one by one by one. There's a mindless rhythm to the task that's very meditative.
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Paper Collage and Printmaking Techniques - A Beautiful Marriage

A lot of artwork has come through these doors over the years, and I can't count the number of times I've said, "Oh, I wish I could buy that." But I can count the number of times I have purchased a work of contributor art: once. It's a piece of mixed-media fabric and paper art by
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Altered Books Make Great Handmade Book Covers

When creating your own handmade books , there are many options for covers. One of my favorites is to recycle the covers from an old book. I know many people — even artists — balk at cutting up a book. To them, books are sacred. But as a person who haunts yard sales, flea markets, old book
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How to Make an eReader Cover with a Handmade Book-Binding Technique

The preponderance of e-readers and tablets like the iPad have many people declaring that book making — the kind with pages and covers — is dead. Furthermore, "real" books that have already been printed are obsolete. My opinion is this: 1. There are advantages to both print books
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photo friday–venice pleasures

Do you love to work in a travel art journal , but don’t get enough time to (or money) to travel? Today’s photo was shot a few years ago on a lucky family trip to Venice, Italy. At the time I was traveling with two smallish children (kindergarten and first
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Cloth Paper Scissors: Art Journaling Exposed

The Art Journaling Exposed eMag app for your iPad presents an interactive look at creating great pages and journals with color, lettering, and more.
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Stencil loving collage–a blog hop and tutorial

I love blog hops. Today I’m sharing a fairly long collage tutorial as my part of a bigger blog hop with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Crafter’s workshop Stencils. (You can find stencils like this in our store , too!) I really love how flexible stencils can
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Map Out Your Travel Journal Backgrounds

My husband and I only argue in two places; one of them is the car. (The other is the kitchen, if you must know.) In the car, we used to argue over map reading. I could keep an entire travel journal just on the bickering and muttering and wrong turns that have occurred over the years. Nick loves maps
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"Doodle Duel": And the winner is . . .

We had an truly amazing response to our Doodle Duel contest. I hope you cast your vote! Traci Bautista was voted as the Doodle Duel winner and will receive a gift certificate for a custom tech skin from Schtickers.com. As runner-up, Dawn DeVries Sokol
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Learn Design Principles through Fabric Art Exercises

Aside from Art Appreciation 101 in college and my brief childhood stint at Cranbrook , I've had no formal art training. In fact, much of what I've learned about fiber art and mixed media art techniques has come from editing Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Arts magazines over the past several
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Tips on Tuesday: Doodling

Doodle by Dawn DeVries Sokol Doodling Interestingly, people seem to be divided into doodlers and nondoodlers. If you were to look at any of my notebooks from the past or that pad of paper by the phone, you'll see doodling in the margins, tails on
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That’s a Wrap: Mixed Media Background Painting Techniques

Now that I have a set of watercolor paints , I've been playing and experimenting with them. I like the idea of watercolor as an underpainting, so I've been exploring mixed media painting techniques for backgrounds.
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Tips for Making a Watercolor Travel Journal

I so admire the beautiful watercolor travel journal projects many artists create. But for myself, watercolor scares me. I'm well aware of the reason why. It's the lack of control. I'm always afraid of adding too much water or not enough. Or muddying the colors. Or putting color where I don't
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Art Journaling exposed kick off blog hop is a success!

So, you’re hesitant, yes? What the heck is this eMag thing? Perhaps you saw the original post about our Collage in Color eMag here, but you weren’t convinced yet. Perhaps you were hoping for a new iPad . . . your birthday is right around the corner, right
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Art Journaling Exposed Weekend Blog Hop!

Celebrate the launch of Art Journaling EXPOSED with us this weekend by following the blogs of its contributors and featured artists! These remarkable women will be giving you a closer look at the eMag—the projects, articles, and videos—and offering
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Photo Friday- Beets me!

