9 Simple Layers Art Journal Page | Step by Step Inspiration

 the joy of layered art journaling

Have you ever considered crafting 9 layers of an art journal page?

Does it sound over the top and not doable?

Would you be willing to give it a try?

A full process video just so happens to be up on my YouTube Channel sharing just that! Nine layers of this that and the other thing that will create for you a well designed page, a springboard for other pages, as well as the satisfaction that will inspire you to make even more pages.

As shown above, I broke out the new Arden Creative Studio Page Starters by Katie Pertiet. While there are other items on the page, this collection was part of the focal point on the art journal page. See this VIDEO for all the details.

Layers are not mandatory for an art journal page. As a matter of fact, it does not take long in a Pinterest search to unearth plenty of flatly made pages that are incredible art journaling pages.

But me? Yeah. I like the layers. And I think you do too. Layers add amazing depth. Layers create personality as you choose what suits you. Layers bring a bit of a surprise to a page as the viewer continues to look and discover all that is included on a multi layered art journal page. It's fantastic!  

Do so many layers sound daunting? Well, to be sure. This is a tutorial that both the seasoned maker will be inspired by, and, the new to paper crafting maker will be pleasantly surprised how easy these layers are to pull together and give cohesiveness to the whole page.

One of many reasons that I do love this kind of making (and be sure to check out THIS post) is that slow down factor. Having decided to craft a page with multiple layers and then invite you the maker to come play along too created a great opportunity to slow it down. To be intentional with the layers. To give each one time and bring the page together. I'm telling you, making the decision to slow down about these things will change your making. I invite you to do the same.

Allow me to share with you the layers, from back to front that went into this page. And don't forget, you can see each and everyone make it to the page in THIS video.

• Ink. First I started off with a layer of ink. I used the 'smoosh' method to create a gentle wash of Distress Oxide in Evergreen Bough as well as Uncharted Mariner.
• Collage Paper. Next, just a spot of collage paper. I've done this with larger pieces as you will see in the video. But this time I chose just to use a bit of that background medium to add another level of interest to the art journal page.
• Stamping. The next layer is stamping. I just received new Arden Creative Studio Wispy Stamps and put them to use on that page with Black Soot Distress Oxide. Oh yes. That was a great choice. Love how open the branches are on this stamp set. There is more than just that image in the set.
• Washi. I know. I do not actually add washi to an art journal page. But I'm telling you...this was about esperimenting and seeing how it would work out. So, washi came to join the party too. So glad.
• Stencil. Bring on the texture. For that is just what stenciling Texture Paste through a stencil is all about.
• Ephemera. Die cuts. Both. Either or. Whatever! Just add it. For this page I added an assortment of foliage along with a label. These pieces became the focal point of the whole page.
• Twine. I share in the video what additional items this could have been. Basically I reached for what was available right around me. Twine it was.
• Word Strips. I must always have words on my art journal. I should share sometime why that is such an important component for me. Joy was the word of choice this time. Perfect!
• Tab. I could have also included a tag. But I am tabbing all these pages in this Journal and so a tab it was.

And that's all!

Since there is a full process video that explains each and every layer, plus additional ideas of what could have been included, well then, I'm not going to break it all down here. Suffice it to say you can follow the order of the previous paragraph. You could watch the video to see how it came together. Or, you could just do your own thing. Any and all ideas are perfectly perfect to do.

As shared in the video, this page could be a scrapbook page. It just needs a photo. It could be a card front extraordinaire. As well as a tag or a MemoryDex card too. All the techniques shared can easily find their happy way to any page surface to share any memory keeping, sentiment sharing, or just an addition to a junk journal. Or...no reason at all. 

One thing I do know, taking the sequence of layers and changing them up by color or shape or pattern or whatever, and then you have a completely different page. It's absolutely magical. 

I hope you will give these layers a try.  The step by step will show you how from start to finish. Then, I dare you to make just one. Here's to hoping you find much inspiration in these nine layers of art journaling goodness.

See video below.

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Keep making!

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