Show and tell time again!
I haven’t done much art journaling the last couple of weeks because there has been so much going on with Kirby teething (still) and Aoife starting school. I think I have about 5 pages near completion, but only one to show today…
first day
This page is chock full of symbols and meaning. I wanted the layers to help me express my feelings about Aoife going to school, because everything I said those first few days sounded so cliched.
I started by writing down the school mission statement and school prayers to give Aoife, and the page, a solid foundation. I then painted the background the school colours, using my fave water soluble crayons, and stamped stars to give voice to my hope the school will let the real Aoife shine, not try to mould her into something she’s not. I added some more texture by stencilling through sequin waste, did some brayering, then covered the page in large interlocking hearts to show she is greatly loved and that we are behind her 100%. That love cannot be broken. To finish off the page I grounded a picture of Aoife on her first day of school on some coloured tissue paper, stamped the letters of the alphabet all over the page to encourage a love of learning, wrapped her up in the school mission statement, and added some XOs to send her off with lots of hugs and kisses.
Hopefully I’ll have a few more to show next week. For now though, I’m off to my beddy byes. I’ll visit you all tomorrow.
Night night.
This is such a beautiful way to commemorate Aoife’s first day of school. Years later you’ll be able to look back at this page and remember just how you felt as she stepped out in her new adventure.
Oh Carin, this is gorgeous… love the beautiful sentiments in your page… the stars and hearts… and all the fabulous layers… and such a special day to journal about…
Jenny x
Ooh, this made me tear up. It’s beautiful – both the page and the meanings behind it. Wonderful job – and thank you too for your sweet birthday message for Kendra, xoxo
Hey Carin, I really love your journals, they’re so pretty!!! I’m just wondering how you incorporated your lovely daughter’s photo into the journal. Do you just print it off on regular photo paper and cut it out? Are there any special techniques behind it? Thank you!!
Thank you Ella! Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. My father-in-law passed away thge other week so I have been away from the PC a lot.
Yes, I just print it out on regular printer paper, edge the sides of the cut out images with a brownish ink pad so the edges don’t stand out so much, then just add a little bit of shading on and around the picture so it looks part of the page. That’s basically all I did on this one anyway. Although you can get as creative as you like with photos in journaling.