It’s FRIDAY again! Don’t you just love how we get a Friday at the end of every week? We are working like crazy on our next issue of Pages and Collage in Color. Speaking of color, who doesn’t LOVE that deep red color of a beet? I mean, even the leaves
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Announcing the Pass On Your Passion Winners

I was inspired by all the ways you are passing on your passion for art with others, young and old, friends and strangers. So, without further ado, here are the winners!
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Lettering Tips for Your Art Journal: Use An Alias

As a person who has filled many a blank book with a flood of handwritten angst, I often forget that an art journal need not have any writing at all.
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Doodle Your Way to Art Journaling

Remember when doodling was seen as a slacker activity? Now it's a brainstorming method, a meditation practice, and a gateway technique to art journaling .
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Made in the Shade: Mixing Liquid Pencil with Paper Art

When it comes to drawing on paper, art made with fabric (such as a quilt), or any other medium where I have to assess the light source and take time to draw (or piece fabric) in a way that shows shading, I'm fairly useless.
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Oops, We Left Something Out - But We Put It Back In!

Did you download the updated version of our free eBook on Art Journal Techniques that debuted on February 17?
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Announcing Our New Free eBook on Art Journal Techniques

Art journaling is a way to express yourself through writing and art at the same time. This creative process pulls together a variety of materials to create mixed-media art.
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Upcycle Your Way to Mixed Media Art

I was catching up on my "Project Runway All-stars" episodes the other night when I realized I really missed Tim Gunn.Tim's "Make it work!" catch-phrase may be overused by now, but the message is an important one for artists of any kind. It's one thing to be creative with an
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Take My Mark-Making Challenge

How is it that with a limited selection of shapes and lines in this world for mark making, we are able to come up with so many different ways to put them together and make art?
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Tips on Tuesday: Journal pages

In our premier issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Pages , a variety of artists provided a plethora of ideas for everything from making books to designing covers, finding inspiration, and binding your own books. We are gearing up for the second issue of Pages
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All About Image Transfers: Free eBook Just Published

Image transfer techniques can be used in just about any form of fabric and mixed-media art to create artistic visual imagery. All you need are the right tools and the know-how.
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Tips on Tuesday: Art journaling

Journals are used in a variety of ways, for a lot of different reasons, by people in many walks of life. Whether your journal is a place you keep your inner-most thoughts or a place to sketch out ideas, work out troubles . . . or even just keep lists
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Adventures in Handmade Books

As we opened presents Christmas morning, the members of our family noticed something odd about daughter Olivia's packages: almost every one was 1" - 2" thick, rectangular, and could be held in one hand. In other words, she got a lot of books.
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When to Splurge, Save on Mixed-Media Art Supplies

Everyone in my immediate family is creative in one form or another. But Meredith, 15, seems to have inherited and developed a breadth of artistic gifts, including sewing and home décor, writing, culinary arts (her chocolate dipped and drizzled strawberries are already famous at her high school
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Start the Year with a Self-Portrait Assemblage or Collage

I'm not much for New Year's resolutions, but I do like to take stock this time of year. Who am I? Where am I going? Am I on the right path? What do I want to do more of in the coming months, and what should I let go of to make room for that?
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New Survey and Art Journal challenge reminder

Sooooo, have you written down all your New Year’s goals? Did you say you wanted to make more art? Try a new technique? Enter a reader challenge? Submit an article proposal? Make and give away some guerilla art? Rock the mixed-media art world? Today I
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Mixed-Media Artist's Choice: 1 Painting, 5 Applications

I have a friend who does beautiful watercolor painting work, mostly of wildlife. Ruth frames her paintings, sells them, and makes cards from them. But lately she's been wanting to do more with them, so she asked my advice.
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Did Santa bring you an iPad for Christmas?

So, you have a new toy and a million apps to consider, where do you start? Good news, you can start with a few of your favorite things…(beware, I’m going to channel Julie Andrews here) Found paper ledgers and bright colored layers, Artist interviews and
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New eMag: Art journaling Exposed reader Challenge

Brrr… here in New England, every day is a weather surprise. Until the cold really sets in, we could have sweater days or gloves, hat, scarves days. Today is at least a scarf day. I’m looking forward to our holiday shut down (Dec. 23 –
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Art Journaling Tips for Adding Texture

An art journal can be anything you want it to be. So, why not make it a place for experimentation?
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Mixed-Media Success: Just Follow Your Art

When Steve Jobs, one of the most creative thinkers of our time, died, I was most moved by this quote from a commencement speech he gave after being diagnosed with cancer
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The Life Cycle of An Art Journal

