My first art journal and FWF

It's Friday and time for another Friends with Flair blog hop over at Unity stamps.

Once upon a time I used to love to draw and paint and doodle. It's been much too long. So I made this multimedia art journal in hopes that I would actually use it and start creating again. I wanted it to be all about things that inspire ME. Hence the title and pic. In retrospect it seems kinda silly.

I went through my dusty art drawer and pulled out some drawing paper, watercolor paper, and some canvas. From my craft supplies I pulled printer paper, white cardstock, and some envelopes. I bound it all with my Cinch tool:

So now I can open it up draw or paint or collage. I even have pockets and envelopes to collect little treasures or ideas or some journaling. Theoretically anyway. It's still empty. And I made it a few weeks ago. : \

For the cover I used some old packaging. It's basically just raw chipboard. I think it was the backing that came with a kit or tool or something. I stamped Unity's Up Against a Wall with clear embossing powder. Then I sponged on distress ink in Rusty Hinge all over. The chipboard just soaks up the ink so I had to apply it again a few time to keep the vibrant color. I stamped a sentiment from Unity's Imagine It set in black embossing powder and a flower from the Insightful Meadows set in black ink.

 Then I took the Polaroid stamp from Wilson Designs Everything's Owlright set and created a frame for my pic. I distressed the frame with Old Paper distress ink and the photo with Vintage Photo distress ink. I added some letter stickers, painted over them and them removed them to reveal - kind of the opposite of a stencil I guess. Then two Sassafrass flowers, some twine, and I-rock bling and it was done.

Oh, can't forget that MME pompom trim around the border.

Now it's done.

Except for the art I need to put inside!

So leave a comment and go take a look at the other entries on the blog hop for your chance to win!