Itty Bitty

Ever since I was itty bitty I have always loved to cut and paste. It's something that just makes my soul happy. I'm sure if I looked deeper I could find all sorts of meaning behind it but then that would probably detract from the simple bliss that comes from it. Anyhow, it makes sense that I like to collage and I have found ways to fit it in through the years. Recently I spent an afternoon with my daughter, Bess, working on collaging our journal covers. She's particularly talented at this and has a style all her own. I guess my style could be called whimsical, which suits me fine. The journal I worked on this week is my inspiration journal. I've had it for several years and used it very sparingly but after reading an article on these types of journals recently I decided to dust it off and use it regularly. I've been having so much fun. Here's the cover. I have found that rubber cement is the glue of choice. It doesn't ripple and stay wet forever like Elmer's Glue. Plus if there's spillage, if you let it dry (as in one minute) you can rub it off with your finger tip. Simply wonderful. I like to cut out images and quotes to fit the purpose and then assemble them in a pleasing configuration and then glue it all down . Some folks glue as they go, which I think shows a pretty free spirit, but I guess I'm just a little more uptight about it and I like to have it "composed" before I glue it down. (Wow, there's some deep stuff here...............that's another post, he he. ) Then the cover is taped with clear packaging tape to protect it. Very easy, very fun, and very cheap, but oh so rewarding! Now I have a place to keep pictures and ideas and notes on future projects. Some folks take their journals with them every where they go. I'll probably be a little selective about where I take mine since I usually try to travel pretty light. Hmmmmmmm, I'll have to think about that. In the mean time, it sure is fun to paste in all the pics I've been cutting out of magazines lately.