When I was learning the life cycle of a butterfly at a tender age, I found it fascinating to watch phase one, as the fuzzy (and rather creepy) caterpillar munching away on leaves.
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Tips on Tuesday: Make Art Every Day

You hear a lot about making time for art, and we all endeavor to do that. But are we taking the right approach? At first thought, you may think this means setting aside the whole day for art, or maybe completing a whole "project" in a day. But
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Pages Premiere Issue

Cloth Paper Scissors PAGES is a special publication created especially for art journalers and book artists looking for new techniques and inspiring ideas. This 148-page first special issue features projects and galleries in general bookmaking, book covers, book binding, inside page decoration, and art
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Acquaint Yourself with Mixed-Media 'Quaintings'

Mix paint with fabric, thread, and ephemera and what do you get? Mixed-media quilted paintings, or "quaintings" as artist Cynthia Frenette likes to call them.
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How to Make an Art Journal Page in 10 Minutes

I have this photo of my younger daughter that I absolutely love. Her older sister took it a couple of years ago while they were playing around one day, dancing and taking pictures of each other.
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How to Make a Book: Learn to Play the Accordion

When I was a kid, I often stayed overnight at my grandparents' house on Saturday nights while my parents went out for the evening. My grandmother always made my favorite foods, I played gin rummy with my grandfather, and we all watched "The Lawrence Welk Show" together.
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Art Journalers Alert

Okay folks, here’s your chance. We are officially working on a brand new eMag for Art Journaling called Art Journaling EXPOSED! This is not the same thing as our print publication PAGES (Coming out in November!) which is the creative guide for art
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Art Journaling Every Day: She Makes it Easy

You know that recently released movie with Sarah Jessica Parker called "I Don't Know How She Does It"? Every time an ad for that film comes on I think of Pam Carriker.
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Easy Packing Tape Transfer with Digital Art

A few months ago I wrote about how to make better photo transfers on fabric, metal, and so on. I asked for feedback on your favorite kinds of transfers and tips, and many of you responded that you enjoy making packing tape transfers.
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Art Journaling Techniques on Glass

The 19 th century artist, textile designer, and writer William Morris is often quoted as saying, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Words to live by, indeed, and isn't it wonderful when you can have both qualities in one object, and
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Announcing the 2012 Artisans!

Entries arrived from all over the globe, as far away as Australia, and as close as Massachusetts. One of the side benefits of holding the Artisan Search is that while choosing the top 5 Artisans, we also discover great new talent! We will be bringing
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Announcing the 2012 Artisan Finalists!

Drumroll please! I am happy to announce the following 25 finalists for our Artisan Search 2012! The judging was difficult, but we’re excited to see the the art in person. Below is a list of the finalist names and their username so that you can see their
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Tag Your Art Journal with This Letter Style

A while back I mentioned how I hesitated to write while art journaling because I hate my handwriting. But, given that I always have something to say, I was looking for ways to form letters in alternative and artsy ways. A lot of readers chimed in to say that they, too, hate their handwriting and could
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Making art at the end of summer

Wow, uh, can anyone tell me where summer went? I think it might have washed out to sea with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene… But I double checked and it’s gone. No more summer. We are now officially in the middle of my favorite season, “Back
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Wearable Art in Full Flower

Whenever I go to an art show or craft fair, I like to wear something artsy. Not so I'll stand out — so I'll fit in. It seems everyone there wears their art, — or someone else's — on their sleeve, their ears, their feet, or around their necks. I love looking at all those
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Add Texture to Your Art Journal with Gesso

Starting a project is one thing. Finishing is another. Remember those travel art journal pages I laid the groundwork for back in June before my vacation? Well, vacation's been over for a month and I only have one page complete. But I had fun with it and I'm learning a lot, so I thought I'd
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Join me for a mixed-media full fall!

