So Many Journals

I keep books that I want to alter and recycle into journals by my art desk.  They are very handy for those days I have too much paint left over to throw away...so it ends up in one of those books.  And they are close if I just don't feel like doing much, so I can still play by collaging in them.  Eventually, they become almost "completed" even though I have not actually purposely worked on them.  But, once they reach a certain point, I have to then focus on the "finishing" part.    This last week or two, I have been finishing up all the journals in progress so they can go to JFGs to find a new owner.  I am always amazed about how interesting they are...and I hope someone will find them fun to write, draw, collage, play in! Here are some photos of the completed journals.

A paper backed book called Oddities... I kind of like that title!  

I added a bit of collage inside on the pages...leaving room for wrtiting or drawing.

Because the book was old, I did not get the papers flat as I laminated...something I should have paid better attention too... the scan makes it look worse than the reality however.

A pamphlet from a local business had such strong pages I had to use it for a journal.  I added a corrugated cardboard piece that had left over paints on it...and a title...

Inside, bonded art paper covered the business' propaganda, cut to fit inside the lovely black borders, this will be a really great little travel or event journal for someone!

In this grouping is altered recycled teacher's books, a date day planner, a child's book, a board game book (the game boards made awesome backgrounds!) , a small child's book, all of them made really great journals!

This one has very interesting "hand made" feeling  papers for pages. I added some paintings on linen  I had left over from a few years back for the front and back covers... 

Lots of space for writing in this one... plus interesting collages too... great for poem writing and such.

A recycled found journal with a piece of my mixed media painting added to the cover.  The pages are really nice...great sketchbook.

The game board book... I think someone will really love this, especially if they like games and like to write or draw...

I am glad to have taken these to completion.  When you finish a project there is always a feeling of pride for the accomplishment, but a bit of thinking that now you have to start all new again.  I am ready for that!  I have some speciality books that I have been wanting to alter but did not start them as I already had too many going as it was.  

On to something new...