I’ve always loved cutting and pasting. And I kept journals for a good part of my life.
It always surprises me when people ask where I get the things I use in my art and journals. In some ways I take it for granted that I have a special relationship with the gods of ephemera – beautiful, strange, wonderful things are always finding their way to me. I like to think it’s because they know I appreciate them, but I don’t discount my luck either.
There was a time in my life when I was providing care for my elderly parents as they were easing their ties to this life. In so many ways it was a blessed time, but it was also hard and sad and exhausting, physically and emotionally. My journaling took a different turn during those times. It was as though I didn’t even have the energy to write. But every night I would sit for at least a few minutes with a journal and paste things in – some little scrap here, a bit of a note there, things I had culled from my mail that day, random bits I found. I was chronicling my days in ephemera and the briefest of written fragments. But it was such a soothing practice and it kept me filled. And when I look back on those journals I see how perfect they were at capturing those days.
I kept a small basket at hand that I’d slip things in so they were at hand for later gluing that evening.
I don’t use that daily practice anymore, but I still gather ephemera in a basket. And I make sure to keep going through and use the things frequently so the basket is never in a state of overflowing – just abundant with inspiration.
Today’s journal page is filled with some of the flower-related things from the basket.
I’m linking to Artsyville’s Glue It Tuesday and Lori Moon’s May Flower Challenge, and I invite you to go take a peek at both.
So tell me, are you a scrap collector? Are you tidy like a well-manicured garden or are you a field of wildflowers? If we peeked in your journal would we find flowers? Images or text? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
you speak about people wondering where you got all your great “stuff.” I think us collagers are just honed in on saving things that others pass up. And I love when others tell me things they save for their collages, that I never thought of before. Like potato chip bags! They are great, and I have always thrown them away. I have so many boxes of scraps – it’s overwhelming. This lounge is a great way of using up some of those scraps! {:-Deb
LOL – how true Deb. And now you’ve planted an image in my mind – Scrap Liquidation Lounge. 🙂
As an archiver and a genealogist, I totally relate to saving and storing materials. One of the other fun things I’ve done in the past month is a few treasure drawers. As I find interesting little trinkets at junk sales, etc. I add them to the treasure drawer for my little boys to find. A Japanese fan, an arrowhead, a little bag of magnets, an hour glass – fun tokens that stimulate their creativity and wonder. It’s essentially the same thing you have done with your scraps. All good.
Oh I LOVE the idea of treasure drawers – what a cool thing for your boys! For everyone actually. Here’s to more fun, and wonder, and creativity for all of us.
What a precious memory for you to have, Deborah! My mother always had magazines for me to cut and paste. She encouraged me to turn my creations into cards to share with the older ladies in our church and neighborhood.
Just last night I spent several hours of “me” time creating an altered book. I entitled it My May Flower Journal. Every page is filled with floral scrapbook paper and flower photos I just took!!
What a lovely thing for your mother to encourage, Ruth.
And what a wonderful idea to create a May Flower journal with your photos! I wish I were better at remembering to take my camera with me – I’m really inspired by your book. I’m awaiting the much-needed invention of seeing something with your eyes and then being able to print it off, thus eliminating the need for a camera altogether. 😉
I am housing a fire hazard of every kind of thing you could possibly paste into something else. Luckily I also have a large plastic dresser with removable drawers for easy use. I have rules…if it doesn’t fit (in the dresser) out it goes!
Lynn
LOL – I love it Lynn! It’s important to have an adequate stash, and it sounds like you’ve got it covered.
Your post led me to question What Do I Gather? I love being organized and I feel uncomfortable in clutter so I gather and save few items. I do, however, love to gather dried plants and flowers to decorate my table, discarding of them in my compost pile when I discover new growth that grabs my attention. I gather quotes and inspirational messages. I gather friends and family together for meals in my home. I gather new ideas for my gardens, my home and my life! What Do I Gather? It’s a good question to ponder.
What lovely answers to a great question.
I love that idea of just pasting in some pictures or words from magazines or letters or packaging that spoke to you that day… no pressure to find words. I am going to have to remember that!
Yes easy-peasy. I’m a big believer in doing what brings you joy, and journally should never be a chore.
I also began keeping some odds and ends that I love for art journaling since I learned how to do that last summer in an online class. I don’t do it often these days but continue to collect. Like someone mentioned above if it doesn’t fit out it goes… I may just have to borrow her tip… or get going again with art journaling which I did enjoy.
I love that you have enjoyed so much keeping journals and cutting and pasting all of your life. What a beautiful gift to help us get through the tougher times in life like you had to with your parents.
By the way, I just received in the mail today the zine you gifted me with… it’s so beautiful. I will take time today to sit outdoors and read and ponder all the messages you have included in it. Thank you again for gifting me with this beautiful zine. I will treasure it.
The “fits or goes” does seem like a helpful guideline to reign in collective chaos. 😉
Thanks for the kind words about the zine Suzanne. Enjoy!
I’ve collected bits and pieces of things for years in a folder which sits in a small box. I tend to put a small pile of pieces on my table and just use what’s in front of me. Or look thru my folder for pieces of a similar color. When the box gets too full, I give away the overflow.
I have been doing a lot of painting and stenciling in a large journal, but recently found Glue It Tuesday. I find it very therapeutic to simply cut and paste in an old Smash journal. It’s a refreshing change.
I agree, it’s fun to go back and look at journal pages that reflect what was going on in your life at the time. Thanks for sharing your wonderful flower page.
I like the idea of giving away your overflow Betsy. I’ve done some scrap trades with folks and it’s always fun to get new fodder, but now the idea of sending off a little surprise package is making me smile.
I do love your flower medley.
My son rolled his eyes at me when I brought home yet another pile of goodness from the thrift shop last week. I did feel guilty when I brought it inside because I seriously have enough to get me through any paper drought. So I spent some time going through my new haul cutting bits I wanted to keep and disposed of the rest. It is only a big pile and a couple of suitcases full of collage fodder, I don’t have any scrapbooking papers left as I have used them all in previous journals. I have promised myself no more gathering of goodies until I have culled a bit more but if I do find anything exciting I will hide it in my car boot until the coast is clear ha ha
LOL. It’s probably a good thing I don’t live anywhere near you because I might insist on an intervention. As in, I come over and help you release some of your wonderful fodder by giving it to me. 😉