Wow, we have so much coming up for you this fall! I’m very excited. I’m also very busy, as is the rest of the staff here. We have people going all over for retreats and tv taping, we have a billion magazines and special pubs… Wait,
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Watch and Learn: Encaustic Collage

It has been a very fruitful summer at my house: we have enjoyed a bumper crop of family togetherness featuring heavenly vistas; friendly animal encounters; and diversions of the antique, artistic, and culinary kind. But as much as I've enjoyed this summer, I'm looking forward to fall. I prefer
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Download 4 Free Handmade Book Techniques Now

Handmade books are more popular than ever, as artists create small, personal books using fabric, recyclables, found objects, photos, and collage and mixed-media techniques. From page construction to book binding, we've assembled some of our favorite techniques and ideas on book arts in this free
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Let’s talk travel—a map to mixed-media art and loveliness

I’m sure by now, many of you have already taken your summer vacations, and stay-cations, trips to the beach, pool, shore, etc. (Except of course for our Aussie friends who are shoveling snow.) I’m wondering how you choose to plan your vacations
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In the Bag: My Favorite Art Journaling Supplies

A few weeks ago I wrote about getting ready for a trip by prepping my art journal pages with backgrounds and assembling an on-the-go kit. Well, all that still stands. But after experimenting with art journaling techniques lately and encouraged by art journaling and mixed-media layering Workshop TM videos
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Art Journaling at Your Desk

It's summer: Have you started your traveling art journal yet? If you haven't, I have a fun and easy exercise to help you begin, and you don't even need a studio. I call it the "everything at your fingertips" art journaling background launcher.
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Tips on Tuesday: Be prepared for art making

What perfect weather for sitting outside and sketching...doodling...journaling. This doesn't mean you'll want to create every time you're able to just sit, but I am here to encourage you to be prepared for the moment(s) when your Muse encourages
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How to Write Creatively in Your Art Journal

I have a thing about my handwriting. I trace it back to my grade- school nemesis, Barbara D. Barbara D. was one of those girls who always seemed to come out on top. She had such a stellar reputation, even at age 8, that when she did do something wrong, the adults always gave her the benefit of the doubt
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cloth paper scissors july/august 2011

Our Fabulous Fabric Issue! Meet Nathalie Miebach. Make fused-plastic fabric. Journal on unbound canvas. Created a wearable art cuff. Try mixing paint and digital collage. Bind a book made out of test tubes. Enjoy the results of our "Fabric Swatch" Reader Challenge. Take a look at adding color
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On-the-go Art Journaling Advice

Summer is approaching, and you know what that means: Road trip! We are planning an 800-mile trek to Michigan, and I plan to pass the time by keeping a traveling art journal (when I'm not driving, of course). Even though we are taking the car (and by "car" I mean "minivan") I don't
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Create Handmade Books with Fabric & Paper

As I write this, the Cloth Paper Scissors team has the July/August issue just about sewn up. "Sewn up" is the appropriate term, too, as the theme of the issue is fabric. But of course, this being Cloth Paper Scissors , we're not just talking about sewing. Or even just fabric.
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What Are Your Plans for Your Art Journal?

"So, what are you going to do with it?" I hear these words all the time. I hear them when I bring home some fabulous yarn or to-die-for fabric. I hear them when I spread my found object loot from a day of yard-saling on the dining room table. And I hear it when I create a sketch or practice
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How to Avoid the Blank Canvas

There's nothing so full of potential as a pristine white canvas. And nothing quite so intimidating. There are so many possibilities it can freeze you right in your tracks. That's why art journaling aficionados often recommend filling the blank page with paint, paper collage, or even scribbles
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cloth paper scissors may/june 2011

Meet Lisa Klakulak. Make colorful magic with your markers. Journal in 3-D. Create your own letters. Paint portraits inspired by the masters. Make a mixed-media found object assemblage. Enjoy the results of our "Stenciled Garden" Reader Challenge.Take a Look At: cutting tools. Get ready for
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Make Drawing Part of the Art Journaling Process

My husband draws beautifully. He's drawings are so realistic, they are almost photographic. I really admire his talent, but if I were to pursue drawing as an art form, his work would not be my model. Not only do I not have the patience, I like a more free-flowing style.
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5 Free Mixed-Media Projects to Make Before You Forget

I love new art project ideas. As I cruise art blogs and follow my friends' Facebook links and tweets, I get all excited about some pretty, shiny, clever, or easy (preferably all four) project at least three times a day.
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Make a Fiber Art Journal Bracelet

When I was a girl, every summer my parents and packed up the car, threw me in the back with some snacks, a pillow, and a few magazines, and we hit the road east, driving 12 hours from Michigan to Massachusetts. There, just a block from the Atlantic, my grandmother, uncle, and two maiden aunts were there
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Traveling on a Magic Carpet of Lutradur

