Archive for the ‘Art Journaling’ Category

Image by Rita H Cobbs via Flickr

What is the difference between scrapbooking and art journaling?  One basic difference between them is that scrapbooking is about documenting your memories and art journaling is about expressing your thoughts and feelings.  Many scrapbookers are starting to cross into art journaling as well as scrapbooking.

You might think that art journaling is just for artists, but many scrapbookers are discovering it’s a hobby for anyone.  Anything goes in art journaling, and because of that, scrapbookers of any skill level can try out this hobby just by using their existing scrapbooking supply stash.

Scrapbooking and art journaling share a lot of the same supplies, and in fact, both can be done in a hybrid form or completely digital.  Scrapbooking supplies tend to stay to archival, acid-free products to preserve the layouts for as long as possible and to avoid any damage to photographs.  With art journaling, you can use any type of media you wish.  In that way, art journaling supplies may be cheaper than scrapbooking supplies. Both hobbies are a form of self-expression using a variety of mixed media.

For a scrapbookers, an art journal can be a place to experiment with different types of products and techniques.  You can choose to exercise your collaging skills or painting techniques.  You can try out new color combinations or lettering styles for your journaling.  Art journaling is a great way to learn, practice and master new styles and techniques.

Many of the tools for scrapbooking can also be used for art journaling.  You may eventually want to invest in additional tools as you discover new art journaling techniques that you want to try.  However, all that is really needed to art journal is paper and pen.  How far you go with mixed media is entirely up to you.

Where do you go to learn art journaling?  YouTube is full of art journaling videos.  Just search for ones that appeal to you and then subscribe to that channel to be notified of any new videos added by that person.  You can also find online art journaling classes.  My favorite art journaling teacher is Dina Wakley, and you can find her online classes at Get It Scrapped.  I’ll be posting reviews of her Art Journaling 101, 102 and 103 classes very soon!

Give art journaling a try.  It’s a fun form of creative self-expression that will enhance your scrapbooking skills as well!