Nov 4, 2010

Sweet November: an Autumn Journal



I love the idea of a field journal and a messy-layered art journal combined. A place to collect things and take notes, with layers of papers to paint & sew, and room for special photos. Designing your own Autumn inspired journal, is as easy as rummaging around your craft space and finding a new use from old-ish things!




Since my love of old books often inspires me to use them as new mini-scrapbooks, I headed to our local thrift store to look for a fall-colored vintage hard bound book. Hard-bound books make perfect minis- the size is great and you can use the inside pages as part of your book!

Let's go into your craft room or work space and look for things you can use. Here's my favorites list; envelopes, small favor bags, flash-cards, postcards,bingo cards, flash cards, extra or left-over chipboard album pages, shipping tags, transparencies, file folders cut to size and the inside book pages sewn together.







I've decided, for this post, to focus on some ideas for Autumn journaling prompts, rather that just the construction of your own book... because really, the journal is super easy to put together and doesn't require any in-depth directions. (As long as you have a good hole-punch, anything can be turned into a page & ready to use in a mini.)




Journaling Prompts
Journaling is always easier when you have an idea of what you'd like to write about! Keep these journaling ideas in mind to help create little Autumn stories throughout your book.

- a favorite Fall memory
- What are you thankful for this season?
- favorite Fall colors
- favorite Fall smells (cinnamon, pumpkin, wood burning in a fire place)
- What is your ideal Autumn afternoon?
- What is your favorite Fall event?
- Fall recipes (I used a mailing envelope to collect recipes written on little index cards)



Autumn Quotes
I love including a few quotes throughout my book! These are some of my favorite Autumn quotes:

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus

Autumn... the year's last loveliest smile. - William C. Bryant

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. - Elizabeth Lawence




This might be my favorite page. I made a list of fall-inspired words and then imagined colors that would best match each word. It's a fun project page to work on, especially if your creativity needs to boost for the day.



Fall word list:
crisp - cranberry - apple - acorn - harvest - cinnamon - cider - frost - berries
leaves - rain - nest - pumpkin - orchard - oak - persimmon - forest - maple
pinecone - branches - pear - squash - sunflower - cedar



Hopefully the Autumn season will inspire you to create an art journal for all of your special Fall memories! If you have an extra journal prompt, please feel free to share!! I always love hearing new ideas!

**a very special thankyou to Jessica
for providing all of the Fall photos for my book!!**

23 comments:

marcy said...

Oh my goodness! This is amazing!!

j. wilson said...

you make my pictures look so pretty! i need to make a book! i have no supplies floating about...stupid boxes. i do have my book we made when we were up there, i still need to fill it with road trip treasures...

Alicia said...

The book is beautiful!

Alicia said...

I meant to ask.... Is the photos and chapter words with the scrolls around them stamps? or part of the old book?

Clair said...

Beautiful. I do love your paper projects :)

NRC♥ said...

Gorgeous where do you get the inspiration? x

PinkPug,INK. said...

your journal looks so beautiful!

Jenna Ruth said...

Gorgeous!!

Danielle said...

I really, really want to make one of these!!!! Yours is absolutely GORGEOUS <3 The pages are so colorful and I love all of your photos, list of words, special touches <3 PERFECTION!!!!

Gale said...

Love all the bits & pieces added to each page. You are very creative!!

Unknown said...

your Fall album is amazing, I love it. thanks for the inspiration :)

Shaina Longstreet said...

um... hello! this is simply amazing. i wish i could layer like you. i never learned how to do it right. you've got the skills lady! love it. :)

molly said...

absolutely wonderful combination of originality, found pieces, and product usage. love every little detail.

Thinkie said...

fab!

Eva (Fister) said...

What a beautiful little album. Love your work.

Unknown said...

I can't tell you how bad I needed some inspiration!! As you know Tara, I live in CT and I too love fall. The colors were outstanding this year. The only time I don't care for fall is when it rains, the wind blows and its cold. That was out weather yesterday so I decided to scrap...well I had a major creative stall. I couldn't come up with anything!!(and you know I have some great stuff from you)So, I gave up! Then last night saw this post and boy oh boy did I go to bed late last night!! So thanks Tara for setting me back on track. Its still cold, its still raining but this time alot of creating is going on!!! Julie

Diane B. said...

that is absolutely gorgeous! thank you for such wonderful inspiration!

Bonnie said...

What a beautiful book and idea! Thanks so much for sharing this lovely idea!

Michelle LaPoint Rydell said...

This is amazing and inspiring! Thanks for sharing!

Jessica Rodarte said...

I love your post. You make it look so easy! You really do have a way with combining papers and pictures and words. It's such a talent!

leah said...

Oh - this came out fabulous!! Love it!

mandi said...

Wowza! I love this. I especially love the seasonal paint swatches. Brilliant! Thanks to Molly for pointing this out!

Neusinha said...

Lindo! Lindo! Lindo, parabéns , adorei!