In anticipation of my birthday, my younger daughter asked me the other day, "What would be the best present you could ever get?" I answered without hesitationL "A trip to Greece, Turkey, and Italy."
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A Sneak Peek of Coming Mixed-Media Attractions

I just recently started using those $1 DVD rental machines and I am hooked. I haven't been so caught up on my movie watching in a long time. I was particularly charmed by "How to Train Your Dragon," in which the protagonist is a sensitive type who draws--a problem for his strapping Viking
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3 Ways to Get Better Known as an Artist

You don't have to be a star, baby, to be in our show. In other words, you don't have to be a household name to submit an article idea for publication or a concept for one of our video productions. We're looking for fresh, current ideas and new twists on old ones, whether you're an established
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Free eBook on Art Journaling Techniques Available Now

An art journal is a record of our lives and our creativity. It can be a personal journal that is meant for our own eyes, a travel journal that celebrates a real or imagined journey, or a collection of visual journaling "snapshots" that help us explore techniques and grow as an artist.
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What the Pros Know

I'm pleased, and honored, to say that I have been with Cloth Paper Scissors since its very first issue. But the learning curve when I began was steep. As a collector of vintage fabrics and a lover of all things paper, I wasn't completely unfamiliar with the realm of collage and mixed media. And
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Create with Best Friends You've Never Met

Giddy. Giddy, I tell you. That's how I felt when I arrived at our first CREATE retreat last year and the stars came out. There I was, standing at my Studios booth in the store and display area, and one by one, artists I felt I knew--but I had never met--wandered in.
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Creative Character Tutorial for Art Journaling

After getting my first look at the new book Art at the Speed of Life , I knew I needed to get in touch with author Pam Carriker to ask her to share a little project with you. Pam graciously accepted and put together this Character Construction tutorial
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Super Journal tips from our Readers

Did you know you could find us on Facebook? (ClothpaperscissorsMAG) We’ve been having a lovely discussion over the past year about everything from art prompts to cars, studios to art retreats. In a recent post, I asked our Facebook friends for their art
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Thinking snow... and wondering what you're thinking.

The January February 2011 issue has been on the newsstandsfor a while now...the first issue of the new year! I love it and hope you do, too. What better way to spend a cold winter's day than with Cloth Paper Scissors ? Check out the "Mini Book"
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Easy Image Transfer Tutorial to Start the New Year!

Happy New Year! Are you ready for a fantastic New Year filled with art making? I sure am. We’ve got great art coming your way in every issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine , from January all the way through December. This year will bring art journaling
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Wear Your Art on Your Sleeve

When my husband, a software developer, packs for a convention, the suitcase is filled with khakis and light blue button down shirts. When I pack for an art retreat, I pack my funkiest jewelry (made by me or other artists), my hippest clothes, and my ever
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Keep an art journal

It seems that just about every artist has something to say about keeping an art journal. The sizes and shapes of the journals vary, the frequency of use differs, and how important the journal is to the artist’s creative life may change over time
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CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors! Instructor Proposals NOW Available!

UPDATE: Want to submit a proposal but need a little more time? Email create@interweave.com , Put EXTENSION in the subject line, and the tentative titles and class length in the email, and we’ll give you an extension until Jan 7. Do you love to teach
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Mixed-media Collage Techniques: Community Videos

Here we go again, I wanted to share another community member video with you. Joann Loftus uploaded this video to our gallery and it’s a great example of what you can do with a simple slide show of still photos. Why not consider trying this and uploading
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Free Project: Unforgettable Art Journal

After watching the Cloth Paper Scissors DVD Workshops(TM) by Diana Trout ( Playful Paper Backgrounds ) and Dawn Sokol ( Art Journaling: Pages in Stages ), I finally came up with the perfect solution to my less-than-stellar art-journaling track record
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Celebrating the Artisans!

I've been adjusting to my new Boston/Boulder shuffle as I adjust to a two-home, 1/2 time living situation, and was very eager to see my Stow peeps this past week. Imagine my glee when I entered the office and I wasn't only greeted by smiling colleagues
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Announcing the 2011 Cloth Paper Scissors Artisans

More than 500 fabulous entries were receive and winnowed down to 25 finalists in 5 different categories. Then, thanks to our special guest judges, Sue Pelletier, Robert Maloney, and Merrill Comeau, who had the unenviable task of choosing one winner in
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Artisan Search 2011 Finalists Are Announced!

We put the call out and you answered! Every issue of Cloth Paper Scissors ® has amazing art submitted by our talented readers. This year we spread our net wider in search of the best mixed-media artists around. One winner will be chosen for each of
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Cloth Paper Scissors September/October 2010

Meet Ann Wood and her whimiscal creatures. Learn easy faux silkscreaning and try our paper and plaster pumpkins. Experiment with Steampunk style earrings and play with texture and layers. Create a painted fedora with the Crafty Chica and celebrate the Day of the Dead with Michael deMeng. Take a look
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Check out our new artisan art!

The Artisan Search 2011 continues… Looking to find new and exciting art and artists, Cloth Paper Scissors has challenged artists to send us their best art in one of five categories: Mixed-media Stitch , Art Journal and Book Making , Printmaking
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Summer Art Journaling Prompts and Preview

Getting your Summer Journal up to Speed At the end of last month I shared 10 journal prompts for summer and asked you, our diligent and creative readers to send in your best ideas for jump starting a journal. I can’t post all 50+ terrific prompt ideas
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Art Journaling Winner!

Congratulations SUDUKC! You’re the winner of the Summer Art Journaling contest. Please email your mailing address to me at jmason@interweave.com by July 30th to receive your prize! Thanks to everyone for your fantastic Art Journaling Prompt ideas
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10 Unique Art Journal Prompts for Summer

Have you been following along with us and Dawn Sokol’s ‘Art Journaling: Pages in stages’ column in Cloth Paper Scissors ? We started the three part series in our May/June issue with painting. In our July/August issue we are covering collage, and coming
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We Want You! Show Us Your Art Mojo

You may have been reading Cloth Paper Scissors for four months or four years. You know your way around rusted metal, ledger sheets, and image transfers with your eyes closed. You drink encaustic wax and eat peanut butter and gel medium sandwiches for
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Cloth Paper Scissors July/August 2010

Learn how to make mixed-media pendants with musling. Read about Susan Lenart Kazmer's love of found objects and jewlery. Discover new ideas for Guerrilla Art. Travel to Paris with the Oiseaux sisters. Get the basics on metal embossing. See the results of our "Pendant Swap" Reader Challenge
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You Could be Our Next 2011 Artisan

Announcing the 2011 Artisan Search Every issue of Cloth Paper Scissors ® has amazing art submitted by our talented readers. This year we're spreading our net wider in search of the best mixed-media artists around and one of them might just be
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Cloth Paper Scissors May/June 2010

Learn to layer texture with Katy Monnot in the Workshop. Read about Robert Maloney's love of texture in the Artist Profile. Discover a beginner's guide to assemblage and try 3-D printmaking. Spend some time exploring text as a collage element with Lisa Occhipinti, and experiment with a Adrienne
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How to Make a Good Impression

Sometimes you have to get a little extreme to really make an impression. Sometimes it takes a hammer. After getting some new tools and supplies into the office, I couldn't wait to try them out. We have brass blanks (pre-cut brass shapes) from Vintaj and Letter Punches, in our store, that play so
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Cloth Paper Scissors July/August 2009

Art-on-the-go; mixed-media painted and collaged squares; whimsical images: combine a photo, fabric, paint, stitch, and more; metal collage; watercolor travel journal; artful journaling with found papers; garage-turned-studio space; Life's a Beach challenge results; new columns Muse Flash and Homework;
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Cloth Paper Scissors May/June 2009

10 Tips for Selling Your Art; Market Fresh Veggies from Paper & Cloth; Playful painting - capture memories in 3-D; An orderly layout for collage; Make fun little characters with canvas, paint, and stitch; "Winter Holiday Stuffies" Reader Challenge; Mindful Recylcling; paint a portrait,
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Cloth Paper Scissors March/April 2009

"Recycled Circles" - mixed media with paper, cloth, and stitch; Fickle Flowers; Printable cotton Collage; Recycling your world into art; A mini course in Extreme Visual Journalism; Creating Custom Paper for Collage - turn old pages into new papers; Creating with Metal; Transforming your drawing
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